What beaches can dogs go on North Wales?
North Wales boasts a wide selection of dog-friendly beaches, where even many of those with seasonal restrictions offer ample space for our four-legged companions to roam. To assist you in exploring some of the best of North Wales' coastal gems, we've curated a list featuring a variety of beaches, each with unique terrains and features, ensuring a memorable experience for both you and your dog. So, without further ado, here are our dog-friendly beaches in North Wales, organised by county.
Our list of Dog Friendly Beaches in North Wales
Dog Friendly Beaches in Conwy
1) Deganwy Beach
Restrictions: None
Deganwy Beach, nestled between the towns of Llandudno and Conwy, is a welcoming beach for dogs year-round. The beach features a mixture of shingles and sandy expanses during low tide and offers breath taking views across the Conwy Estuary towards Conwy Castle. Its tranquil atmosphere, slightly quieter than its neighbouring beach West Shore, makes it a popular destination for both locals and visitors seeking a relaxing beach visit. Whether for a leisurely walk along the shore or simply to admire the stunning coastal landscape, Deganwy Beach is a retreat for you and your four-legged friends.
If you’re looking for a longer walk, you can take the coastal walk from West Shore beach in Llandudno, passing through Deganwy Beach and along to the town of Conwy. It’ll take you just over an hour to walk each way.
For other activities in Deganwy, there are a few shops and cafes to visit in the village, and the Deganwy Castle walk is nearby too.
2) Westshore beach, Llandudno
Restrictions: There is a small part that has dog restrictions during the summer months; however, there is still PLENTY of beach for your dog to walk, run, play, paddle, and picnic.
West Shore beach in Llandudno is a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, welcoming locals, holidaymakers, and their four-legged friends. It's an ideal spot for leisurely strolls and dog-friendly activities against the backdrop of the picturesque views of Conwy Bay and its mountains. During low tide, the expansive sand offers opportunities for various beach activities. Although some areas may have restrictions for dogs in the summer, there's still ample space for you and your furry friend to enjoy.
You can find more about West Shore beach on our dedicated blog. If you’re interested in other dog-friendly walks and attractions in Llandudno, then you might like "10 Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Llandudno" too. Or if you’re looking for a bite to eat while in the area, you might find our list of dog-friendly cafes and restaurants useful too.
3) Conwy Morfa
Restrictions: None
Conwy Morfa beach sits against a backdrop of majestic mountains and overlooks views Notably, Conwy Morfa is renowned for its dog-friendliness and welcomes our four-legged friends year-round with no restrictions on any parts of the beaches, inviting both locals and tourists to enjoy the sandy shores. What’s more, it’s a hotspot for wildlife. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch common lizards basking on rocks in the dunes and rabbits on the grassy verges nearby, as well as nesting birds. Birdwatchers are often spotted in the area. For local facilities, there is the Mulberry pub and restaurant that sits on the Marina, or there are shops, cafes, and more a short drive away in Conwy.
4) Llanfairfechan Beach
Restrictions: A small section has restrictions, however when the tide is low there are plenty of other parts of beach for you and your pooch to enjoy.
Llanfairfechan beach is part of the small village of Llanfairfechan. Along with an expansive beach during low tide, there are other facilities such as a children's playground, paddling pool, toilets, and a beach café. If you’re looking for a long coastal walk or cycle, you can also take the Wales Coastal Path between Llanfairfechan and Bangor - it’s a whopping 10 miles and will take around 4 hours to walk. Llanfairfechan beach has beautiful coloured houses lining its shore, with outward views of Anglesey and the lighthouse at PenMon point.
Due to Llanfairfechan beach being a lesser-known beach in the county and not one of the main tourist hot spots, you’ll often find that it’s a little less busy than others.
You can find out more about Llanfairfechan beach in our blog.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Denbighshire
5) Gronant Dunes & Ffrith West Beaches, Prestatyn
Restrictions: None
Technically these are two separate beaches, but they are side by side of the Central beach that has some restrictions on dogs - these two however don’t have any any restrictions.
Year round dog friendly beach, Gronant Dunes and Ffirth beaches Prestatyn are lovely beaches that is one of three that connect in the area via a promenade and a popular one for those looking for a bit of a walk, picnic and a sun bathe. Sitting just 3 miles west from the town itself it’s a welcome sandy beach with sand dunes that you and your dog are sure to enjoy playing on.
Dog Friendly Beach in Flintshire
6) Point of Ayr and Talacre Beach , Holywell
Restrictions: None
Not too far from the coastal village of Talacre, you’ll find its beach and the majestic Ayr lighthouse sitting at the entrance of the River Dee estuary. The beach itself is a large expanse of golden sands backed by sand dunes, with an RSPB nature reserve nearby, making it a great spot for birdwatchers. It’s the most northern tip of Wales with views of the Irish Sea and beyond. This characterful beach welcomes dogs all year round and is a great walk for families too. Your pooch will be sure to enjoy a run around on this beach.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Gwynedd
Gwynedd has a huge number of beaches that are worth a visit, some dog-friendly year-round and others with restrictions on certain parts during the summer months. Our list for this could have been HUGE, but we’ve picked out some of the top ones that are either 100% welcoming of dogs or, despite any restrictions, still have large areas for dogs to run, play, and paddle.
