Dog-Friendly Beaches within easy reach of Cheristow‘s North Devon dog-friendly cottages…
The spectacular coastline of North Devon and Cornwall has some of England’s most beautiful and varied dog-friendly beaches. Whether your dog loves splashing in rock pools, racing across wide stretches of sand, or simply enjoying a peaceful coastal walk, staying at Cheristow Farm North Devon Cottages gives you a choice:
Hartland Quay Beach
Less than 10 minutes’ drive from your cottage, down a private toll road, this dramatic rocky beach with sand exposed at low tide is perfect for dogs who love scrambling about and exploring rock pools. The beach below towering chevron fold cliffs can be wonderfully calm and sheltered or storm-beaten, like the remains of the harbour. The dog-friendly Wrecker’s Retreat pub, part of the former Customs House now the Hartland Quay Hotel, is a good port, withoutdoor seating and great views.
Dog access to the beach is from 1 November to 31 March and the coast path runs through the middle car park above the hotel, seasonal shop, and small maritime museum.
Clovelly Beach
About 15 minutes’ drive away and accessible for the nimble via famously steep and cobbled village streets, this small pebble beach and harbour, with sand revealed at low tide, is dog-friendly all year round. Take a pebbly stroll beneath the wooded cliffs to the waterfall, sit on the ancient harbour wall with views across the bay and think of the hardy, herring fishing way of lives lived here; he historic village and the sheltered cove setting are memorable.
Village parking charges apply and there are dog-friendly pubs, and seasonal cafés. For those with limited mobility a Land Rover transfer between the visitor centre and The Red Lion hotel operates between Easter & October generally between 10am-4.30pm but do check
Speke’s Mill Mouth Beach
It’s about 30 minutes’ coast path walk from the car park at Hartland Quay, and a steep climb down to (and up from…) this rugged bay framed by dramatic cliffs. With Speke’s waterfall thundering down after heavy rain, wonderful and varied rock formations, and sandy stretches at low tide it’s a wild North Devon beach experience for agile dogs and owners.
Westward Ho! Beach & Northam Burrows
25 minutes’ or so drive from Cheristow, the wide stretch of sand with its pebble ridge at Westward Ho! is great for energetic dogs to run free from October to April. From 1 May to 20 September dog access is restricted to the northern end of the beach, to the right of the pebble ridge. The Northam Burrows end of the beach is dog-friendly all year round.
There is a large (paying) car park with public toilets, and several dog-friendly cafés nearby.
Instow Sands
Approx 30 minutes’ drive from Cheristow, the northern end of Instow’s sandy beach, where the Torridge river meets the Taw Estuary, is dog-friendly year-round. The central stretch between the Quay and Lane End Road (by the Boathouse Bar) is no-go between 1 May and 30 September.
Saunton Sands
It’s approx. 50 minutes’ drive to Saunton’s miles of golden sand and apart from the area to the north of the slipway, dogs are welcome year-round – on a lead please when the beach is busy. There’s a large car park and a café.
Sandymouth Beach
It’s about 30-minutes’ drive to this fine stretch of Cornish coast and as the National Trust says, ‘under control dogs are welcome at Sandymouth’,The Trust operates the large car park and there’s an independent cafe on the way down to the beach. Backed by cliffs, wide and sandy at low tide – great for strollers, surfers and body-boarders – when the tide comes in you’re on the pebbled fringe. Time it right for the walk south to Northcott Mouth beach (also dog-friendly) or on to Bude along the beach and back via the cliff-top coastal path. Wonderful.
Dog-friendly year-round, Duckpool and Welcombe Mouth beaches are on the coast path north of Sandymouth.
Bude’s Summerleaze & Crooklets beaches
The bustling Cornish sea-side town is roughly 30-minutes’ drive from Cheristow and has parking for its 2 sandy beaches: on Summerleaze beach it’s dogs on leads between 10am and 6pm from 21 May to 30 September. And on Crooklets beach dogs are allowed from 1 October to 15 May, at other times access is restricted to before 10am and after 6pm.
Planning Your Beach Visits
It’s best to check current restrictions before visiting. We suggest you look up the specific beach you’re keen to visit as the general ‘dog-friendly beaches’ sites can be out-of-date (and so can we!).
Always have safety in mind. North Devon and Cornwall’s coast can be hazardous; cliffs are prone to erosion and paths can be tricky. Keep dogs away from cliff edges and be aware of tides wind and currents before allowing swimming.
Obviously, always clean-up after your dogs, keep them under control around other beach users, and respect farm animals and wildlife (particularly ground-nesting birds during breeding seasons). Early morning and evening visits can work well for cooler temperatures and fewer people around.