Julie Smith
26 March 2023
Yorkshire is blessed with a wonderful coastline that’s full craggy coves, sheltered bays, and swathes of golden sand. We have compiled a list of Yorkshire’s finest dog-friendly beaches so that you can enjoy a family seaside holiday or romantic coastal getaway where dogs can play happily on the sand and dip their paws in the sea. Take a look at these top Yorkshire beaches to visit with your favourite four-legged friends by your side.
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Cayton Bay
This peaceful and unspoilt stretch of sand lies around 3 miles south of Scarborough and is a top pick for surfers thanks to strong waves and the Scarborough surf school. The sweeping bay has plenty of space for dogs to stretch their legs and it’s popular for fossil hunters thanks to the towering cliffs above.
Restrictions: Dogs are welcome here all year round but keep a close eye on them in the sea due to the choppy waters.
Facilities: Lifeguard service, parking, cafe, shop, toilets, watersports.
Stay at: Sea View Three 37 | Sleeps: 4 guests plus 2 dogs
Danes Dyke
Danes Dyke is a pebble and sand beach that’s located to the south of Flamborough’s headland with views across to Bridlington Bay. During low tides, the beach has a number of small rock pools that teem with marine life and beyond the beach is a large nature reserve to explore.
Restrictions: There are no dog restrictions at Danes Dyke.
Facilities: Parking, cafe, toilets.
Stay at: North View Flamborough
Flamborough
This pair of Flamborough bays lies on either side of distinctive white cliffs. While South Landing is covered with shingle and pebbles, you’ll find a swathe of soft sand at the North Landing beach. The area is a top pick for spotting seabirds with the RSPB nature reserve Bempton Cliffs close by and there are a range of rock pools for children to explore with a net and bucket.
Restrictions: Both of these Flamborough beaches are dog friendly all year round.
Facilities: There’s a steep walk to South Landing beach from the nearest car park on South Sea Road. You’ll find a large car park at North Landing beach with toilets and a cafe.
Stay at: Rock Lobster | Sleeps: 4 guests plus 2 dogs
Filey
Filey has one of Yorkshire’s finest beaches with a 5-mile stretch of golden sand which curves around its sweeping bay. Set down a deckchair and bring along a bucket and spade - the vast expanse of sand at Filey means there is plenty of space for everyone, including four-legged friends. At the north end of the beach is the historic Coble Landing - walk the dog along this cobbled slipway and you’ll find a dog-friendly cafe at the end where you can sit and watch the boats come in.
Restrictions: Dogs are restricted to sections of Filey beach from 1st May to 30th September.
Facilities: Lifeguard, parking, beach huts, cafe, shop, toilets, water sports.
Stay at: The Seashore | Sleeps: 4 people plus 3 dogs
Hayburn Wyke
This small, secluded cove between Whitby and Scarborough is a real hidden gem with a picturesque waterfall that tumbles down onto the pebbled beach below. It’s surrounded by lovely North York Moors woodland where you can take your canine companion for a walk before they dip their paws into the sea.
Restrictions: There are no dog restrictions at Hayburn Wyke.
Facilities: Roadside parking outside the village, you’ll then need to follow a cliff-top path with a steep section down to the beach. There’s a bar with toilets at the nearby Hayburn Wyke Inn.
Stay at: Granary Cottage | Sleeps: 2 people plus 2 dogs
Robin Hood's Bay
Image: David Muscroft One of Yorkshire’s prettiest coastal villages, Robin Hood's Bay welcomes dogs into many of the pubs, cafes and shops within its maze of cobbled alleyways and narrow crooked streets that lead down to the beach below. The sandy beach has a beautiful backdrop of craggy cliffs and you may well see a traditional fishing boat heading out to catch their wares.
Restrictions: No restrictions - the beach at Robin Hood’s Bay is dog friendly all year round.
Facilities: Parking is at the top of the bay and there’s a steep walk down to the beach. There is an assortment of shops, cafes, pubs and tea rooms where you can stop for refreshments and public toilets at the top of the bank.
Stay at: Hidden Gem | Sleeps: 2 people plus 2 dogs
Runswick Bay
Follow the pathway through a cluster of charming red-roofed cottages to reach the golden beach of this horseshoe cove. The quaint streets of Runswick Bay are car-free so it’s a great choice for a peaceful dog walk with lots of space to stretch your legs on the sheltered stretch of sand.
