Best Northumberland Dog Friendly Beaches

Dogs love Northumberland's beaches. These fine stretches of sand are infamous for offering your four legged friend wide, welcoming playgrounds where they can run, splash and chase the local birdlife to their heart's content.

And there's allure for dog owners too, especially if you love nature. This is the land of bird sanctuaries, seal sanctuaries and plenty of other indigenous wildlife that can be found in the many forests, nature reserves and national parks. The culture vultures will have their fill of historic attractions too, as these beaches lie within a multitude of historic villages, fortified coastal towns and ancient landmarks.

We've selected a group of dog friendly beaches for you to peruse, but if you still can't make your mind-up then don't worry, they’re all relatively close together so you could actually tour this heritage coastline within a few days if need be.

If you're into wildlife then you have to visit Seahouses, one of the many sea life sanctuaries on this heritage coastline. Seahouses is surrounded by a nature reserve, and many islands, known as the Farne Islands, which is home to a huge community of seals. The shore is lined with the most adorable fishing cottages and there are a couple of fabulous beaches for you and your dog to stretch your legs. The most beautiful beach is on the North side of town, it has lots of dunes and soft sand to play in. The North beach has no restrictions for pets either, while the South beach does.

North of Seahouses lies another gem of a shore, both for its historic and scenic value. I’m talking about the magnificent Bamburgh Beach. Upon it perches one of the best-preserved castles I've seen and it overlooks one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. The view from the beach and the castle takes in Holy Island, another haven of white sand beaches, and a sweeping, curved bay. There are miles of white sand and spectacular sea views in every direction and not an ugly building in site. The best news is that your beloved four-legged friend is welcome here as well.

If you want a bit more culture then I’d recommend you stay in arty Berwick Upon Tweed, a classy fortified town on the coastline next to the Scottish border. The town is laden with fascinating historic relics, loads of galleries, theatres, museums and fine restaurants. But the best part is that it’s really close to the best beaches, particularly those of Holy Island. The cottages here are beautiful and there are plenty of dog friendly holiday homes to choose from.

Another seaside destination is Beadnell, just a little south of Berwick Upon Tweed. Beadnell has an extraordinary west facing harbour and a perfect crescent beach, which is a water sports haven, thanks to its topography. There is bird sanctuary here too and there are castles to explore in every direction. If you want to delight your dog (and your family) then push the boat out and rent a cottage on the beachfront. Beadnell Bay is dog friendly and such a delight to stroll and admire the landscapes that surround.

Craster also attracts water sports fans, dog lovers and foodies mainly due to its ideal location close to nature reserves, a golf course and numerous cultural sites. It’s famous for oak smoked kippers, arty shops and some historic castle ruins that overlook two fabulous beaches. This is also an Area of Outstanding Beauty with miles of coastal paths and cycling routes that link-up the castles that run the length of Northumberland's heritage coastline; all definitely worthwhile exploring.

In fact, just a little way along the path lies yet another stupendous little resort called Embleton with a look and feel similar to that of Craster. It has the golden sandy beach from which you can still see Dunstanburgh Castle and shares much of the same spoils as its neighbour, only its a little quieter. Renting a seafront cottage here is so worth it, especially if you have children and/or pets in tow.

Further south lies Warkworth and Amble. Warkworth offers a lot in terms of historic architecture with a proud castle, grand church and a beautiful bridge, while Amble is quaint and homely. Both towns lie on the Coquet Estuary and have their own bird sanctuary, in the form of a sweet little island that literally swarms with Puffins and Terns - approximately 36,000 of them! There are a few seals lying about too, which you might spot from one of the three un-spoilt beaches.

There are two small beaches, one known as Little Shore, which sits between the promenade and the pier, while the other lies between Wellhaugh Point and Pan Point. Both are lovely for an easy walk or a play with your pup, but the proper big beach, called Amble Links, is just on the outskirts of town and offers great views of the lighthouse on Coquet Island. It has broad sands and impressive dunes, where you and your dog will relish a good walk.

With so many great dog friendly beaches to visit you should check out the Northumberland cottages that accept pets listed on Beachlets and plan your next seaside holiday in the North East!