Dog friendly beaches in Kent
There are so many beautiful coastlines to explore in Kent, you may not believe that you're just an hour from London. Kent is a wonderful place to explore with your dog, with plenty of shingle and pebble beaches, it's great for those pooches who aren’t fans of sand.
There’s ample space for running and in many of the beaches listed below the sea stays very shallow quite far out meaning they’re great for dogs with shorter legs! The people of Kent are as friendly to dogs as the beaches are and you will often find a water bowl with fresh water outside the cafes and shops. Yet, however much we adore our four-legged friends, they’re not always able to access the whole seafront all year round. If you’re looking for dog friendly beaches in Kent, you’re in luck! Below we have compiled a guide to the coves and bays where your pets can frolic all 12 months of the year.
Whitstable Beach, Whitstable
Dogs allowed: all year round
Sandy beach lovers might not be so impressed with the pebbly stretch of coastline in this part of Kent, but what Whitstable Beach lacks in golden grains, it more than makes up for in atmosphere, scenery, and fun. Some people compare Whitstable’s offering to Brighton beach, but it’s a lot smaller and there is more of a traditional feel to Whitstable beach thanks to its beach huts, weatherboard cottages and fishing boats pulled up on the beach.
The mile-long west beach is a stretch of shingle divided up by wooden groynes and offers unrestricted access to dogs in an area of Kent where bylaws restricting dogs are common. The Old Neptune Pub, referred to by locals as the ‘Neppy’ sits, quite unusually, on the beach itself so when the weather’s good you can enjoy the large beer garden, and when it’s cold, there’ll be a fire inside to warm you and your dog. Whitstable town offers antique shops and retro independent stores excellent fish & chips, a craft beer brewed locally and delicious oysters to enjoy while taking in the photogenic harbour vistas. No trip to the Southeast is complete without a visit to the town and its unique and excellent dog-friendly beach in Kent.
Sandwich Bay, Sandwich
Dogs allowed: all year round
Sandwich Bay occupies a long inlet of the sea, which runs between Ramsgate and Deal, bordered to the north by the River Stour. The beach has plenty to discover when the tide is out, from watching the local kite pirates (a fabulous sight on a windy day), to bird spotting and fishing. The beach consists of sand flats, salt marshes and sand dunes, a varied terrain that makes for a great walk with your dog. There is also a fantastic walk to the caves which lead to Western Undercliff that your pooch is sure to love.
There are plenty of quiet and peaceful places amongst the rocks of Sandwich Bay to watch the boats on the horizon and cast your eyes across the silvery skies and glimmering sea. However, as Sandwich Bay is surrounded by several golf courses and a private estate, it can be a little more complicated to reach than it seems on the map. The best route takes visitors through a private toll road which will set you back a few quid to get access by car but it’s well worth it for a visit to one of the most peaceful dog-friendly beaches in Kent.
Dumpton Gap Beach, Ramsgate
Dogs allowed: all year round
While its name may not do it any favours, Dumpton Gap is actually a rather charming little beach, only about 150m in length but well worth the journey. Low tide reveals hundreds of rock pools for you and your dog to explore as well as one of the best walking routes to Ramsgate. However, please be aware that the beach all but disappears at high tide so you could find yourself cut off if you do not check the tide timetable beforehand.
Not as busy as Broadstairs or Ramsgate, Dumpton Gap is generally a good place to get away from the crowds. Even so, the beach is well-equipped with a lovely promenade, a kiosk, beach huts, cafes and nearby toilets. The beach is dog friendly all year round with no restrictions so feel free to take your pooch for a paddle.
Samphire Hoe, Dover
Dogs allowed: all year round
With the striking background of the famous White Cliffs of Dover, this secluded beach is part of a largely pebble and shingle area which becomes rockier the further the tide goes out. While this may mean that Samphire Hoe is not so well suited for swimming and paddling, it’s a great spot for rock pooling, walking, cycling, fishing off the seawall (a daily licence is needed), as well as bird watching. The beach is massively dog friendly but please follow the on-lead policy!
Samphire Hoe in its current form dates back to the 1980s and 90s when it was built using nearly 5 million cubic metres of spoil from the Channel Tunnel excavations. The beach is now rich in biodiversity and is equipped with toilets and a café, along with ample parking (paid, but reasonably priced).
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Important information
Brand new holiday homes from £34,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 19 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Church Farm, Cala Gran, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Seashore, Seaview and Thornwick Bay.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £33,995 and will remain at this price until all available stock is sold.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at Berwick, Burnham-on-Sea, Devon Cliffs, Doniford Bay, Hafan y Mor, Kent Coast, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands, Seton Sands and Weymouth Bay.
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £19,995
Holiday home price is based on a Bronze Grade pre-owned holiday home 6 years or older and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Cala Gran, Church Farm, Cardigan View, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Orchards, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Riviere Sands, Seashore, Seaview, Skegness and Thornwick Bay.
Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Free 2024 site fees when you buy a Haven holiday home
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 19 April 2024, completing by 31 December 2024.
Offer excludes part-exchanges or private sales. Available on new & pre-owned holiday homes at the following selected parks only: Kent Coast, Burnham-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Orchards, Skegness and Wild Duck.
A credit equivalent to the value of your site fees due during the 2024 season will be applied to your account balance on completion of your purchase for use against your running costs e.g. utilities, after-sale add-ons e.g storage boxes or site fees. It cannot be applied to your purchase or refunded in cash.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Full site fees will be payable for subsequent years.
Images are shown for representational purposes.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.