10 Best Year-Round Dog Beaches in Devon

Year-Round Dog Beaches in Devon

One of Devon's great advantages for dog owners is the number of beaches where dogs are welcome every day of the year, with no seasonal bans, no time restrictions, no exceptions. This makes Devon especially valuable for winter walks and the shoulder seasons when you want the beach largely to yourself.

Here are the 10 best year-round dog beaches in Devon, with practical details to help you plan your visit. For a broader overview including beaches with seasonal restrictions, see our complete Devon dog beach guide.

1. Saunton Sands

Saunton Sands is the largest and arguably finest year-round dog beach in Devon. Three miles of flat, wide sand stretching south from the village of Saunton. Backed by the Braunton Burrows dunes (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), this beach offers endless space for dogs to run. Parking is at the northern end. The beach faces west, making it spectacular at sunset.

2. Croyde Bay

Croyde Bay sits just north of Saunton and offers a very different character: a classic surf beach surrounded by green headlands. Dogs are year-round and the village of Croyde has several dog-friendly pubs and cafés. At low tide, extensive rock pools extend from the southern headland. For pub recommendations nearby, see our dog-friendly pubs guide.

3. Instow Beach

Instow is a sheltered sandy beach at the confluence of the Taw and Torridge estuaries. Year-round dog access, calm water ideal for paddling, and the added pleasure of watching estuary birds. The village has a good ice cream parlour and a waterfront café.

4. Blackpool Sands

Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth is one of the most beautiful beaches in Devon: a sheltered shingle and sand cove with crystal-clear water set against a wooded backdrop. Year-round dog access is rare on a beach of this quality, making it exceptional. The on-site café is excellent.

5. Bantham Beach

Bantham in the South Hams is a wild surf beach at the mouth of the River Avon with year-round dog access. The estuary at low tide creates a large, sheltered paddling area that dogs love. The village of Bantham is tiny but has a wonderful pub. The walk south along the coast path to Thurlestone is described in our best dog walks guide.

6. Mothecombe Beach

Mothecombe is a private beach on the Flete Estate, open to the public at specified times, with year-round dog access. Extremely beautiful and rarely busy, set within the Erme estuary.

7. Bigbury-on-Sea

Bigbury-on-Sea has year-round dog access and the added drama of Burgh Island, the art deco hotel island that can be reached on foot at low tide. Dogs can also cross to the island outside of very busy periods. The beach faces south-west and catches the last of the day's sun.

8. Welcombe Mouth

A wild, remote cove on the North Devon coast, Welcombe Mouth requires a steep walk down from the car park but rewards you with complete solitude and year-round dog access. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, it's a proper adventure beach.

9. Westcombe Beach

Another South Hams secret, Westcombe Beach near Bigbury requires a 20-minute walk from the nearest parking but has year-round dog access and extraordinary beauty. A rock arch frames the western end of the beach.

10. Hallsands

The historic ruined village of Hallsands is a fascinating destination, and the small beach below the cliffs has year-round dog access. A moving and memorable place to walk with your dog.

Planning Your Year-Round Dog Beach Visit

• Winter visits are often spectacular. Dramatic skies, wild waves, and you'll often have the beach entirely to yourself.
• Check our Storm Drain Monitor before swimming in winter, when overflows are most common
• Carry fresh water. Many Devon beaches don't have water points. Full kit list in our beach packing guide.
• Check tide times on our beach pages before visiting coves that change significantly with the tide
• For walks starting from these beaches, see our Devon dog walks guide