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

Where are Bournemouth’s Best Dog-Friendly Beaches?

Whether it be a staycation, weekend break, or day trip, you’ll find so much for everyone along the seven-mile stretch of glorious sandy beaches including your dog.

Bournemouth is situated in a southerly facing bay on the south coast of England, a coastal town looking out towards the English Channel.

Boscombe, Southbourne, and Hengistbury Head beaches are to the east, and Branksome Dene Chine, Poole to Alum Chine Beach Office, and Middle Chine to Durley Chine beach to the west of Bournemouth pier.

Dogs are allowed onto the beaches at certain times of the year, restrictions in place during summer.

Bournemouth’s Dog-Friendly Beaches – Featuring dog walking around the UK

Bournemouth is a busy University town, with a prestigious International event venue, which has the added advantage of being a gorgeous sandy beach resort, explored by the Victorians since 1845, developed later than other coastal resorts when the railway arrived at Bournemouth in the 1870s.

The towns have grown over more than a century-and-a-half into day-trip and holiday destinations offering award-winning Blue Flag beautiful stretches of sandy beaches with a cosmopolitan mix of tastes, and particularly, more recently, differing authentic food and restaurant offers.

Today is now a thriving visitor destination with neighbouring towns of Boscombe and quieter Southbourne.

Bournemouth and Bournemouth Beach is a very popular region to visit as soon as the sun appears and especially over the holiday season. Trains run very frequently from London Waterloo station, taking just under two hours travel, passing through Basingstoke (just about an hour’s travel by train), and Southampton, which allows you to take your well behaved dog, free of charge train travelling to Bournemouth, or alternatively, you can drive to the town and beach.

Beach car parks become full by 10am in the morning during summer, on sunny days, and parking attendants are out in force slapping parking tickets on cars parked illegally. If you going to make this a special summer day out with your dog, leave early and be prepared not to get caught up in traffic jams.

The beaches are well served with good access including two vehicular railways at West Cliff and Fisherman’s Walk providing lifts from cliff tops to beaches, which dogs can accompany you when travelling up and down. The cliff areas do have great views, where you can take in the views of the Isle of Wight white cliffs to the east and your dog has some space to exercise.

At the town centre beach levels there are wide dedicated promenades where dogs can be walked, but kept on a short lead during peak times, and allowed onto the piers on leads, but not the beach.

Make your way a little further along the beach towards Southbourne, past Boscombe where parking and the beach may be an easier option for you and your dog to enjoy a day out on a busy sunny day.

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. The council operates strict dog restrictions on its beaches during these times.

Southbourne Beach is highly recommended during summer months, situated east 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.

October to April – Beautiful walks along coastal routes and sandy beaches

Packed summer beaches are not places for you and your dog to enjoy on a day out, dogs can become anxious, can suddenly bolt, or even nip at passers-by acting totally out of character.

Autumn, winter, and springtime are perfect dog walks but see colder, shorter days and longer, darker evenings so the best time for walking is generally around early lunchtime when its the brightest and warmest, however, the tides may be high, providing less open space at the backshore for walking and enjoying the freedom of enjoying being let off the lead. It’s best to check local tide times before leaving home and plan your walks accordingly rather than making a special journey and being disappointed.

Wintertime may see rough seas and it’s really advisable to stay away from the sea with your dog. Walking on the promenades is a great alternative.

In case of pet emergencies, Bournemouth has a choice of several differing vet practices available serving domestic pets and you can feel safe by the water knowing that both Mudeford towards the east and Poole towards the west of Bournemouth town have lifeboat stations. The RNLI has a website with helpful advice to remind yourself about sea safety.