Dog-friendly beaches in Bournemouth: 2026 summer rules by beach

Every beach, west to east

The table runs from Poole Harbour along the bay to Highcliffe, the order in which the beaches sit on BCP Council's two dog maps. "2026 award" is from BCP's announcement of 15 May 2026. Each summer status comes from that beach's own BCP page, or from BCP's year-round list where the beach has no page.

The 10 stretches open to dogs all year

These are BCP Council's year-round dog areas, in its own wording where the limits matter:

1. Western side of Alum Chine to Branksome Chine beach office, taking in Branksome Dene. The longest year-round stretch on the Bournemouth side.
2. Middle Chine to Durley Chine, a short stretch between two summer-ban beaches at the west end of Bournemouth.
3. East of Fisherman's Walk to Southbourne. See the note above on where it stops.
4. Hengistbury Head. "Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the beach", but off the beach this is a nature reserve and dogs must be under close control on a lead.
5. Mudeford Sandbank, off lead. BCP says to reach it on foot, by bike or on the land train from Hengistbury Head car park, a mile away; through the nature reserve, keep dogs under close control, preferably on a lead.
6. Gundimore Beach, off lead, next to Avon Beach.
7. Friars Cliff, only between the wave wall and groyne H4.
8. Highcliffe, everywhere except between groynes H4 and H8 in summer. Outside the summer, dogs may go off lead between H4 and H8 too.
9. The western end of Sandbanks promenade to Haven Point, by the chain ferry.
10. Hamworthy Park beach, on Poole Harbour.

BCP's Christchurch dog map shows the Christchurch stretches: Mudeford Sandbank and Gundimore in green, Avon Beach and the western part of Friars Cliff in red, then green east to groyne 4 at Highcliffe, red from groyne 4 to groyne 8, and green again beyond it.

Can I take my dog to Sandbanks beach?

Not to the main beach between 1 May and 30 September: BCP's Sandbanks page says dogs are not allowed there in that period and must be on a lead on the promenade and paths. The western end of the Sandbanks promenade, running to Haven Point by the chain ferry, is open to dogs all year.

Across the chain ferry, Studland's beaches are run by Dorset Council and the National Trust, not BCP. From 1 May to 30 September dogs must be on a lead on Shell beach, South beach, Middle beach and the southern part of Knoll beach, under Dorset Council's 2024 dog order, so they are allowed, but not off lead.

For car parks near the beach, see Sandbanks parking.

Are dogs allowed at Boscombe beach and on Bournemouth Pier?

Boscombe beach and Bournemouth beach both hold 2026 Seaside Awards, so dogs are banned from the sand from 1 May to 30 September and allowed from 1 October. The nearest summer dog beach to Boscombe is east of Fisherman's Walk; from the pier, it is Middle Chine to Durley Chine to the west.

BCP's rules list piers with promenades and zig zags as places where dogs must be on a lead. They do not ban dogs from the piers.

Can dogs go on Mudeford beach?

It depends which one. Mudeford Sandbank and Gundimore Beach take dogs all year, off lead. Avon Beach, right next to Gundimore, holds a 2026 Seaside Award and is closed to dogs from 1 May to 30 September. BCP's Avon Beach page says dogs are allowed there from 1 October to 30 April. Avon Beach is not named on BCP's main dog rules page, but its own page and the Christchurch map both show the summer ban.

Leads, clearing up and fines

• Leads: BCP's beach pages say dogs must be on a lead on promenades, piers, zig zags and footpaths "at all times", and the maps add cliff paths. BCP's main dog page places the same sentence under its October to April heading, which reads as if it only applies in winter. The beach pages and maps say all year.
• Clearing up: on the Avon Beach and Friars Cliff pages, BCP says failing to clean up after your dog "risks a fine of up to £1000". No fixed-penalty amount is published on BCP's dog pages.
• Guide dogs: allowed on every BCP beach all year when working, in a harness and on a lead.
• Dog wash: BCP lists a dog wash among the facilities at Alum Chine, Branksome Chine and Sandbanks.

Where to stay near a year-round dog beach

The Riviera at Alum Chine is the closest hotel on the dog-friendly hotels in Bournemouth list to the Branksome Dene stretch, and its own dog letter points guests there. The West Cliff hotels sit above the Middle Chine to Durley Chine stretch, and Captain's Club in Christchurch is the closest to Mudeford Sandbank. For caravan and lodge stays, see holiday parks in Bournemouth and Poole.

Frequently asked questions

When can dogs go back on Bournemouth beach?

On 1 October. The summer ban runs from 1 May to 30 September inclusive, and from 1 October to 30 April dogs are allowed on every BCP beach.

Are dogs allowed on Bournemouth beach in September?

Not on the award beaches. September is inside the 1 May to 30 September ban, so dogs stay on the 10 year-round stretches until 1 October.

Can dogs go off lead on the beach?

BCP's pages say so for three places: Mudeford Sandbank and Gundimore Beach all year, and the Highcliffe stretch between groynes H4 and H8 outside the summer ban. Its other beach pages give the lead rule for promenades, paths and zig zags but say nothing either way about the sand, and at Hengistbury Head dogs must be on a lead once off the beach.

Related guides

• Dog-friendly hotels in Bournemouth
• Bournemouth beach parking
• Sandbanks parking
• Camping near Bournemouth
• Where to stay in Bournemouth