Dog-friendly beaches in North Wales

We love our four-legged friends here at Dioni, and we know you do too. Almost half of all our holiday cottage bookings are made by fellow dog lovers who are looking for a pet-friendly place to stay. Dogs are very much valued members of our holiday tribe. And what better way to enjoy your holiday together than visit one of the dog-friendly beaches in North Wales.

If you know North Wales already, you’ll know that there are hundreds of miles of beautiful coast to explore with your dog. However, in peak season, it’s worth bearing in mind that any Blue Flag beaches will have dog restrictions. If you are planning a beach day out with your pooch, it’s always worth doing a quick google check before you set off.

These are some of our favourite dog-friendly beaches in North Wales.

ABERFFRAW BEACH on Anglesey is dog friendly all year round. Park in Aberffraw village and follow the river walk down to a huge expanse of sand. Picture-postcard looks, but look out for strong tides near the mouth of the river.

ABERDARON at the tip of Pen Llŷn is a beautiful seaside village to explore. The beach between the river and the church at Aberdaron has a dog ban from 1st April to 30th September, but there is plenty of space to explore outside of this restricted area.

ABERDYI is a pretty harbour village on the Dyfi Estuary. The west of the large sandy beach beyond the dunes is dog-friendly all year round. Check out the pretty pastel terraces in town, and the lovely little harbour.

ABERSOCH on Pen Llŷn is well known for its laid back surfing vibe.  As long as you stay away from the northern part of the beach near the jetty, it is dog-friendly. With loads of independent shops and bars, Abersoch is a fun place to hang out.

BARMOUTH on the Mawddach estuary is a great seaside town. Dog-friendly areas are clearly marked on the maps located on the prom. Traditional beach shops, a funfair and donkey rides add to the attraction.

CABLE BAY on Anglesey is a cracking little sandy bay, close to the surfy village of Rhosneigr. The headlands on either side of the beach help to shelter it from windy conditions, and there’s easy access to the Anglesey Coastal Path if you want to explore. Dog-friendly all year round.

LLANDDWYN BEACH AT NEWBOROUGH WARREN on Anglesey is dog-friendly all year round as long as you stick to the east side of the beach (towards the Menai Strait end of the beach). The beach closer to the beautiful Llanddwyn Island has dog-restrictions in place from May – September, but it is well worth exploring outside of these times.

MORFA BYCHAN / BLACK ROCK SANDS between 1st April and 30th September, dogs are not allowed on the northern end of this attractive beach near Porthmadog. The rest of this considerable stretch of beach is dog friendly year round. Check out the dog-friendly Ffestiniog steam railway close by.

DINAS DINLLE on the outskirts of Caernarfon allows dogs on the north and south of the beach. This is a great beach for swimming, and it also has a good chippy and ice cream shop nearby. Great views to Anglesey and Pen Llŷn.

PORTH DINLLAEN / NEFYN the long sweeping sandy bays at Porth Dinllaen and Nefyn on Pen Llŷn are dog-friendly all year round. You could easily argue that a pint of liquid refreshment at the award-winning Ty Coch Inn is a very necessary part of this particular beach experience.

PORTH IAGO the sandy little west-facing cove of Porth Iago on Pen Llŷn is one of the best beaches to be found on the Llŷn Peninsula. Flanked by the low grassy headlands of Dinas and Graig Ddu, the beautiful beach here is dog-friendly all year round.

RHOSNEIGR BEACH – more specifically Traeth Llydan / Broad Beach at Rhosneigr – is a great place to let your pooch off the leash to run about in sand and surf. There are plenty of paths to sniff around and explore in the sand dunes too.

TYWYN is a traditional seaside town on the coast of southern Snowdonia. Keep to the south end of the beach for the dog-friendly spots. Tywyn beach is also great for dolphin spotting, water sports and some really lovely river walks.Want to book your next trip? Check out our pet-friendly holiday cottages in North Wales.