Dog Friendly Walks & Beaches in Devon

A strenuous South Hams coastal walk between two dramatic headlands with big sea views and remote cliff scenery.

One of Devon's most dramatic coastal walks along a wild, dark cliff section with sea stacks and a spectacular waterfall descent.

A gentle NT valley walk to a dramatic rocky cove with high off-lead potential and excellent facilities at Hunter's Inn; one of the most rewarding short walks on Exmoor.

A proper moorland adventure to Cornwall's two highest peaks, with open, exposed terrain and a real sense of wildness on the summit.

Over three miles of open sand with no seasonal ban, backed by a UNESCO-listed dune system that makes it one of Devon's most reliable dog friendly beaches.

A dog friendly North Devon loop combining the three mile sweep of Saunton Sands with the wild dunes of Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO biosphere reserve where dogs can usually run free.

A Dartmoor gorge walk through ancient oak woodland above the River Teign, with one of the best riverside pubs in Devon at Fingle Bridge.

A massive Atlantic beach with a zone system that still leaves miles of unrestricted sand for dogs to run year round.

A Dartmoor reservoir walk climbing through river valley and open moorland, with wild granite scenery throughout.

A Jurassic Coast walk between two characterful Devon fishing villages with significant cliff climbing and sea views throughout.

A quiet, year-round shingle beach with a working fishing village, two excellent dog friendly eateries and coast path access in both directions.

A brilliant mix of forest and open moorland with river access. Dogs should be kept on leads around the picnic area near the car park where ponies graze.

One of Dartmoor's most accessible and rewarding water-edge walks. Dogs must be kept on leads throughout as a South West Water requirement.

A flat, easy trail along a disused railway beside the Camel Estuary, shared with cyclists but wide enough to feel relaxed with dogs.

A dog friendly South Devon estate walk through historic gardens, working farmland and ancient woodland, looping along a wide tranquil reach of the River Dart.

A varied east Dartmoor circular from Manaton over Bowerman's Nose and Hound Tor with a dip through the woodland near Becky Falls, dog friendly with one of the moor's most photogenic loops.

A Bronze Age moorland circuit over Hookney Tor and into the prehistoric settlement of Grimspound, dog friendly on open access moor with grazing livestock to watch for.

A wild northeast Dartmoor circular to the dramatic Scorhill Stone Circle and back via the Teign clapper bridges, dog friendly on open moor with a couple of stream crossings.

A short, accessible circuit with real historical interest and enough open space for a confident dog to stretch its legs. Good option for a shorter outing or as a warm-up walk.

A short but steep coastal walk down to one of Cornwall's most beautiful hidden beaches, quieter than the headline bays.

A dog friendly North Devon headland circuit around Morte Point and Bull Point, with rocky finger cliffs, basking seals offshore and far views over to Lundy.

A riverside walk following the Otter from the working mill at Otterton through watermeadows to the coast and back.

A dog friendly Exmoor circular linking the moorland village of Parracombe with the deep wooded gorge of Heddon Valley and the Bristol Channel coast at Heddon's Mouth.

A punchy headland walk above Polzeath with wild coastal views and clifftop drama, short but exposed and rewarding.

A Dart Valley walk through the Sharpham Estate with vineyard views and river stretches that feel genuinely removed.

A dog friendly Jurassic Coast stretch from Sidmouth's Regency seafront over High Peak's hillfort to the red sandstone sea stacks at Ladram Bay.

A wild, foot-access-only cove near Salcombe with year-round dog access, soft sand, and a remote feel that rewards those prepared for the coastal walk to reach it.

One of Dartmoor's finest riverside walks, almost entirely shaded by ancient woodland and with excellent water access for dogs throughout.

Year round access on a National Trust beach with rock pools, clear water and a direct link to the South West Coast Path in both directions.

A gentle riverside walk through ancient oak woodland with excellent National Trust tea-room; the easy terrain and good water access make it ideal for relaxed dogs.

A remote, year-round dog-friendly cove with no facilities and no easy access, making it one of the quieter spots on the South Devon coast for dogs and owners who prefer solitude.

A sheltered shingle cove below steep wooded cliffs near Torquay, year-round dog friendly and quieter than nearby Oddicombe, with the Cary Arms pub directly overlooking the beach.

A tiny, shell-strewn cove half a mile from Woolacombe, famous for cowrie shells washed in from the Caribbean and a beloved beach curry cafe, though dogs must be on leads when the cafe is operating in the warmer months.

A stunning sandy beach with views of Burgh Island and seasonal dog restrictions on the main beach, though the year-round section to the west of the causeway is a solid consolation for dogs all summer.

A privately managed Blue Flag beach near Dartmouth with exceptional facilities and clear water, though dogs are banned from the beach and car parks entirely from May to October -- one of the longer seasonal bans in Devon.

A Forestry England woodland walk with well-marked trails, a cafe and dog wash on site - the reliable option when weather pushes you off the coast.

A dog friendly North Devon coast and woodland loop from Brownsham to the cobbled fishing village of Clovelly, with cliff top viewpoints over the Bristol Channel.

A secluded, year-round dog-friendly sandy cove near Dartmouth with Grecian-style water, accessible only via the South West Coast Path and with interesting history as a Victorian telegraph cable site.

A dog friendly Exmoor coast walk from Countisbury Hill out to Foreland Lighthouse, with some of the highest sea cliffs in England and big views over the Bristol Channel.

A west Dartmoor walk linking the volcanic outcrop of Brent Tor with the wide moorland valley of the River Lyd, dog friendly with leads on for grazing animals.

A challenging climb from Meldon Reservoir to the highest points in southern England, Yes Tor and High Willhays, dog friendly with leads on for sheep and a check of military firing times.

