Sea dogs: The best beach walks with your dog this Winter

Summer is over and the sunbathers have gone, but dogs don’t care! So now it’s time for dogs to reclaim the beaches! We asked the dogs themselves to recommend their favourite places to bark at the waves across the UK. Here is our list of the top dog friendly beaches with restrictions lifted for the winter months…

Cleethorpes beach, North East Lincolnshire.

Nominated by: Alfie, a 12-year-old Collie.

Facilities: Plenty of free parking nearby, and lots of dog bins. Nice café next to the leisure centre that welcomes dogs all year round for coffee or breakfast.

Why Alfie loves this beach: There are dunes and lovely walks alongside the marsh area. We love it, especially out of season when not so many people are about! Christmas Day and Boxing Day see hundreds of people walking with their dogs!

Whitley Bay (south beach), Tyne and Wear.

Nominated by: Bramble, an Irish Wolfhound and Blue Cross education dog.

Facilities: Just at the point where the dog and no dog beaches clash, there is the Rendezvous café and the Links Art Gallery in a fantastic 1930s building overlooking the sea. It has been run by the same family for 60 years and although dogs aren’t allowed inside, there are plenty of outdoor tables and chairs to be served at with your best friend. Toilets can be found here and if anyone fancies it, there’s a mini golf course on the cliffs behind.

Why Bramble loves this beach: There are loads of dogs there - always someone to play with - but the beach is so huge that it still manages to look empty. It’s one of my favourite places to be - if you want a good clean dog beach with plenty of near-by facilities and the opportunity to nosey around rock pools next to the island then you can’t beat Whitley Bay!

Widemouth Bay (northern half), near Bude, Cornwall.

Nominated by: Buster, a Lurcher who now lives happily in his third (and final) home.

Facilities: Car parks at either end and cafés at both ends too. Special mention goes to the Widemouth Bay Café, which is happy to have dogs inside. They do good food and have a lovely view over the beach, so even if the weather is awful you can still appreciate the sight of the crashing waves. There are also public toilets and showers, and a beach shop and surf hire. Also lifeguards.

Why Buster loves this beach: It’s a very long beach which is great for a lovely walk and a good run. It’s very popular with families and dog walkers, so I have lots of other dogs to play with. There’s a mixture of sand and stones and lots of rock pools, so lots of interesting smells and places to explore. Plus, its on the South West Coast Path if you fancy a longer walk.

Hive Beach, Burton Bradstock, Dorset.

Nominated by: Kaspar, a Pomeranian rehomed by our Tiverton rehoming centre.

Facilities: Hive Beach café is fabulous, with views out to sea and the best crab my owner has ever tasted. Dogs are welcome in the café. Toilets are next door to the café. Loads of pubs nearby, but our favourite was a bit further away.

Why Kaspar loves this beach: It’s great for meeting other dogs, paddling and running around. Plus, there’s a fantastic view from the beach, café and cliffs.

Westward Ho!, Devon.

Nominated by: Pippin, a seven-year-old Springer Spaniel.

Facilities: There is ample car parking and disabled parking close to the beach itself. There are an array of restaurants, bars, traditional amusement arcades and shops. At the Pier House Seafront Bar and Bistro I am allowed in the bar and on the sun terrace which has lovely views of Lundy Island.

Why Pippin loves this beach: I am allowed on the whole beach from October to April and all year round at the Northam Burrows end. You can get close to nature and explore the South West Coast path which passes through the village and beyond. There are also lots of dunes to run up and down and explore.

West Wittering, East Sussex.

Nominated by: Millie, who went from rags (stray) to riches (I’m allowed on the sofa!).

Facilities: There is a huge car park right next to the beach, with toilets and a café. Car park is cash only and the price changes with the seasons and weekend, so check the website before you go. There are lots of bins.

Why Millie loves this beach: It’s huge! This is a sandy beach where I can run around, go for a paddle in the shallows - or a swim if I’m feeling brave - and best of all, play with my ball. It bounces really high! There are also sandy dunes to sniff around in and explore on the East Head spit (but I’m not allowed on the dunes during ground-nesting bird season).

Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Nominated by: Gordon, a Jack Russell terrier being cared for at our Burford rehoming centre.

Facilities: Public toilets are 20p to use on the front. Enjoy a drink in one of the many dog-friendly cafes.

Why Gordon loves this beach: Boy this beach trip was fun! Clarissa, who works at Blue Cross, took me for a day out on her day off, and we had such a great time. There was lots of space to run about and play ball, and I got to say hello to other dogs. I paddled in the sea (I didn’t go in very deep, but braver dogs could if they wanted to). Clarissa thinks it was the first time I’ve been on sand, as I walked on my tippy toes at first before getting very exciting and running around in circles with excitement!

Harbour Cove, near Padstow Harbour, Cornwall.

Nominated by: Billy (formally known as Willy Woo), a Springer Spaniel.

Facilities: There is a car park nearby but Harbour Cove is also only a short walk from Padstow; a bustling harbour, but very dog friendly. All amenities can be found here, including lots of dog friendly places to eat or drink. Padstow is very dog friendly. As well as the amazing beaches there is also the Camel Trail, a dis-used railway line which is now a cycle path along the Camel estuary. It allows miles of traffic-free walking or cycling, and access to beautiful scenery and wildlife. Dogs are allowed on the route and many of the cycle hire places rent out dog trailers with the bikes too!

Why Billy loves this beach: Harbour Cove is a huge expanse of sand, at low tide almost a mile and a half, plus it is relatively quiet even in summer - plenty of space for running and playing ball! The water is great for swimming and at low tide there are sometimes pools of water on the beach to explore too.

Shaldon Beach, near Teignmouth, Devon.

Nominated by: Penny, a two-year-old rescue Lab.

Facilities: Lots of cafes and pubs in the town, as well as a good sized car park and public loos.

Why Penny loves this beach: I love this beach! I love to swim and I get to meets lots of dogs to play with here. There is an awesome view overlooking Teignmouth, and if you come down of a morning can get an amazing breakfast from Café Ode which is located in the car park - my owner likes to do that.

Barmouth Beach, Gwynedd.

Nominated by: Oscar, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who works in our Shrewsbury charity shop.

Facilities: There are car parks nearby and along the promenade. Enjoy a trip to a café or a wander round the harbour, too.

Why Oscar loves this beach: I love nothing more than rolling over and over in the sand! I am nine years old but I always feel like a puppy again when I have sand between my paws.

Holkham Beach, North Norfolk.

Nominated by: Sunny, a sheltie rehomed from Blue Cross, and Annie, a Border Collie.

Facilities: Various art galleries, pubs, cafes etc. Holkham Hall estate is worth a visit.

Why Sunny loves this beach: There’s so much space for running! Even on a busy day there is always room as the beach is a mile wide from edge of woods to where sea is (when tide is out). Pine woods, next to the beach, is also great to explore. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and is great for spotting wildlife, seals, birds and plants.

Clachan Sands, North Uist, Outer Hebrides.

Nominated by: Stan, a working Cocker Spaniel.

Facilities: There is a campsite nearby.

Why Stan loves this beach: The beaches are long easy walks with crystal clear waters and clean sands with beautiful scenery all around you. Clachan Sands makes a true outdoor holiday full of walks and fun for dogs like me.