Dog-Friendly

Things to Do

Your four-legged friend will love the Geopark’s treks, trails and hours of seaside fun.

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Dog-friendly beaches

A happy hound making a break for the beach is always a joy to see. Luckily, many of the English Riviera’s award-winning beaches are dog-friendly all year round. Here are a few places to get your paws wet:

  • A sandy beach with gentle waves and a calm ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

    Goodrington Sands (North Sands), Paignton

    Dogs can have a splash about at the far section of this popular beach. At low tide, North Sands is a large expanse of soft golden sands to run and play on.

  • An aerial view of a small beach cove with people sunbathing and playing, surrounded by green trees and a forested hillside. Several boats are anchored and sailing on the blue water, with some boats near the shoreline and others further out.

    Elberry Cove, Paignton

    Park at Broadsands Beach and walk along the clifftops to Elberry Cove, a dog-friendly pebbly beach that’s great for swimming and a ball chuck.

  • Calm water in a cove with a boat and kayakers, lush green trees covering the hills, rocky shoreline, and a blue sky with some clouds.

    Livermead Sands, Torquay

    Time the tide right and you’ll have loads of beach to play with. The best route is from Cockington village, walking through the water meadows.

  • A view of a beach with clear blue water and sandy shore. There are a few people on the beach and a paddleboarder in the water. In the background, there are green hills with a white building on top.

    Meadfoot (north-eastern part), Torquay

    A shingle beach below the cliffs that’s great for exploring on four legs or two — just a stick’s throw from Meadfoot Green, a big expanse of grass to run around on.

  • A coastal scene with a sandy beach, rocky cliffs covered in green vegetation, and houses on a hill in the background. The water is calm and blue, and there is a person walking along the beach.

    St Mary’s Bay, Brixham

    Brixham’s largest beach sits between Berry Head National Nature Reserve and Sharkham Point on the South West Coast Path. Look out for the local mudstone and limestone bedrock.

Dog-friendly places to see

With so much coast and countryside to discover, you won’t mind heading out whatever the weather. Take the lead and go for a walkies in these dog-friendly spots:

  • People playing soccer in a large grassy park with trees and a bright blue sky.

    Cockington Country Park, Torquay

    Paradise for pets and their owners. Stroll around the ornamental lakes, head into the woods and along the paths past fields and orchards, back in time for a cream tea (and a biscuit) at one of the dog-friendly pubs and cafes in and around the village.

  • Pink wildflowers in foreground with blurred coastal cliffs and ocean in background.

    Berry Head, Brixham

    Sniff out more than 170 acres of diverse habitat and wildlife, fascinating history and stunning scenery. There are clifftop walks, and dogs on leads are welcome in the National Nature Reserve and the Guardhouse Café.

  • A narrow wooden pathway through a green forested area, with a small sign on a post indicating lift latch to open gate.

    Occombe Woods, Paignton

    Paignton is known for its beaches, but there are green and pleasant areas behind the sandy scenes too. Occombe Woods is a designated local nature reserve with lots of pathways to explore and a stream running through it.