Best dog friendly beaches in Devon
All of our seafood restaurants are located, if not overlooking the sea, then moments from water and nearby beaches. They’re also dog-friendly. That means you can head off for your coastal adventure or trip to the beach with the whole family knowing that you can join us afterwards for lunch or dinner with your four-legged companion in tow. All we ask is that paws stay on the floor.
With our close proximity to the coast and our love for dogs, it goes without saying that we know a thing or two about the best dog friendly beaches in Devon.
Whilst there are many dog friendly beaches in Devon that are open to pups all year round, as we head into Autumn and Winter a whole new sandy world opens up to dog owners. Not only have the summer crowds dispersed, meaning there’s more space for swimming and chasing a ball, but some of the most beautiful beaches in Devon become dog friendly from 1st October.
Here are our favourite dog friendly beaches in Devon near each of our restaurants.
Exmouth Beach
Type: Sandy
Dogs: Allowed on some parts of beach all year, main beach between 1st Oct - 30th April
Best for: Running/chasing a ball
Access: Easy
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Exmouth
Of course there is Exmouth beach; two miles of golden shores, just moments from the town centre and lined with shops and takeaways, including our sea view restaurant. Dogs are welcome on some parts of the beach all year round, but come 1st October and they can have a full run of the whole beach, until 30th April, making it one of the best dog friendly beaches in Devon during the Autumn and Winter months.
Sandy Bay Beach
Type: Sandy
Dogs: Allowed between 1st October - 31st March
Best for: Swimming
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Exmouth
Head just around the headland at the eastern end of Exmouth beach - and sitting just below Devon Cliffs Haven Holiday Park - you’ll discover the secluded Sandy Bay Beach - a privately owned cove that is open to humans all year round - and dogs between 1st October - 31st March. It’s a great spot for a wild swim, and there’s a café too - perfect for grabbing a hot drink to warm you up in the colder months.
Fishcombe Cove
Type: Shingle
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Great views
Access: Steep path
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Brixham
Just a mile from Brixham harbour is this beautiful, rocky cove, which allows four legged visitors all year round, making it one of the most dog friendly beaches in Devon. Incorporate a visit to this little cove into a walk along the South West Coast Path, or through picturesque Battery Gardens. There’s a lovely little cafe too (open 10am-4pm daily until the end of October) where you can grab a breakfast bap or a delicious cake.
Wembury Beach
Type: Pebbles and sand
Dogs: Allowed between 1st October and 30th April
Best for: Ball games
Access: Easy
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Plymouth
This sheltered beach is just 7 miles from our Plymouth restaurant on Sutton Harbour. There is plenty of space for ball games, and on a clear day you can enjoy views over Plymouth sound. Walk south east from this beach and you’ll discover other popular beaches, including Heybrook and Bovisand. There’s a lovely little café at one end, and the car park is run by the National Trust so members can park for free.
Castle Cove
Type: Pebbles and rock
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Exploring
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Dartmouth
Arriving at this sheltered little cove feels like discovering a hidden secret (make sure you check tide times as it’s completely covered at high tide). It’s just a mile south of the town of Dartmouth - and our waterside restaurant - and overlooked by Dartmouth Castle - hence the name - so make sure you check out the views from this historic fortress before you head down to the beach.
Explore a bit further on the coast path and you’ll come across Sugary Cove, Deadmans Cove, and Ladies Cove, all open to four legged explorers year round too, making it a great spot to head to for dog friendly beaches in Devon.
Maidencombe Beach
Type: Pebbles and rock
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Relaxing
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Torquay
Open to dogs all year round, this beach is just a 15 minute drive from our Torquay Restaurant. Small but perfectly formed, and surrounded by towering red cliffs, it’s the perfect spot to relax, and enjoy a bracing swim or a paddle. When it’s quiet there’s still plenty of space to give your companion a good run. Located on the South West coast path, don’t miss out on exploring the cliff top paths to take in the breath taking views.
With our close proximity to the coast and our love for dogs, it goes without saying that we know a thing or two about the best dog friendly beaches in Devon.
Whilst there are many dog friendly beaches in Devon that are open to pups all year round, as we head into Autumn and Winter a whole new sandy world opens up to dog owners. Not only have the summer crowds dispersed, meaning there’s more space for swimming and chasing a ball, but some of the most beautiful beaches in Devon become dog friendly from 1st October.
Here are our favourite dog friendly beaches in Devon near each of our restaurants.
Exmouth Beach
Type: Sandy
Dogs: Allowed on some parts of beach all year, main beach between 1st Oct - 30th April
Best for: Running/chasing a ball
Access: Easy
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Exmouth
Of course there is Exmouth beach; two miles of golden shores, just moments from the town centre and lined with shops and takeaways, including our sea view restaurant. Dogs are welcome on some parts of the beach all year round, but come 1st October and they can have a full run of the whole beach, until 30th April, making it one of the best dog friendly beaches in Devon during the Autumn and Winter months.
Sandy Bay Beach
Type: Sandy
Dogs: Allowed between 1st October - 31st March
Best for: Swimming
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Exmouth
Head just around the headland at the eastern end of Exmouth beach - and sitting just below Devon Cliffs Haven Holiday Park - you’ll discover the secluded Sandy Bay Beach - a privately owned cove that is open to humans all year round - and dogs between 1st October - 31st March. It’s a great spot for a wild swim, and there’s a café too - perfect for grabbing a hot drink to warm you up in the colder months.
Fishcombe Cove
Type: Shingle
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Great views
Access: Steep path
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Brixham
Just a mile from Brixham harbour is this beautiful, rocky cove, which allows four legged visitors all year round, making it one of the most dog friendly beaches in Devon. Incorporate a visit to this little cove into a walk along the South West Coast Path, or through picturesque Battery Gardens. There’s a lovely little cafe too (open 10am-4pm daily until the end of October) where you can grab a breakfast bap or a delicious cake.
Wembury Beach
Type: Pebbles and sand
Dogs: Allowed between 1st October and 30th April
Best for: Ball games
Access: Easy
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Plymouth
This sheltered beach is just 7 miles from our Plymouth restaurant on Sutton Harbour. There is plenty of space for ball games, and on a clear day you can enjoy views over Plymouth sound. Walk south east from this beach and you’ll discover other popular beaches, including Heybrook and Bovisand. There’s a lovely little café at one end, and the car park is run by the National Trust so members can park for free.
Castle Cove
Type: Pebbles and rock
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Exploring
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Dartmouth
Arriving at this sheltered little cove feels like discovering a hidden secret (make sure you check tide times as it’s completely covered at high tide). It’s just a mile south of the town of Dartmouth - and our waterside restaurant - and overlooked by Dartmouth Castle - hence the name - so make sure you check out the views from this historic fortress before you head down to the beach.
Explore a bit further on the coast path and you’ll come across Sugary Cove, Deadmans Cove, and Ladies Cove, all open to four legged explorers year round too, making it a great spot to head to for dog friendly beaches in Devon.
Maidencombe Beach
Type: Pebbles and rock
Dogs: Allowed all year round
Best for: Relaxing
Access: Steep steps
Nearest Rockfish restaurant: Torquay
Open to dogs all year round, this beach is just a 15 minute drive from our Torquay Restaurant. Small but perfectly formed, and surrounded by towering red cliffs, it’s the perfect spot to relax, and enjoy a bracing swim or a paddle. When it’s quiet there’s still plenty of space to give your companion a good run. Located on the South West coast path, don’t miss out on exploring the cliff top paths to take in the breath taking views.
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