Vast golden sands, rugged coastal trails and majestic castles rising from mighty sand dunes – Northumberland is top of the pack for beach walkies and dog-friendly holidays.
Grab your hiking boots and your hound, and get ready to explore hidden coves, chase North Sea waves and bound along empty beaches. We’ve sniffed out the best dog-friendly beaches in Northumberland for your next seaside escape.
Seaton Sluice
Best for: A harbour haven with your hound
Follow your nose past the sleepy harbour of Seaton Sluice, where you’ll find a sublime stretch of sand and rocky outcrops hemming the shoreline all the way to Blyth. Take your pooch for a mooch along the promenade that wends through the dunes, then they can chase seagulls and play fetch on the beach, splashing in the tidal pools at low tide. On the other side of the harbour mouth, you can also explore Collywell Bay, another crescent of sand and rocks that’s also popular with anglers.
Bamburgh Beach
Best for: The perfect picture with your pup
One of the most famous and most photographed beaches in Northumberland, this beautiful bay boasts miles of golden sand stretching from the foot of the magnificent Bamburgh Castle. Capture unforgettable moments with your pup against the dramatic backdrop, and gaze out to the Farne Islands and Holy Island while they scamper along the shoreline. Once the seat of the Kingdom of Northumbria, when you bag a dog-friendly cottage in Bamburgh, you can reign over your own coastal kingdom.
Cocklawburn Beach
Best for: A deserted beach with your dog
If you’re seeking a secluded beach to hang out with your hound, head to this hidden gem wrapped in the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Made for windswept walkies, birdwatching and bounding through marram-knitted dunes, Cocklawburn Beach is a four-mile stretch of sand near the dog-friendly town of Berwick-upon-Tweed that is often deserted, except for a trickle of hikers making their way along the Northumberland Coast Path.
Embleton Bay
Best for: History buffs and wild walkies
While Bamburgh steals the show with its castle, history buffs and their canine companions will also love the vast, empty expanse of Embleton Bay. Explore the skeletal ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle (one of our top things to do in Northumberland with dogs) at the southern tip, and search for the name of Scottish pirate Andra Barton, that’s carved on ‘Vanishing Rock’ at the northern end. Keep going to the water’s edge village of Low Newton, where sandy paws and sandy toes are welcomed in the cosy ambience of The Ship Inn. With a wide choice of dog-friendly holiday lets in Embleton, this is a lovely place for a coastal stay in Northumberland.
Alnmouth Beach
Best for: Family beach days with the dog
With its colourful houses strung along the River Aln, dog-friendly Alnmouth is dubbed the Tobermory of Northumberland. Split into three sections made for family days with your furry friend, Alnmouth Beach is the perfect spot to explore on paw and foot. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife on meanders through the marram grass, and unpack a picnic with your pooch on the golden sands. The Alnmouth to Warkworth walk is one of the most popular dog walks in Northumberland, offering breathtaking coastal views and plenty of wide-open spaces for energetic hounds.
Druridge Bay
Best for: Barefoot beach walks and sandy paws
Kick off your shoes and unleash your dog’s boundless energy on the sandy paradise of Druridge Bay. This seven-mile stretch between Amble and the idyllic Cresswell village is perfect for long walkies in any weather. Let your pup chase the waves while you watch for wildlife, and rest your legs on the shores of Ladyburn Lake, which is fringed by 100 acres of woodland and meadows.
Craster Beach
Best for: Kippers and crabbing
Famous for its smoked kippers, the pretty harbour village of Craster is the perfect base for a dog-friendly holiday in Northumberland. There’s a small, sandy beach enclosed in the harbour, flanked by rock and shingle shoreline on each side, providing wild terrain to explore with your four-legged friend while looking out for seals, waders and other birdlife. Keep walking northwards to the romantic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, or head back to one of Craster’s many paw-friendly places to eat.
Cheswick Sands
Best for: Panoramic views with your pup
Discover one of Northumberland’s most expansive beaches with your dog. Soak up panoramic views as far as Berwick-upon-Tweed (and even Holy Island on a clear day) while your pup bounds across vast golden sands, dips in black basalt rock pools, and chases seagulls against the backdrop of rolling dunes.
Beadnell Bay
Best for: Watersports and wagging tails
Beadnell Bay’s sheltered horseshoe bay caters for adrenalin junkies and active beachgoers with dogs in tow. There’s plenty of beach for playing fetch and family picnics with your furry friend, and your dog might even be keen to join you on a kayak or a paddleboard adventure. However, Fido will want to keep paws firmly on dry land if you want to up the ante and try kitesurfing, wakeboarding or wreck diving. After all this activity, you’ll have earned a rest, so it’s handy that Beadnell has a wide choice of dog-friendly holiday cottages.
Book Your Dog-Friendly Cottage in Northumberland
Ready to explore Northumberland’s best dog-friendly beaches? Find the perfect dog-friendly holiday cottage and head to the North East with your pack.
