🐾 Beach restrictions lift on 1 October β€” all Dorset beaches welcome dogs againβ€’πŸΎ Charmouth Beach: dog-friendly year-round β€” fossil hunting season in full swingβ€’πŸΎ Purbeck heathland: keep dogs on leads near ground-nesting birds (April–July)β€’πŸΎ Shell Bay, Studland: dog-friendly year-round β€” no restrictions at the north endβ€’πŸΎ Damory Vets Blandford: 24/7 emergency service β€” 01258 452626β€’πŸΎ Vets Now Bournemouth: out-of-hours emergency β€” 01202 859933β€’πŸΎ Blue-green algae alert: avoid still water in hot weather β€” check EA websiteβ€’πŸΎ Brownsea Island: dogs on leads at all times β€” red squirrel conservation areaβ€’πŸΎ RSPB Arne: dogs on leads β€” Dartford warblers nesting on heathlandβ€’πŸΎ Golden Cap: steep clay paths β€” slippery after rain, bring paw waxβ€’πŸΎ Corfe Castle: National Trust car park β€” dogs welcome on the earthworksβ€’πŸΎ River Frome at Moreton: excellent swimming β€” chalk stream, cold and clearβ€’πŸΎ Hod Hill: National Trust free car park β€” dogs welcome on the hillfortβ€’πŸΎ Cranborne Chase: International Dark Sky Reserve β€” best stargazing in Octoberβ€’πŸΎ Weymouth beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September on central sectionβ€’πŸΎ Sandbanks Beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 Septemberβ€’πŸΎ Abbotsbury Swannery: NO dogs permitted β€” not even guide dogsβ€’πŸΎ Monkey World: dogs not permitted inside β€” free kennels available on siteβ€’πŸΎ South West Coast Path: entire Dorset section is public footpath β€” free accessβ€’πŸΎ Maiden Castle: free access at all times β€” English Heritage siteβ€’πŸΎ Beach restrictions lift on 1 October β€” all Dorset beaches welcome dogs againβ€’πŸΎ Charmouth Beach: dog-friendly year-round β€” fossil hunting season in full swingβ€’πŸΎ Purbeck heathland: keep dogs on leads near ground-nesting birds (April–July)β€’πŸΎ Shell Bay, Studland: dog-friendly year-round β€” no restrictions at the north endβ€’πŸΎ Damory Vets Blandford: 24/7 emergency service β€” 01258 452626β€’πŸΎ Vets Now Bournemouth: out-of-hours emergency β€” 01202 859933β€’πŸΎ Blue-green algae alert: avoid still water in hot weather β€” check EA websiteβ€’πŸΎ Brownsea Island: dogs on leads at all times β€” red squirrel conservation areaβ€’πŸΎ RSPB Arne: dogs on leads β€” Dartford warblers nesting on heathlandβ€’πŸΎ Golden Cap: steep clay paths β€” slippery after rain, bring paw waxβ€’πŸΎ Corfe Castle: National Trust car park β€” dogs welcome on the earthworksβ€’πŸΎ River Frome at Moreton: excellent swimming β€” chalk stream, cold and clearβ€’πŸΎ Hod Hill: National Trust free car park β€” dogs welcome on the hillfortβ€’πŸΎ Cranborne Chase: International Dark Sky Reserve β€” best stargazing in Octoberβ€’πŸΎ Weymouth beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 September on central sectionβ€’πŸΎ Sandbanks Beach: seasonal restrictions 1 May–30 Septemberβ€’πŸΎ Abbotsbury Swannery: NO dogs permitted β€” not even guide dogsβ€’πŸΎ Monkey World: dogs not permitted inside β€” free kennels available on siteβ€’πŸΎ South West Coast Path: entire Dorset section is public footpath β€” free accessβ€’πŸΎ Maiden Castle: free access at all times β€” English Heritage siteβ€’
πŸ“– The Dog's Blog

Walk Guides, Tips & Tales

Walk guides written from a dog's perspective, expert vet tips, seasonal beach ban updates, and the occasional opinion piece from Henry the Labrador.

Golden Cap: The Highest Point on the South Coast (and Why Every Dog Should Climb It)
Walk Guide 7 min

Golden Cap: The Highest Point on the South Coast (and Why Every Dog Should Climb It)

At 191 metres, Golden Cap is the highest point on the entire South Coast of England. The view from the summit encompasses the Jurassic Coast in both directions, Devon to the west, and Portland Bill to the east. It is also, as it happens, one of the best walks in Dorset for dogs β€” if you know how to approach it.

πŸ‘©β€βš•οΈAsk the Expert
Dorset Beach Dog Bans: The Complete Guide for 2025
Essential Guide 8 min

Dorset Beach Dog Bans: The Complete Guide for 2025

Every year, as the clocks go forward and the weather improves, the same question arrives in our inbox: where can I take my dog on a Dorset beach this summer? The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no β€” and knowing the rules in advance can save a lot of frustration.

πŸ“Dorset Dog Walks
Henry's Top 5 Dog Swimming Spots in Dorset
Top Picks 5 min

Henry's Top 5 Dog Swimming Spots in Dorset

I am a Labrador. Water is not optional. Water is the point. My human has learned to accept this, and has developed a system involving a dedicated towel, a spare lead, and the resigned expression of someone who knew exactly what they were getting into when they chose a fox red Labrador.

πŸ•Henry (Fox Red Labrador)
The Purbeck Ridge in Autumn: Why October is the Best Month for Dog Walking in Dorset
Seasonal Guide 6 min

The Purbeck Ridge in Autumn: Why October is the Best Month for Dog Walking in Dorset

September is when Dorset gives itself back to the people who live here. The summer crowds thin, the car parks empty, and the county reveals itself in its best light β€” lower, warmer, more golden than the harsh brightness of July.

πŸ“Dorset Dog Walks
The Dog Owner's Guide to Dorset's Best Dog-Friendly Pubs
Essential Guide 7 min

The Dog Owner's Guide to Dorset's Best Dog-Friendly Pubs

Not all dog-friendly pubs are created equal. There is a spectrum that runs from 'technically we allow dogs' to 'we have a dedicated dog menu, a towel rail by the door, and the landlord knows your dog's name'. Dorset, fortunately, has plenty of the latter.

πŸ“Dorset Dog Walks