Every cottage at the farm welcomes dogs, so we get asked about dog friendly beaches near Weston-super-Mare more than almost anything else. The good news is that this stretch of the Somerset coast is made for four-legged guests. Wide sands, long tides, quiet headlands and plenty of space to run. This is our local guide, written by a family who walk their own dogs on these beaches every week.
In this guide
Why dog friendly beaches near Weston-super-Mare are so good
The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, which means the beaches here are enormous at low tide. When the sea goes out, Sand Bay and Weston beach turn into miles of flat sand with room for everyone. Dogs can run for as long as their legs allow, and there is usually a rock pool, a stream or a patch of shallow water to splash in on the way back.
Most of these beaches sit within a fifteen-minute drive of our cottages in Kewstoke, and two of them are close enough to walk to. Below are the seven we go back to again and again, with the practical details that matter when you have a dog in tow.
1. Sand Bay, Kewstoke
Sand Bay is our home beach and the first place we send guests with dogs. It is a long, quiet crescent of sand backed by low dunes and Worlebury Hill, with far fewer people than the main Weston beach. There is a promenade path along Beach Road for an easy stroll, and the sand itself is perfect for ball throwing when the tide is out.
Dogs are welcome on Sand Bay all year round, which is a big reason it is one of the best dog friendly beaches near Weston-super-Mare. Parking is along Beach Road, and there is a chippy at the northern end for when you have both earned a treat. From the farm it is a five-minute drive, or a pleasant walk if you fancy stretching your legs first.
2. Sand Point and Middle Hope
At the top end of Sand Bay the road stops and the National Trust headland of Sand Point begins. It is not a beach in the bucket-and-spade sense, but the shoreline along Middle Hope is a wonderful rocky scramble for dogs that like to explore. The views back over the bay and across to Wales are the best on this coast.
Keep dogs on a lead near the cliff edges and around grazing livestock on the headland. The walk from the car park to the point and back takes about an hour at a gentle pace. Sand Point is a five-minute walk from our cottages, so many guests do it before breakfast.
3. Uphill Beach
At the southern end of Weston, Uphill Beach sits below the old church on the hill and beside the mouth of the River Axe. It is dog friendly, quieter than the town beach and has a lovely mix of sand, dunes and the nature reserve behind. Uphill also has a small marina and a café or two for afterwards.
The beach continues south past the Axe estuary towards Brean Down, though you cannot cross the river mouth on foot. Watch the tide here: it comes in quickly across the flats, so keep an eye on the water and stay within the marked areas.
4. Weston-super-Mare beach out of season
The main town beach is the classic seaside stretch with the Grand Pier at its centre. In the busy months the central section has dog restrictions, so always check the signs at the entrances. Outside of those months, and on the sections at either end all year, it is a superb dog beach with two miles of flat sand.
A tip from us: park near Knightstone Island at the northern end and walk south. You get the Marine Lake, the pier and the promenade cafés without the crowds of the central steps. The seafront guide on our experiences page has more.
5. Brean Beach and Berrow
South of the River Axe the coast opens into one of the longest beaches in Europe, running from Brean Down through Berrow to Burnham-on-Sea. It is huge, flat and wild, with dunes behind and the Brean Down headland at the northern end. Sections of the beach have seasonal dog restrictions, so look for the signs, but there is always plenty of space where dogs are welcome.
Brean is about twenty-five minutes from the farm by car. Combine it with the climb up Brean Down for one of the best dog days out in Somerset.
6. Clevedon and Salthouse Bay
Head north instead and you reach Clevedon, a Victorian seaside town with a Grade I listed pier and a pebbly bay called Salthouse Bay. It is small and stony rather than sandy, but dogs are welcome, and the seafront walk past the Marine Lake to the pier is a lovely change of scene. There are plenty of dog-friendly cafés on Hill Road afterwards.
7. Kewstoke shore below the Monks’ Steps
Finally, a local secret. Below Kewstoke village the shore is rocky and quiet, reached along Beach Road at the southern end of Sand Bay. It is where we walk when we want ten minutes of peace. Pair it with the Monks’ Steps, the ancient stone stairway up through the woods to Worlebury Hill, for a short, steep and very rewarding loop.
Which dog friendly beaches suit which dog?
Not every dog wants the same day out, and the dog friendly beaches here are different enough that it is worth matching the beach to the dog. Young, bouncy dogs that need to run are happiest at Sand Bay or Brean at low tide, where the sand goes on for a mile and there is nothing to bump into. Older dogs and those with stiff legs do better on the flat promenade at Sand Bay or the paved seafront in Weston, where you can walk on the hard surface and let them potter onto the sand when they feel like it.
