The beautiful beaches and coastline of Dorset, UK make this a great place to visit with your dog. You and your dog can have so much fun exploring this area, making memories that last a lifetime. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Dorset, UK with your dog.
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Dorset is situated on the south coast of the UK. It’s one of my favourite places in the whole of the UK. The rock formations of the Jurassic Coast are just amazing, and there are beautiful sandy beaches as well. Combine this with historic castles and fun seaside towns, and it makes the perfect destination for a holiday. Plus, it’s super dog friendly as well. So you can go on holiday with your dog and share the amazing fun. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Dorset, UK with your dog.
1. Dog friendly beaches
Dorset has a lot of dog-friendly beaches. Some beaches are dog-friendly all year, or have areas that are. Some of my favourites are Chesil Beach near Weymouth, if your dog enjoys playing with pebbles on the beach. Or if your dog prefers sandy beaches to dig, Swanage and Weymouth both have beautiful sandy beaches. Studland Beach is another great beach to take your dog, and the calm sea waters are perfect for your dog to have a paddle or a swim in the sea. There’s so much choice, your dog will have a great time enjoying the beach!
2. Visit October-March for unrestricted beach access
Many beaches allow dogs on all areas between October to March. If you visit during this time, you’ll be able to let your dog run free without worrying about restrictions. Another advantage of visiting at this time of the year is that the beaches are likely to be less busy. If your dog is nervous of others, or could be reactive to kids running around playing ball games, then visiting at this time of the year could be better. It also guarantees cooler weather, so your dog won’t get too hot. October and March can still have some lovely sunny days for some nice photos, but without the crowds and restrictions that come in the summer months.
3. Cliff top walks
The Coast path is great for dog walks, and you can walk for miles with your dog along the coast paths. Most are well-signposted as well, so you shouldn’t get lost. However, if you have your dog off lead, be aware that there are often steep drops off the cliff. Consider using a long lead or extendable lead if you have an adventurous dog who likes to go exploring, so you can make sure they don’t chase a seagull off the cliff edge!
4. Dog-friendly cafes
There are plenty of dog- friendly cafes in Dorset as well. Corfe Castle village has several dog-friendly cafes and tea rooms, so you can stop over here with your dog. My favourite cafe is the National Trust cafe at Studland Beach. You can sit outside with your dog and enjoy the views over to Old Harry Rocks while sharing a delicious ice cream with your dog.
5. Visit Corfe Castle with your dog
Corfe Castle is another dog-friendly place to visit. Dogs are allowed to explore all areas of the castle ruins on short leads, and there are plenty of great smells all around the castle. Just make sure you clean up after your dog, so you can make sure the castle stays nice for other visitors. Check out the opening times of Corfe Castle here.
6. Take a Mud Daddy to wash off the salt and sand before your dog gets in the car
Another top tip for everything you need to know about visiting Dorset, UK with your dog is to think about those sandy paws in your car! Your dog can have a fun day playing in the sand and the sea, but you don’t always want them getting in your car straight away! Plus, the salt and sand can irritate their skin after a while. I’d recommend taking a Mud Daddy with you (affiliate). This portable shower can be filled with warm or cold water, and you can keep it in your car. Then when you get back to your car after a day at the beach, just wash off your dog with the fresh water. After a quick towel dry, they’ll be ready for the journey home without making a mess of your car.
7. Get an extra large fish and chips to share with your dog
One of my favourite seaside traditions is to sit on the beach with fish and chips. And you can do this with your dog as well! One of my favourite fish and chip shops in Dorset is called ‘Fish n Fritz’ in Weymouth. The large portions of fish are huge, so there will be plenty for your dog to share. Sit on the beach to eat while enjoying the views. But be aware of the seagulls! If your dog is reactive to birds, you might not have the most relaxing experience on the beach. Seagulls tend to come close when you’re eating fish and chips, hoping to steal some. So make sure your dog is happy to have the seagulls close and won’t try to chase them – otherwise you’re unlikely to have a very peaceful meal! If your dog is reactive to seagulls, it might be best to enjoy your food away from the beach or inside a dog-friendly pub.
8. Teach your dog to sit and/or lay down for the best photos!
My final tip for everything you need to know about visiting Dorset, UK with your dog, is to think about the photos! I love looking back on photos after any trip, so I’m always looking for ways to get the bost photos. Teach your dog to ‘sit’ and/or ‘lay down’, and also to ‘wait’. That way, you can get your dog into the perfect photo position, then take a few steps back and take a photo. Make sure you reward your dog with a tasty treat afterwards, so he/she will look forward to photo time as much as you. And enjoy the beautiful photos you’ll get!
Hope you enjoyed reading everything you need to know about visiting Dorset, UK with your dog! It really is a beautiful part of the UK to make special memories with your best friend. If you’re looking for a great guide to things to do in Dorset, I’d definitely recommend getting this one (affiliate). Make sure you check out my blog on the top things to do in Dorset. And if you’re looking for more coastal adventures with your dog, the Gower Peninsula in Wales and North Devon both have some beautiful scenery.
So much fun! We just took our pups to the beach yesterday, and they loved it. I had never heard of a mud daddy, so thank you so much for introducing me to that!
That’s so cute! Any dog companion would have a blast on this itinerary!
What a gorgeous landscape for a dog walk!! We have doggy friendly beaches where we are in North Carolina but not castle ruins! Thanks for sharing.
I’d love to visit Dorset again, it’s been many years. I love that there are so many beautiful beaches and coastal walks, and it’s really good how dog friendly it is. I’m from the Lake District and they’ve always been really good at having dog friendly hotels, pubs and other places so it’s nice to see elsewhere too
I’d love to take my dog to the Lake District – it sounds like a perfect place for a holiday with my dog.
What a fun article! And so useful for dog owners! You thought of everything including clean paws before getting back in the car. I am definitely sharing this one with my friends who love traveling with their dogs!
Thank you! It’s a great area to explore with dogs.