Restrictions: There are no dog restrictions at Runswick Bay.
Facilities: Lifeguard service, parking, cafe, shop, toilets.
Stay at: Curlew Cottage | Sleeps: 8 people plus 2 dogs
Sandsend
The beach from Sandsend stretches all the way to the nearby town of Whitby so it’s an ideal choice if you fancy a long dog walk across the sand. It’s one of the best beaches along the North York Moors heritage coastline and there are a couple of beachside cafes that welcome four-legged friends. Sandsend village is divided by a gentle stream which dogs will love to splash around in too.
Restrictions: Dogs are permitted throughout the year with some restrictions between 1st May and 30th September.
Facilities: Parking, cafe, shop, toilets.
Stay at: The Beach House - Sandsend | Sleeps: 6 people
Saltburn
Saltburn is a handsome Victorian seaside town at the northern tip of the North York Moors and the historic Cliff Tramway will whisk you and your four-legged friends down to the beach. The original Victorian pier still leads out over the sea and there’s a good stretch of sand and shingle that is popular with families.
Restrictions: Dogs are restricted to certain sections of the beach from May to September.
Facilities: Lifeguard, parking, cafe, shop, toilets, watersports.
Stay at: The Breaks | Sleeps: 12 people and 4 dogs
Scarborough North Bay
North Bay is the quieter of two main beaches in Scarborough and has several dog-friendly attractions nearby including Peasholm Park and the miniature North Bay Heritage railway. There are colourful beach huts available to hire and the beach has sandy and rocky parts - perfect if you fancy building a sandcastle then exploring some rock pools.
Restrictions: There are dog restrictions on parts of Scarborough North Bay between June and September.
Facilities: Lifeguard, parking, beach huts, cafe, shop, toilets, water sports.
Stay at: The Old Jet Works | Sleeps: 2 people and 1 dog
Scarborough South Bay
South Bay is the more bustling Scarborough beach and you can catch the dog-friendly Spa Cliff Lift down to its sandy shores from the cliff-top town centre. South Bay beach is surrounded by cafes, ice cream parlours and amusement arcades - everything you could want for a great day out at the seaside.
Restrictions: Dogs are allowed throughout the year although there are restrictions during peak summer months.
Facilities: Lifeguard, parking, beach huts, cafe, shop, toilets, water sports.
Stay at: The Sailboat | Sleeps: 3 people and 3 dogs
Staithes
With quaint colourful cottages and a beck running through the harbour, Staithes is a firm favourite amongst artists and has featured in many coastal postcards and paintings. Once a year, more than 100 of the traditional fisherman’s cottages are transformed into miniature galleries for the Staithes Arts and Heritage festival. The small sandy beach has a backdrop of the towering Boulby Cliffs and you can look out to sea from a nearby dog-friendly pub, The Cod & Lobster.
Restrictions: There are no dog restrictions at Staithes beach.
Facilities: Parking at the top of the village, cafe, shop, toilets.
Stay at: The Curious Crab - Staithes | Sleeps: 6 people and 2 dogs
Whitby
With colourful beach huts, a bustling harbour and a plethora of fish and chip shops selling the catch of the day, Whitby is understandably one of the most popular towns to visit on the Yorkshire coast. We recommend visiting the dog-friendly Whitby Abbey, wandering round the narrow streets of Whitby old town, then heading to the small, sheltered Tate Hill beach where dogs are welcome all year round. If you fancy taking a scenic boat trip, dogs will be welcome aboard for your jaunt out to sea. Find out more in our insiders' guide to Whitby.
Restrictions: Tate Hill allows dogs all year round. There are restrictions between May and September on the larger West Cliff beach.
Facilities: Lifeguard, parking, beach huts, cafe, shop, toilets.
Stay at: Crag Cottage | Sleeps: 8 people and 2 dogs
Book a dog-friendly Yorkshire Cottage near the sea
Have you been inspired to visit the dog-friendly beaches of Yorkshire? Whether you are looking for a cosy romantic retreat or a spacious family-friendly holiday home, you’ll find lots of luxury holiday cottages around the Yorkshire coast where you can all rest your heads after days of exploring. Our dog-friendly guide to Yorkshire has lots more ideas of things to do during your getaway so you can start planning a gorgeous Yorkshire holiday where four-legged friends will be made very welcome.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.