Dog-Friendly Beaches in Devon
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The dog-friendly beaches in Devon are Tunnel Beaches, Heddon's Mouth, Scabbacombe Sands, Gara Rock Beach, Wonwell Beach, Mattiscombe Sands, Ness Cove Beach and Rockham Bay.
Devon has two coasts, and both reward anyone happy to walk a little for their sand. Along the rugged north, where Exmoor tips into the Bristol Channel, coves like Heddon's Mouth, Rockham Bay and the Victorian Tunnel Beaches at Ilfracombe sit below some of the highest cliffs in England.
Swing south and the shore softens into sheltered estuary inlets and hidden pockets of sand, from Gara Rock and Wonwell near the River Erme to Mattiscombe Sands under Start Point and Ness Cove at Shaldon. Many of these beaches are reached only on foot, down steep tracks, cliff steps or tunnels cut through the rock, which keeps them quiet and gives a dog plenty of open ground to stretch its legs.
They are undeveloped places, short on facilities but long on space, rock pools and wide sea views. If you want room to roam with a four-legged companion well away from the crowds, this stretch of coast delivers.
Here are eight dog-friendly beaches to seek out in Devon.
Tunnel Beaches
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Tunnel Beaches At Ilfracombe in north Devon, four tunnels hand-cut through the cliff by Welsh miners in the 1820s lead down to sheltered tidal beaches and a Victorian bathing pool. Today the site runs as a paid-entry attraction and a popular wedding and events venue, with visitors walking the tunnels to reach the beach, the rock pools and the historic pool, now known as Tunnels Beaches.
The sheltered sand and cliff-framed setting make it an easy, characterful spot to bring a dog along and see something a little different. Walk the tunnels and find out where they lead.
Heddon's Mouth
Photo: Sam and Ned via Geograph.org.uk
Heddon's Mouth Where the River Heddon meets the sea on the Exmoor coast of north Devon, this remote cove sits at the foot of a deep, wooded valley below some of the highest sea cliffs in England. The shore is pebble and boulder, with a restored lime kiln standing on the beach, and it is reached only on foot, by a walk down the valley beside the river from the National Trust car park.
Kept as a quiet green reserve, the long walk down through the trees gives a dog a proper stretch before the shore appears. Save it for a day when you fancy the walk as much as the sea.
Scabbacombe Sands
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Scabbacombe Sands A small, secluded cove of sand and shingle on the south Devon coast north of Kingswear near Brixham, Scabbacombe faces east and shelters below the cliffs. Despite the name it is more pebble than sand, though the water is clear, and there is no road down: you walk in from a small car park on Scabbacombe Lane, down a steep track and across a field.
It is quiet and undeveloped, with no facilities, and the far end has long been used by naturists. Dogs are allowed all year, so there is room to roam whatever the season.
Come prepared to carry everything in and out.
Gara Rock Beach
Photo: Philip Halling via Geograph.org.uk
Gara Rock Beach East of Salcombe in south Devon, this small cove of sand, shingle and rock lies below steep cliffs near the Gara Rock hotel. A middle band of clean sand opens out at low tide, with a smaller beach to the east that the tide cuts off.
It is reached only on foot, by a steep path down from the clifftop or along the coast path from East Portlemouth, and there are no facilities on the sand itself. The clifftop walk and low-tide sand give a dog space to run before the water returns.
Time your visit for the ebb and the beach opens right up.
Wonwell Beach
Photo: Martin Bodman via Geograph.org.uk
Wonwell Beach On the east bank of the River Erme where it meets Bigbury Bay in south Devon, near Kingston, Wonwell is a tidal sand beach that is small at high water and opens to wide golden sands as the tide falls. It is reached down a narrow lane and a short woodland path, with very limited parking and no facilities, and the surrounding land is the private Flete Estate.
There is no ferry across the Erme; the coast path wades between slipways, possible only for about an hour either side of low tide. Those low-tide sands give a dog plenty of open ground.
Check the tide before you set off.
Mattiscombe Sands
Photo: Chris Andrews via Geograph.org.uk
Mattiscombe Sands Also called Great Mattiscombe Sand, this remote sandy cove near Start Point on the south Devon coast is backed by cliffs, with rock flats and caves that spread out at low tide. There is no direct access: you park at Start Point and walk about a mile along the South West Coast Path, with a steep drop to the sand at the end.
The lighthouse at Start Point and views over Start Bay come with the walk, and the ruined village of Hallsands lies further along. A long approach and wide-open sand give a dog a memorable outing.
Lace up your boots and make a morning of it.
Ness Cove Beach
Photo: Alan Hunt via Geograph.org.uk
Ness Cove Beach A secluded shingle beach below the red headland of the Ness at Shaldon, across the estuary from Teignmouth in south Devon, Ness Cove is reached through the Smugglers' Tunnel, a dark, winding passage cut through the cliff that opens onto the shore. The shingle slopes gently to a marked swimming zone kept clear of boats, and it is a spot for bathing, rock-pooling and fishing.
Steep steps make it hard going, and there are no facilities on the sand. The novelty of the tunnel and the open shore beyond make it a fun outing to share with a dog.
Seek out the passage and step through to the sea.
Rockham Bay
Photo: Richard Croft via Geograph.org.uk
Rockham Bay A beach of sand and rock below steep cliffs on the north Devon coast, near Mortehoe and the headland of Morte Point, Rockham has no road down. The way in is on foot, a walk of over a mile from Mortehoe along the coast path and then down cliff steps, best around low tide when the sand and rock pools are uncovered.
On this notorious wrecking coast, the rusting remains of the steamship Collier, wrecked in 1914, can still be seen among the rocks at low water. With no facilities and few people, there is space for a dog to roam.
Visit at low tide for both the sand and the wreck.
FAQs
Are these Devon beaches good for dogs?
Most offer wide open sand or shingle and quiet, uncrowded surroundings, so there is plenty of room for a dog to run. Scabbacombe Sands is one spot where dogs are allowed all year. Always check local signage before you visit.
How do you reach these beaches?
Nearly all of these coves are reached only on foot, down steep tracks, cliff steps or a tunnel, often a mile or more from the nearest car park. Tunnel Beaches at Ilfracombe is the exception, a paid-entry attraction reached through its hand-cut tunnels.
Do these beaches have facilities?
Most of these beaches are undeveloped and have no facilities, so bring water, snacks and anything else you need. Tunnel Beaches, as a managed attraction, is the main place with amenities on site.
Conclusion
From the Victorian tunnels at Ilfracombe to the wreck-strewn sands of Rockham Bay, Devon's dog-friendly coast rewards those willing to walk. The north coast serves up dramatic, hard-won coves like Heddon's Mouth beneath Exmoor's towering cliffs, while the softer south hides Scabbacombe Sands, Gara Rock, Wonwell and Mattiscombe among sheltered estuaries and clifftop paths.
Most are reached only on foot, short on facilities but generous with space, rock pools and sea air, and Ness Cove even brings you to the sand through a smuggler's tunnel. Pack water, mind the tides and be ready to carry everything in and out, because these are wild, quiet places rather than resort beaches.
If you and your dog love room to roam well away from the crowds, these are the dog-friendly beaches to seek out in Devon.
