🐾 Beach restrictions lift on 1 October — all Dorset beaches welcome dogs again•🐾 Charmouth Beach: dog-friendly year-round — fossil hunting season in full swing•🐾 Purbeck heathland: keep dogs on leads near ground-nesting birds (April–July)•🐾 Shell Bay, Studland: dog-friendly year-round — no restrictions at the north end•🐾 Damory Vets Blandford: 24/7 emergency service — 01258 452626•🐾 Vets Now Bournemouth: out-of-hours emergency — 01202 859933•🐾 Blue-green algae alert: avoid still water in hot weather — check EA website•🐾 Brownsea Island: dogs on leads at all times — red squirrel conservation area•🐾 RSPB Arne: dogs on leads — Dartford warblers nesting on heathland•🐾 Golden Cap: steep clay paths — slippery after rain, bring paw wax•🐾 Corfe Castle: National Trust car park — dogs welcome on the earthworks•🐾 River Frome at Moreton: excellent swimming — chalk stream, cold and clear•🐾 Hod Hill: National Trust free car park — dogs welcome on the hillfort•🐾 Cranborne Chase: International Dark Sky Reserve — best stargazing in October•🐾 Weymouth beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September on central section•🐾 Sandbanks Beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September•🐾 Abbotsbury Swannery: NO dogs permitted — not even guide dogs•🐾 Monkey World: dogs not permitted inside — free kennels available on site•🐾 South West Coast Path: entire Dorset section is public footpath — free access•🐾 Maiden Castle: free access at all times — English Heritage site•🐾 Beach restrictions lift on 1 October — all Dorset beaches welcome dogs again•🐾 Charmouth Beach: dog-friendly year-round — fossil hunting season in full swing•🐾 Purbeck heathland: keep dogs on leads near ground-nesting birds (April–July)•🐾 Shell Bay, Studland: dog-friendly year-round — no restrictions at the north end•🐾 Damory Vets Blandford: 24/7 emergency service — 01258 452626•🐾 Vets Now Bournemouth: out-of-hours emergency — 01202 859933•🐾 Blue-green algae alert: avoid still water in hot weather — check EA website•🐾 Brownsea Island: dogs on leads at all times — red squirrel conservation area•🐾 RSPB Arne: dogs on leads — Dartford warblers nesting on heathland•🐾 Golden Cap: steep clay paths — slippery after rain, bring paw wax•🐾 Corfe Castle: National Trust car park — dogs welcome on the earthworks•🐾 River Frome at Moreton: excellent swimming — chalk stream, cold and clear•🐾 Hod Hill: National Trust free car park — dogs welcome on the hillfort•🐾 Cranborne Chase: International Dark Sky Reserve — best stargazing in October•🐾 Weymouth beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September on central section•🐾 Sandbanks Beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September•🐾 Abbotsbury Swannery: NO dogs permitted — not even guide dogs•🐾 Monkey World: dogs not permitted inside — free kennels available on site•🐾 South West Coast Path: entire Dorset section is public footpath — free access•🐾 Maiden Castle: free access at all times — English Heritage site•

🐾 About Us

Built by Dog Lovers, for Dog Lovers

Dorset Dog Walks was born from a simple frustration: why is it so hard to find genuinely dog-friendly places in Dorset? Not just "dogs on leads tolerated" — but actually, properly, joyfully dog-friendly.

Our Story

It Started with a Muddy Labrador

Henry the Labrador had strong opinions about where he wanted to walk. His human, less so — until she moved to Dorset and discovered that finding a walk that ended at a pub that actually welcomed dogs (and not just in the car park) was harder than it should be.

So we built the resource we wished existed. A proper, curated, dog-first guide to Dorset — with real information about beach restrictions, sniffari ratings, swimming spots, and the pubs that genuinely love dogs as much as we do.

Dorset Dog Walks is part of the My Dorset Companion family — a suite of local guides built to help people get the very best from this extraordinary county.

Henry the Labrador giving his owner a kiss on a walk in Dorset

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Henry's Verdict

What We Stand For

Our Principles

Dog-First Always

Every recommendation is made with the dog's experience at the centre. If Henry wouldn't enjoy it, it doesn't make the cut.

Accurate & Verified

We cross-reference PSPO data, RCVS vet registers, and local knowledge to ensure every piece of information is reliable.

Genuinely Local

We're based in Dorset. We walk these paths, drink in these pubs, and swim in these rivers. This isn't a content farm.

Honest Reviews

Our sniffari ratings are honest. A 3-paw walk is still a great walk — we just want you to know what to expect.

Part of a Bigger Family

My Dorset Companion

Dorset Dog Walks is a sister site to My Dorset Companion — the comprehensive guide to everything Dorset. From events and restaurants to hidden gems and local news, My Dorset Companion covers it all.

Visit My Dorset Companion →

Get in Touch

Want to suggest a walk, report outdated information, or partner with us? We'd love to hear from you.