7) Shell Island Beach (Mochras)
Restrictions: On the main area of the beach dogs need to be kept on lead, however there are other parts of the beach you can walk to where your dog stretch their legs off-lead
Shell Island is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, boasting vast stretches of sandy beaches and rolling dunes. Although named an island, it’s actually a peninsula that offers a retreat for nature enthusiasts, with opportunities for birdwatching, beachcombing, doggy playtime, and enjoying panoramic views of Cardigan Bay. Its unique landscape makes it a much-loved destination for visitors seeking solace amidst nature's splendour. In fact, Shell Island itself is a very popular camping spot with 300 acres dedicated to it.
8) Harlech Beach
Restrictions: A small section of beach immediately in front of the holiday park has a dog ban between April 1st and September 30th. The rest of the beach is dog-friendly year round.
Harlech beach sits within Snowdonia National Park and is backed by the impressive Harlech Castle (which is also dog-friendly - see 10 dog-friendly castles here), along with the rolling hills of the countryside and Snowdonia. The beach is popular with families and dog walkers. Although there are some restrictions during the summer months on part of the beach, there is still plenty for you and your pooch to enjoy year-round
9) Porth Ceiriad Beach, Pwllheli
Restrictions: None
At the end of the Llŷn Peninsula, you’ll find Porth Cerriad Beach, very much a hidden gem that isn’t as popular as some of the other beaches on our list. The beach itself offers inviting blue waters and long stretches of golden sands. It’s a popular choice for water sports enthusiasts who enjoy surfing and kayaking, but it’s also a lovely isolated spot for a relaxing stroll with your pooch.
The beach is a little harder to get to than others as it takes around 15 minutes to walk from the parking area and requires you to go down steep steps to access. However, it is dog-friendly with no restrictions year-round.
10) Traeth Yr Eifl (West End) , near Pwllheli
Restrictions: None
Another hidden gem not too far from Caernarfon, this beach has a truly scenic offering, with dramatic backdrops of the last of Snowdonia's mountain ranges, the half a kilometre high Yr Eifl. The beach is made up largely of pebbles with a few sandy patches as you walk along. If you’re looking to do some sunbathing with your pooch in a scenic yet relaxing atmosphere, then this is the beach for you. This beach isn’t developed so it does not have any facilities on-site, so if you’re looking for a beach that has more of an adventurous feel to it then this is the one for you and your four-legged friend.
11) Barmouth Beach (Abermaw)
Restrictions: Dogs are banned from the area of beach between the leisure centre and the river from 1st April to 30th September, however there is still a reasonable sized section for dogs year round.
If you're planning on visiting the seaside resort of Barmouth, you’ll no doubt want to take a leisurely stroll on its beach. The sandy beach is lined by the village with a backdrop of lush hillsides. If you and your dog enjoy long walks, at low tide it is possible to walk all the way to Harlech to the north, offering wonderful views of Tremadog Bay. Although the main part of the beach has a dog ban over the summer months, there are still parts of the beach within Barmouth for you and your pooch to enjoy. There are plenty of facilities nearby for you to use.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Anglesey
12) Penmon Point Beach, Beaumaris
Restrictions: None
Penmon Point beach is a year-round dog-friendly pebbled beach with a lot to offer. Its beauty is showcased on the sunniest and moodiest of days. Here you'll find the Penmon Point lighthouse, views of Puffin Island, and it’s great for rock pooling. If you’re lucky during the summer months, you might just spot dolphins or porpoises. There are also lovely hillside coastal walks you can do as well.
If you’d like to learn more about Penmon Point and its beach, we have a dedicated blog on it for you to read.
13) Porth y Tywod Beach, Llanfaelog
Restrictions: None
A popular choice with those who enjoy water sports with their four-legged friends, this dog-friendly beach is welcoming year-round and a lovely choice for families who are looking for a less crowded beach in the area. The sandy coastline offers a lovely walk during both the winter and summer months. The beachfronts are largely undeveloped, but there are villages within easy walking distance nearby.
14) Llanddwyn Beach & Island
Restrictions: During the summer months there is a western part of the beach from 1st May to 30th September. Visit this dedicated blog for more info.
Llanddwyn Beach boasts golden sands and crystal-clear waters, making it a picturesque destination for beach lovers. Backing it is a forestry nature reserve, which is one of the few homes in the UK for the red squirrel. Its claim to fame is that scenes from the series 'House of Dragons' were filmed here. The beach offers stunning views of Eryri National Park, Caernarfon, and the Llyn Peninsula. From the beach, you can also walk to its famous lighthouse, where you can learn a bit more about the area's history. Due to its beauty, this beach is one of the most popular in North Wales.
For more information, read our blog on the beach and island.
15) Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch)
Restrictions: None
Nestled between the towns of Pentraeth and Benllech on the east coast of Anglesey, you’ll find Red Wharf Bay, also known as Traeth Coch. This beach lies in an area of natural beauty and offers a lovely walk between the two towns - one you and your pooch are sure to enjoy. The area is a great spot for your dog to have a play off-lead while being a fantastic spot for rock pooling. There is a café and toilets nearby should you need to use them.
Working out tide times
Nothing is more disheartening than arriving at the beach with your eager dog, only to find there's no sand or room to play. To prevent this let down, we often use the BBC tides timetable to gauge tide times. While it may not list every beach, it provides a good indication of the tide patterns in nearby areas.
There are SO MANY beaches in the North Wales area so even if you don’t visit one of these, there’s plenty others for you to stumble across too. So, which beach will you visit
Commentaires