Dog Walks – Dorset – England – Bournemouth – Boscombe – Southbourne

Dog-friendly Southbourne, Boscombe and Bournemouth beaches

• 

• 

Featuring dog walking around the UK

Beautiful walks along coastal routes and sandy beaches

Bournemouth is a busy University town, has the added advantage of being a gorgeous sandy beach resort, explored by the Victorians since 1845, now a thriving visitor destination.

Whether it be a staycation, weekend break, or day trip, you’ll find so much for everyone.

Where are Bournemouth’s Best Dog-Friendly Beaches?

Bournemouth is situated in a southerly facing bay on the south coast of England, coastal towns looking out towards the English Channel. Boscombe, Southbourne, and Hengistbury Head are to the west and Branksome Dene Chine, Poole to Alum Chine Beach Office, and Middle Chine to Durley Chine to the east of Bournemouth pier.

The towns developed in Victorian times from 1845 onwards as pleasant coastal resorts to visit. They have grown over more than a century and a half into day-trip and holiday destinations offering award-winning Blue Flag beautiful 7- mile stretches of sandy beaches coupled with busy thriving towns.

Featured images (above and below) were taken May Bank Holiday, 2021. Bournemouth is a very popular region as soon as the sun appears and over popular holidays. It operates strict dog restrictions on its beaches during these times. We highly recommend avoiding this area if you have your dog accompanying you for the day and to make your way to Southbourne beach.

Packed beaches are not places for you and your dog to enjoy on a day out, nor the promenades and surrounding area. Dogs can become anxious, can suddenly bolt, or even nip at passers-by acting totally out of character.

Tourism marketing pictures can be deceiving showing deserted sunny beaches, but in high season these beaches are extremely busy. Lockdown has caused many additional thousands of Brits to flock to our wonderful coastal locations.

Bournemouth towards Boscombe and further along to Southbourne there are dog restrictions of taking dogs onto beaches in place May 1st – 30th September due to the high number of visitors.

There are 4 beaches where dogs may be walked

To the east of Bournemouth Pier

• Branksome Dene Chine, Poole to Alum Chine Beach Office
• Middle Chine to Durley Chine

To the west of Bournemouth Pier

• Fisherman’s Walk, Southbourne
• Hengistbury Head

The beaches are well served with good access and wide dedicated promenades where dogs can be walked, kept on a short lead during peak times, and allowed onto the piers on leads.

It’s always best if you are making a special journey to check tide times. These are available on most meteorological websites. The best times for visiting are about two hours after high tide, when the tide is on the turn and starting to expose glorious sand. It will give you many hours of dog walking enjoyment as the sand dries out. It may mean leaving a little earlier than planned or later, to enjoy the best of the beach.

Early morning walks and evenings are also highly recommended during the summer months in more popular tourist areas when families haven’t yet arrived or gone home.

Southbourne Beach is highly recommended, situated west of Bournemouth’s favourite award-winning beaches, boasts an exceptionally clean, sandy, and shingle beach. Access to Southbourne beach is directly from Southbourne high street through Fisherman’s walk. Fisherman’s Walk beach is perhaps the finest and less busy than all the Bournemouth beaches and dog-friendly. It will make a far more relaxed day out with your dog enjoyable.

During the summer months, check your preferred day out on social media before leaving home as police may provide updates if traffic is extremely heavy heading for the beaches.

When you arrive there can be update notices banning certain parts of the beaches due to being so busy. It will avoid any disappointment.

• 

• 

• 

Bournemouth beach, out of season, 1st October to 30 April each year, makes a fabulous beach walk for any dog owner and their pooch. The backshore of the beaches boasts glorious sand.

You can feel safe by the water knowing that both Mudeford towards the west and Poole towards the east of Bournemouth town have lifeboat stations. The RNLI have a website with helpful advice to remind yourself about sea safety.

In case of pet emergencies, Bournemouth has a choice of several differing vet practices available serving domestic pets.

Before you travel, especially if you’re a new pet owner, you may like to use our useful Guides.

The biggest doggie tips are to remember to take lots of freshwater onto the beach with you and a collapsible bowl for your thirsty dog and old towels to dry your dog if they’ve been swimming and to help clean off the sand before going home! Please take your rubbish home with you.

You may also like to take a short and long lead and a muzzle if you prefer walking your dog when the beaches are getting busier.

Prices and information correct at time of writing.

Picture courtesy Bournemouth.com and Visit Bournemouth Bournemouth

---

---

---

---