Water dogs love Uphill, where the River Axe leaves shallow pools on the sand as the tide drops, and the Marine Lake at Knightstone when the sea is out. Nervous dogs that dislike crowds should skip the town beach in summer altogether and head to Sand Point, where you may not see another person on a weekday morning. If in doubt, come and ask us at the farm. Between us we have walked every one of these dog friendly beaches with every kind of dog.
Dog friendly beaches through the seasons
Spring
From March the days lengthen and the beaches are still quiet. Sand Point is covered in wildflowers by May, and the cooler sand is kinder to paws than in high summer. Spring is our favourite time for the longer walks, such as Uphill to the church and back or the full length of Sand Bay to the headland.
Summer
This is when the seasonal restrictions on the central section of Weston beach and parts of Brean come in, so stick to Sand Bay, Uphill and the ends of the bay. Walk early or late to avoid hot sand, carry water and give dogs plenty of shade breaks. The evening light on Sand Bay in July, with the tide creeping in and the sun dropping over Wales, is the best hour of the day.
Autumn
Restrictions lift, the crowds go home and the whole coast opens up again. Autumn storms bring driftwood and interesting smells for dogs, and the light is beautiful. All seven of the dog friendly beaches above are at their best in October, and the cottage log burners come into their own afterwards.
Winter
Bracing, empty and wonderful. Wrap up, pick a bright day and walk the length of Weston beach without seeing more than a handful of people. A towel by the door and a warm cottage make it easy to do every day. The chip shop at Sand Bay is open in winter too.
Where to dry off, eat and drink with the dog
Sand Bay has a café and a chip shop on the seafront, both used to sandy dogs outside. In Kewstoke village, The Old Manor Inn is a short walk from the beach and welcomes dogs. In Weston, several of the cafés on Knightstone Island and along the promenade have outside tables where dogs are fine, and the Cove on the seafront near Birnbeck is a favourite with a view of the old pier.
Uphill has a café by the marina, and Clevedon’s Hill Road is full of independent places with dog bowls outside. Brean has beach cafés along the coast road. Ask before you go in anywhere, but in our experience the whole of this coast is used to dogs and pleased to see them.
Beach safety for dogs on the Bristol Channel
- The tidal range is enormous and the water returns fast. Keep dogs within sight and away from the mud beyond the sand line.
- Salt water makes dogs thirsty. Bring plenty of fresh water and offer it often.
- Jellyfish and weever fish appear in summer. Check paws and mouths after a swim.
- Grazing livestock use Sand Point and Brean Down. Leads on, always.
- Hot sand burns pads. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for their feet.
- Rinse sand and salt off at the cottage. Every property has an outdoor tap or a hose.
A week of dog friendly beaches from the farm
If you are staying with us for a week and want a plan, this is roughly how we would do it. Monday, Sand Bay and Sand Point on foot from the cottage. Tuesday, the Weston promenade from Knightstone to the pier with lunch on the island. Wednesday, a rest from the beach with a walk through Weston Woods over the hill. Thursday, Uphill Beach and the old church. Friday, Brean Down and the big beach below it. Saturday, Clevedon for the pier and the cafés. Sunday, Sand Bay again, because by then it will feel like home.
That is seven days, seven dog friendly beaches and a very tired dog. It is also the reason so many of our guests with dogs come back every year.
Tips for a great dog day on the coast
- Check tide times before you go. The sea goes out a very long way and comes back quickly, so stick to the sand and keep dogs away from the mud flats.
- Bring a towel and fresh water. Salt water and sand are hard on paws, and most of our beaches have no taps.
- Look for the seasonal restriction signs on Weston and Brean beaches between spring and autumn.
- Keep dogs on a lead on the headlands where sheep graze and near cliff edges.
- Pack poo bags. Bins are provided at Sand Bay, Uphill and Weston seafront.
Where to stay with your dog
All five of our cottages at the farm are dog friendly, with enclosed gardens, bowls provided and Sand Bay a few minutes away. Browse the cottages, or read about autumn on this coast, which is our favourite season for beach walks. Sand Bay in October with a dog and a flask is about as good as Somerset gets.
For more on the headlands and walks, the National Trust page for Sand Point and Middle Hope and Visit Weston-super-Mare both have up-to-date access details. If you are not sure whether a beach is right for your dog, ask us. We have walked them all.