Yorkshire Dog Friendly Beaches

For many of you a dog is an integral family member, so your holiday needs to be dog friendly, right? Well there is no better place for a dog than a big beach.... dogs and beaches are made for each other. This is where the long sandy beaches of Yorkshire come in.

There are miles of flat sands to explore, piles of dunes to gambol upon, creatures to chase and waves to splash in. The rest of the family can join in on the multitude of fun beach activities, including water sports.

Now Yorkshire has lots of big beaches. And whilst it may not have the warmest climate, it's not much cooler than the South and if you're into watersports you're probably wearing a wetsuit anyway. What Yorkshire does have is huge beaches and a very long and beautiful Heritage Coastline. It's resorts, bays and coastal towns are all worth visiting and they all vary hugely.

There are the quaint and quiet spots like Robin Hoods Bay and Saltburn by the Sea, both of which have dog friendly beaches and some lovely pet friendly seaside cottages to rent close to the seafront. Then there's the established resorts of Whitby, Scarborough and Filey which all have dog friendly beaches offering loads of watersports and beachfront entertainment. What they definitely all have in common is that they all offer an exceptional array of dog friendly accommodation within walking distance of the beach.

Starting in the North of Yorkshire is Saltburn, one of the most perfect beaches for guaranteed family fun by the sea. The beach is huge, duney and very dog friendly. As the beach sits at the bottom of a cliff, it is protected from the winds and has a very cool lift. There is a beautiful pier on the waterfront and the beach is very popular with the surfing crowd.

This pretty Victorian town overlooks the sea from the cliff above the beach and it is a relaxed sort of place offering music and culture in the summer months thanks to Jazz concerts, farmer's markets and craft fairs. There are also a lovely selection of shops, cafes and plenty of vibrant pubs for some post beach downtime.

A little further down the coast lies the grand dame of Northern resorts, Scarborough. For those families who want it all (blue flag beaches, watersports, history, attractions etc) this seaside town has it in every size and colour. For a start it has two Blue flag beaches with excellent water sport facilities, it has a theatre, a cinema, music venues, castle ruins, a fun fair and a number of great restaurants, cafes and shops on and off the beach. There are some restrictions on the beach for your precious puppy to abide by, but Scarborough's North Bay offers more space for them to stretch their legs.

Another accomplished Victorian resort is Whitby. If your family enjoys a bit of culture then this seaside town is in a class of its own and the town and beaches are very accommodating for dogs. Not only does Whitby lie in the heart of the North Yorkshire Heritage Coastline, but it's rich in history too, with a beautiful ancient Abbey, a museum, a notable gallery, historic Jet mines, craft shops and an impressive fishing port, which claims to serve the UK's best fish and chips.

There are numerous beaches to choose from and although the main beach (Cliff Beach) has dog restrictions there are loads of others offering exercise areas and areas of sand for you to play freely with your pooch.

Further down the Heritage Coastline lies Robin Hoods Bay. This delightful seaside town is made-up of a huddle of whitewashed fisherman cottages that tumble down onto a gorgeous little sandy beach. The little lanes in town hide a mix of quaint cottages alongside cozy little pubs, shops and cafes. Your kids and their pup will relish the beach here, as there is so much nature to explore.

There are always interesting events going on in town with seasonal festivals and events and thanks to the surrounding national park and moors there are plenty of outdoor activities for your family and canine to take part in.

At the end of Yorkshire's coastline lies one more classic Edwardian Yorkshire resort called Filey that offers a very warm welcome to families with dogs. Everyone seems to have a dog here so you'll have no problem with restaurants, pet friendly accommodation or the large sandy beach which offers dogs plenty of space to play.

So there you have it, this part of the North East Coast is a great escape for families renting Yorkshire pet friendly accommodation by the beach.