Dog Friendly Beaches in Suffolk
With miles of beautiful beaches open to the public year round,
Suffolk is a great place for a lazy walk along the coast with family.
Suffolk coasts are famously dog-friendly, and there's never a dog-friendly beach too far away from one of Suffolk's many coastal towns and villages. Below are guidelines for bringing your dog for a day on the beach.
First, the good news — from October through April, there are no dog restrictions in force in Suffolk so you can feel free to bring the family pet to any stretch of beach you like!
However, there are restrictions during the summer on some beaches, so a town-by-town listing of restrictions from ca 1st May through to ca 30th September follows below:
Though the main beach is restricted during the Summer months, there is a mile of dog-friendly beach just to the North of Aldburgh which is well signposted, and stretches from the Wentworth Hotel to Thorpeness. Click here to read more about Aldeburgh.
The Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh, (above) is a lovely place to stay for a seaside holiday, and they welcome dogs as long as they are well behaved and on a lead.
Wentworth Hotel is directly opposite Aldeburgh beach, and welcomes dogs too.
While the main beach of Felixstowe has dog restrictions in place from May through September, there are dog friendly beaches on either side of the restricted area, which runs from Spa Pavilion to Wheeler Road. These areas are well signposted and easy to spot.
Find out more about Felixstowe - Services in Felixstowe.
Heath Cottage on the outskirts of Felixstowe sleeps 4 (people!) and is dog friendly!
With the beautiful National Trust site of Dunwich Heath (pictured above) and a beach (part of which is pictured below) that's dog-friendly all year round, Dunwich makes a fantastic dog friendly location with plenty of walks and water on offer.
Your just need to be aware however, that Dunwich is the home to RSPB Minsmere so there are occasional restrictions on dogs on the Heath (not beach) during nesting season. If you're not sure that your dog will stay on the beach then it's best to check with nearby Aldeburgh TIC (Suffolk TIC's) before you make your trip to ensure these nesting restrictions aren't in place.
The Ship, Dunwich offers fantastic refreshment and accommodation, and also happily welcomes dogs. It is surrounded by nature reserves and heathland as well as the beach, making it a great place for both you and your four-legged friend to visit.
Find things to do during your stay in Suffolk - you may even find a Dog Show to attend! Click on the links below to find out What's On in - -
Suffolk
Ipswich
Bury St Edmunds
Woodbridge
Tucked between Dunwich and Thorpeness, Sizewell beach boasts fantastic coastlines which have no restrictions on dogs year-round. A perfect middle ground for a stroll north to Dunwich, past RSPB Minsmere, or south to Thorpeness.
One of Suffolk's most famous beaches, Southwold ofers a fantastic holiday resort for the family. The main beaches of Southwold have pet restrictions in place during the Summer months, however Southwold Benes, just north of the main beach, is dog-friendly throughout the year. Simply follow the A1095 from Southwold to the Denes. Also the beach to the South of Southwold, down to Walberswick, is sandy and pet friendly all year round.
Southwold Pier is one of Suffolk's most famous landmarks (maybe 'landmark' isn't the right word? you know what I mean) and it's dog friendly too so take Mutley along for an ice-cream or home made cake, or perhaps a play in the Amusement arcade, Under The Pier Show, where you can 'walk the dog' (you'll have to visit to see what I mean by this!)
Haw Wood Farm Caravan & Camping Park, near Southwold welcomes dogs but ask that they are kept on a lead whilst on site.
This picture perfect coastal village is holiday home to many British celebrities, as well as being host to the yearly Crabbing Championship every August. It's also completely dog friendly, with no pet restrictions in place. Click here for more information on Walberswick.
The Anchor is a dog friendly place to stay in Walberswick offering fantastic food & comfortable accommodation in recently renovated chalets, so check it out.
Just south of Lowestoft is the large, unspoilt beach at Kessingland where dogs are permitted on leads EXCEPT for the period between 1st May to 30 September.
While Lowestoft itself has restrictions on the Pavilion and town beach, nearby Gunton Denes is dog-friendly, and is signposted off the B1385, north of Lowestoft. For information on the beaches around Lowestoft, please contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01502 533 600. More about Lowestoft.
Which beach in Suffolk does your hound love to race around on?! Please let us know at suffolkguides.admin@suffolktouristguide.com.
Suffolk is a great place for a lazy walk along the coast with family.
Suffolk coasts are famously dog-friendly, and there's never a dog-friendly beach too far away from one of Suffolk's many coastal towns and villages. Below are guidelines for bringing your dog for a day on the beach.
First, the good news — from October through April, there are no dog restrictions in force in Suffolk so you can feel free to bring the family pet to any stretch of beach you like!
However, there are restrictions during the summer on some beaches, so a town-by-town listing of restrictions from ca 1st May through to ca 30th September follows below:
Aldeburgh
Though the main beach is restricted during the Summer months, there is a mile of dog-friendly beach just to the North of Aldburgh which is well signposted, and stretches from the Wentworth Hotel to Thorpeness. Click here to read more about Aldeburgh.
The Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh, (above) is a lovely place to stay for a seaside holiday, and they welcome dogs as long as they are well behaved and on a lead.
Wentworth Hotel is directly opposite Aldeburgh beach, and welcomes dogs too.
Dog Friendly Suffolk
With fantastic beaches, open coastlines, and very few places you can't take your canine pals, plan a day out on the Suffolk Coast today. For more dog friendly attractions in Suffolk, please see
Dog Friendly Suffolk.
With fantastic beaches, open coastlines, and very few places you can't take your canine pals, plan a day out on the Suffolk Coast today. For more dog friendly attractions in Suffolk, please see
Dog Friendly Suffolk.
Felixstowe
While the main beach of Felixstowe has dog restrictions in place from May through September, there are dog friendly beaches on either side of the restricted area, which runs from Spa Pavilion to Wheeler Road. These areas are well signposted and easy to spot.
Find out more about Felixstowe - Services in Felixstowe.
Heath Cottage on the outskirts of Felixstowe sleeps 4 (people!) and is dog friendly!
Dog Friendly Pubs in Suffolk
Find the perfect place for some light refreshment for you and your four-legged friend in Suffolk by clicking on the link above!
Find the perfect place for some light refreshment for you and your four-legged friend in Suffolk by clicking on the link above!
Dunwich
With the beautiful National Trust site of Dunwich Heath (pictured above) and a beach (part of which is pictured below) that's dog-friendly all year round, Dunwich makes a fantastic dog friendly location with plenty of walks and water on offer.
Your just need to be aware however, that Dunwich is the home to RSPB Minsmere so there are occasional restrictions on dogs on the Heath (not beach) during nesting season. If you're not sure that your dog will stay on the beach then it's best to check with nearby Aldeburgh TIC (Suffolk TIC's) before you make your trip to ensure these nesting restrictions aren't in place.
The Ship, Dunwich offers fantastic refreshment and accommodation, and also happily welcomes dogs. It is surrounded by nature reserves and heathland as well as the beach, making it a great place for both you and your four-legged friend to visit.
Find things to do during your stay in Suffolk - you may even find a Dog Show to attend! Click on the links below to find out What's On in - -
Suffolk
Ipswich
Bury St Edmunds
Woodbridge
Sizewell
Tucked between Dunwich and Thorpeness, Sizewell beach boasts fantastic coastlines which have no restrictions on dogs year-round. A perfect middle ground for a stroll north to Dunwich, past RSPB Minsmere, or south to Thorpeness.
Southwold
One of Suffolk's most famous beaches, Southwold ofers a fantastic holiday resort for the family. The main beaches of Southwold have pet restrictions in place during the Summer months, however Southwold Benes, just north of the main beach, is dog-friendly throughout the year. Simply follow the A1095 from Southwold to the Denes. Also the beach to the South of Southwold, down to Walberswick, is sandy and pet friendly all year round.
Southwold Pier is one of Suffolk's most famous landmarks (maybe 'landmark' isn't the right word? you know what I mean) and it's dog friendly too so take Mutley along for an ice-cream or home made cake, or perhaps a play in the Amusement arcade, Under The Pier Show, where you can 'walk the dog' (you'll have to visit to see what I mean by this!)
Haw Wood Farm Caravan & Camping Park, near Southwold welcomes dogs but ask that they are kept on a lead whilst on site.
Dog Friendly Accommodation in Suffolk
How could you possibly leave your faithful companion behind when you go away on holiday? With all of the dog-friendly accommodation available in Suffolk, you won’t have to. Please see Dog Friendly Accommodation in Suffolk for more information.
How could you possibly leave your faithful companion behind when you go away on holiday? With all of the dog-friendly accommodation available in Suffolk, you won’t have to. Please see Dog Friendly Accommodation in Suffolk for more information.
Walberswick
This picture perfect coastal village is holiday home to many British celebrities, as well as being host to the yearly Crabbing Championship every August. It's also completely dog friendly, with no pet restrictions in place. Click here for more information on Walberswick.
The Anchor is a dog friendly place to stay in Walberswick offering fantastic food & comfortable accommodation in recently renovated chalets, so check it out.
Kessingland
Just south of Lowestoft is the large, unspoilt beach at Kessingland where dogs are permitted on leads EXCEPT for the period between 1st May to 30 September.
Lowestoft
While Lowestoft itself has restrictions on the Pavilion and town beach, nearby Gunton Denes is dog-friendly, and is signposted off the B1385, north of Lowestoft. For information on the beaches around Lowestoft, please contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01502 533 600. More about Lowestoft.
Which beach in Suffolk does your hound love to race around on?! Please let us know at suffolkguides.admin@suffolktouristguide.com.
