Dog-friendly beaches near Weymouth
Exploring the best of the beaches near Weymouth is ten times better when your furry friend is at your side, sniffing, wagging, and paddling. Thankfully, many of Dorset's beaches are dog-friendly and ready for you to go and discover. Beach walks with your pup are a fantastic way to bond and keep you both healthy at the same time!
We've put together our top picks for beaches that welcome dogs with open arms, year-round. Every beach on this list is interesting for both you, your family, and your dog while being a stone’s throw from our LIttlesea, Seaview, and Weymouth Bay holiday parks! Keep reading to discover the best dog-friendly beaches near Weymouth.
1. Ringstead Bay
Dogs allowed: all year-round (on leads)
Overlooked by breathtaking cliffs and rolling farmland, Ringstead Bay is a long, sweeping sand and shingle beach that's ideal for going walkies with your furry friend. From the National Trust car park on the cliffs, there's a one-mile trail leading you down onto the beach which makes for a peaceful walk before you even get onto the sand, with unobstructed views of boats, kite-flyers, and the Isle of Portland.
Your dog will love sniffing around the pebbles, rocks, and grasses on this unspoilt stretch of beach! It's part of the Jurassic Coast, so keep your eye out for fossils here where they're often found dotted among the sand.
2. Preston Beach
You'll find Preston Beach a little way along from Weymouth, past the Greenhill Gardens and before you reach Bowleaze Cove. This little stretch of shingle beach is dog-friendly and rather quieter than the main beach. That's why the locals love bringing their dogs here year-round.
It's easy to get here, with designated parking at the beach and a promenade flanking Preston Beach to walk along with your pooch. If you fancy a spot of beach fishing, this area's well known for it, as well as its shallow waters and a reef that comes up quite close to the shore. Ideal for doggy paddles!
3. Smallmouth Bay
Dogs allowed: all year-round
Tucked away next to the road that joins Portland to Weymouth, you'll find Smallmouth Bay. It's a partially grassy beach with plenty of sand and shingle that gently slopes down to the shallow waters. It's an idyllic spot to go walkies, thanks to its smooth terrain and beautiful view of the Isle of Portland!
There's a small row of houses overlooking the beach, but long grasses and rocky terrain help hide it away from plain sight for a nice, quiet stroll. Right behind the bay, the Rodwell trail picks up, a trail which follows a disused railway line and has since been paved. Dogs are welcome all along the trail on leads, too.
Be mindful of the tide times here - at high tide, much of the beach disappears!
4. Osmington Mills Beach
Dogs allowed: all year-round
Osmington Mills is famous for its smugglers' roots and the inn that tells many stories about the area's darker past. But it's also home to a beautifully rugged area of beach that's ideal for dog walking! Pooches are welcome all year round to explore the rocky beach terrain and the water's edge.
To get there, you can take the steps down onto the beach from the car park outside the Smuggler's Inn at the top of the hill, or come off one of the many trails that snake around this area of the county including the South West Coast Path.
When you've finished rambling over the boulders and tufts of wild grasses, stop off at the Inn for a hearty plate of food - dogs are rewarded with dog biscuits and a refreshing bowl of water!
5. Gore Cove
Your furry friend will love walkies on this hidden pebbly cove. Gore Cove forms part of The Fleet Lagoon, a protected area behind Chesil Beach. Although the water is less inviting for doggy paddles, there are plenty of stones, plants, and little nooks perfect for inquisitive sniffs. The cove overlooks the pretty countryside and buildings dotted around the landscape and is home to lots of varied and rare insects, animals, and plants.
The South West Coast Path runs right behind the cove so it's easy to stop and enjoy from here. Or pick up the trail after your visit to the beach to extend your dog walk for as long as you like.
6. Hive Beach
Dogs allowed: all year-round in the dog-friendly area, main beach October 1 - May 31
This impressive length of sand and shingle beach sweeps down from the fields and countryside, forming part of the magnificent Jurassic Coast. To get here, there's ample parking toward the entrance of the beach up on the hillside, or stop off along your walk on the South West Coast Path. This well-maintained beach is popular with tourists and locals, and on a clear day, you'll get panoramic views of Dorset and even the Devon coastline from here.
Water is crystal clear but be careful when taking your dog for a paddle as there can be strong currents. Like many of the beaches in Dorset, Hive Beach is surrounded by grass and greenery that dogs will love to get their nose in! When you're done roaming the beach with your pooch, why not stop off for some food and drink? The Hive Cafe serves up refreshments for you and your pup.
Start planning your Great British break
Related Posts
Best beaches near Weymouth
7 of the Best Beaches near Weymouth
Best Beaches in Dorset
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.
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.