Dog Friendly Beaches in the UK

An enormous, almost always empty Highland beach north of Gairloch with vast views west to the Outer Hebrides, year-round unrestricted dog access and the kind of solitude that only the west Highlands can offer.

The stunning white sand beach featured in the film Local Hero, with turquoise water, views to the Small Isles and year-round unrestricted dog access on the Road to the Isles.

One of Northumberland's finest beaches: a sweeping arc of golden sand directly below Dunstanburgh Castle ruins, with year-round dog access, outstanding AONB scenery and very few restrictions.

The finest beach on the Isle of Colonsay, a sweeping golden bay with Atlantic surf, backed by wildflower-rich machair and with year-round unrestricted dog access on this remote Inner Hebrides island.

One of the world's most beautiful beaches: vast white shell sands with turquoise water, mountain backdrops and views to Taransay, with year-round dog access and no restrictions.

One of mainland Scotland's finest beaches: five miles of Atlantic-facing sand backed by a famous golf links at the tip of Kintyre, with year-round unrestricted dog access and spectacular coastal scenery.

One of Britain's most magnificent and remote beaches: a vast arc of sand backed by dunes and the sea stack Am Buachaille, accessible only via a 4-mile moorland walk with dogs welcome all year on a lead, as the John Muir Trust asks on this working crofting estate.

One of Scotland's finest beaches at the tip of Ardnamurchan, the most westerly point on the British mainland, with turquoise water, white sand and extraordinary views to the Small Isles and Outer Hebrides.

A vast, world-class beach of white shell sand south of Luskentyre with spectacular Atlantic views, wild machair behind and year-round unrestricted dog access with very few visitors.

The southern arc of Luskentyre Bay, once voted one of the world's top 10 beaches, with no parking (and therefore very few visitors), stunning views north across turquoise water and unrestricted dog access.

A small, perfect cove in Assynt with crystal-clear water, white sand and a dramatic backdrop of Torridonian mountains.

A beautiful, remote Coigach beach north of Ullapool backed by dunes with outstanding views across the Minch and year-round dog access in one of the finest stretches of north-west Highland coastline.