Summer’s nearly here and we can’t wait to head to the beach with our four-legged friends. Blessed with thousands of beaches and mile-upon-mile of stunning coastal paths, the UK is home to an abundance of shoreline territory to explore with your dog at your heels. Whether you want to bound along sensational sea-edge trails or go for a sea dip with your dog, here are some of our favourite beach activities to enjoy with your pooch.
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
How about gliding along sublime coastal scenery, with your dog balanced on a stable, stand-up paddleboard? SUP-ing lends itself to calm seas, enabling you to explore the nooks and crannies of our beautiful coastline afloat with your dog. We’d suggest using an inflatable paddle board that’s more grippy and durable for claws, popping a doggy life jacket on your hound, and making sure you go on flat, sheltered waters. If you want to learn how to paddle board with Fido, join a ‘SUP with your dog’ session from Keyhaven in The New Forest, Hampshire.
Wild Swimming
What could feel better than taking a refreshing dip with your dog on a day out at the beach? Wherever you head to for a coastal holiday with the dog, seek out a sea pool, secluded cove or pooch-friendly beach for an invigorating saltwater dip. Not only will it be fun to splash around with your furry friend, but it will also cool you both down and has all sorts of health benefits for humans, including boosting your immune system and improving your mood. In Cornwall we love a doggy dip in Treyarnon sea pool, in Wales descend the cliffs to the sheltered Marloes Sands, and in the Scottish Highlands take a paddle with your pooch in the azure waters hemming Balnakeil Beach. We’d suggest checking out the Wild Swimming website for locations, tips and information about wild swimming all over the UK.
Boat Cruises
Instead of gazing out to sea from the beach with your dog, why not hop aboard a boat trip and enjoy the view of the beach from the ocean? Not only can you soak up the stunning coastal scenery beyond the shoreline, but you’ll also spot offshore marine life from sunfish and seabirds to basking sharks and dolphins. From the Scottish islands to the UK’s south coast, many boat cruises allow dogs onboard – including the ferries to the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly. On Cornwall’s Fal River Ferry services dogs go free, so you can beach hop from Falmouth to St Mawes and Flushing. Or, if you’re close to Padstow, hop on the Black Rock Ferry to Rock, and set foot on the dog-friendly golden sands of Daymer Bay.
Surfing
While it’s up to you whether you actually try and get your dog on a surfboard, there are plenty of UK surfing beaches where your dog is welcome to play in the sand while you hit the waves. Branksome Dene in Poole Bay is not only home to the excellent Shaka Surf school, it also happens to be based on a beautiful sandy – and dog friendly – beach. Proof that many people do actually take their dogs surfing here, is that the UK’s only dog surfing championships takes place here at the Dog Masters Festival in July, the next one being in 2024.
Coastal Walkies
Norfolk coast, dog friendly beach cottage” class=”wp-image-1474658″/>Whether you stroll along the promenade with an ice cream in hand, tackle calf-busting cliff paths to take in eye-popping views, or frolic on the wide open sandy spaces, a coastal walk with your waggy-tailed friend is a great way to explore the wonders of the shoreline. Don your walking boots and tread the coastal paths of Cornwall, Devon and Wales, venture where the South Downs meets the sea on the Seven Sisters trail in East Sussex, or stroll along the North Norfolk Coastal Path and spot seals at Blakeney Point. Wherever you wander this summer, paws to shed your shoes and pad along the shoreline, feeling the sand between your toes while improving circulation and your connection to nature and beach life.
Sailing
Feel the wind in your sails and castaway for a sailing adventure off the coast of Britain with your salty sea dog. If you’re a proficient sailor, you can charter your own boat in The Solent with Hamble Boat Yacht Charters, and Fido can bop onboard too. Or, in Cornwall, you can rent a traditional Cornish shrimper from Mylor Harbour and set out to sea with your furry friend on deck. If you prefer to experience the sailing spectacle with your dog from dry land, head to one of the summer’s sailing regattas in Cowes, Falmouth, Fowey or Dartmouth.
Cycling
If you and your canine companion are energetic types, why not explore some of the UK’s coastline under peddle and paw power? From Devon’s Tarka Trail and Cornwall’s Camel Trail to the Wales Coast Path, there are plenty of dog-friendly, off-road cycle paths that don’t veer far from the sea, offering plenty of paws-in-the-sand stops for picnics and dips. Tackle the highs and lows of the Ballycarton Wood trail in Northern Ireland and you’ll be rewarded with dramatic views of the Atlantic Coast, or follow the Red Squirrel Trail across the Isle of Wight, winding from estuaries and woodland to a dramatic stretch of the island’s coastline.
Eat Ice Cream
Not every beach activity requires action and adventure. If you simply want to kick back and enjoy quintessential beach life with your dog, why not just cool down by the sea in some of our favourite places to get ice cream for you and your dog this summer?
Ready for a beach adventure with your dog?
Book a Dog Friendly Retreat for your summer holiday and brace yourself for buckets full of beach activities together. If you’re taking your dog on a summer holiday, check out our blog on keeping your furry friends cool in the summer.