A dog friendly stretch of the South West Coast Path along East Devon's Jurassic cliffs, linking Exmouth seafront to the red beach and clean bathing water of Budleigh Salterton.

A Dartmoor reservoir and forest circuit with stone rows and Bronze Age monuments nearby, good in most weather conditions.

Remote, exposed and genuinely wild walking in western Dartmoor, with excellent off-lead potential on open moorland but significant livestock throughout and a military firing range to be aware of.

A Forestry England trail through Haldon Forest above Exeter with well-maintained paths and good facilities on site.

Wide open moorland, wild ponies and ancient woodland make this a memorable route, though the lack of signage means navigation requires attention and exposed sections can be very windy.

A year-round dog-friendly sand and shingle cove just outside Ilfracombe, hugely popular with dog walkers escaping the town beach restrictions, with a pub and car park right behind the beach.

Two sheltered sandy coves in an old smuggling village, with year-round lead-on access at Harbour Beach and seasonal restrictions only on Mouthwell Sands.

A dog friendly National Trust circular through one of the deepest gorges in the South West, with waterfalls, river paths and a dedicated off-lead orchard at the Devil's Cauldron entrance.

A shingle beach at the foot of Exmoor in the dramatic village of Lynmouth, year-round dog friendly and directly below the famous Victorian Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway with pubs and shops just steps away.

A spectacular Exmoor river valley walk with dramatic gorge scenery and excellent National Trust facilities; the steep terrain and livestock require care throughout.

A privately-owned, beautifully unspoilt sandy beach on the Erme estuary with no summer dog access, but an exceptional off-season destination for dogs and their owners.

The quieter southern end of the Woolacombe beach system, Putsborough has partial year-round dog access with restrictions on the left section from Easter to November -- a solid year-round choice if you head to the right.

A shallow, year-round dog-friendly sandy beach a mile from Salcombe, popular with locals and visitors, with a well-regarded dog-friendly restaurant directly overlooking the beach.

A year-round dog-friendly continuation of the Slapton Sands shingle bar, with a car park, toilets, and a seasonal food van right at the entrance, making it one of the most practical dog walking beaches in South Devon.

A flat estuary trail along the Taw Estuary with big sky views across the water, excellent for dogs and straightforward year round.

Outstanding scenery and excellent river access, but dogs must be kept on leads throughout the Castle Drogo estate and wherever livestock are grazing along the route.

Part of the Slapton Sands shingle bar, this is a year-round dog-friendly beach backed by a freshwater nature reserve, with pubs and a cafe in the village and easy road access.

A commons and riverside walk on the edge of Great Torrington, with views across the Torridge Valley and good off-lead stretches.

Spectacular rock formations and feral goats on a dramatic coastal loop; moderate off-lead potential but sheep and cliff edges require attention.

A beautiful crescent of sand enclosed by red cliffs and woodland north of Torquay, year-round dog friendly and popular with walkers and dog owners who do not mind the steep access path.

The north end stays open to dogs year round and backs onto Northam Burrows, giving reliable access even when the main beach is restricted in summer.

Ancient, atmospheric and genuinely unlike anywhere else in England, though the boggy moorland and rocky terrain around the wood require care underfoot.

The main beach is closed to dogs all summer, but the year-round estuary beach at low tide is a sandy, sheltered alternative with views across to Burgh Island.

A long, gently sloping sandy beach on the English Riviera between Paignton and Brixham, popular with families but with a summer dog ban, though a dog exercise area on the green behind the beach is available year-round.

One of the UK's most celebrated surf beaches, Croyde is stunning but off-limits to dogs entirely from May to September -- an autumn and winter destination only for dog owners.

A long sandy beach in a traditional Devon seaside town with seasonal restrictions on the main stretch, though dogs are allowed year-round from the slipway by the station heading north towards Langstone Rock.

A groyne-based zone system keeps a decent stretch of beach open to dogs year round, but the nearby nature reserve means leads and awareness of wildlife are essential.

A quiet shingle and rock cove tucked between Broadsands and Brixham, year-round dog friendly with no facilities but accessible via a pleasant coastal walk from either direction.

A popular family beach in Paignton with two sections: North Sands is year-round dog friendly, while South Sands has a summer ban -- knowing which section to head for is essential.

A sandy beach at the foot of red sandstone cliffs near Torquay, accessible by the Babbacombe Cliff Railway, but with a summer dog ban making it an autumn and winter destination for dog owners.

A Blue Flag beach a short walk or ferry ride from Salcombe, dog-friendly outside the summer months but with a complete ban from May to September -- one of the stricter South Devon restrictions.

A tiny, remote shingle and rock cove just below Dartmouth Castle, year-round dog friendly and accessible only via steep coast path steps, visible only at lower tide states.

The estuary-facing Back Beach in Teignmouth is year-round dog friendly, offering a quieter and more characterful alternative to the busy town beach, with working fishing boats and a different view of the town.

A quiet, year-round dog-friendly estuary beach on the River Erme, popular with locals for its peaceful character, though limited parking and no facilities keep the crowds thin.

A sheltered horseshoe cove backed by a holiday park, with seasonal dog restrictions in summer but good access to the coast path for year-round dog walking nearby.

A narrow beach at the foot of dramatic cliffs near the village of Combe Martin, with summer dog restrictions making it a winter and shoulder-season option for dog owners visiting North Devon.

A secluded cove near Woolacombe popular for rock pooling and surfing, but with a full summer dog ban from late April to September meaning it is an autumn and winter option for dog owners.

A quieter stretch of beach at the northern end of Dawlish near Langstone Rock, offering year-round dog access on the tidal section and sitting between the town of Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.

A unique Victorian beach experience accessed through hand-carved tunnels in Ilfracombe, with a tidal bathing pool and exceptional rock pooling, but sadly dogs are not permitted on the beach at any time.