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Northumberland is one of the easiest parts of the English coast to explore with a dog. Most of its beaches welcome dogs throughout the year, so there are plenty of choices even during the main summer season. You can walk below Bamburgh Castle, explore the huge sweep of Druridge Bay or combine the beach with a coastal walk around Embleton Bay and Low Newton.
If you’re planning a longer stay, our Northumberland dog-friendly cottages include properties close to beaches, coastal paths and seaside villages across the county. Here are some of the best dog-friendly beaches in Northumberland, along with useful information on nearby walks, facilities and wildlife restrictions.
1. Bamburgh Beach
Bamburgh Beach is one of Northumberland’s best-known stretches of coastline, with a large sandy beach backed by dunes and Bamburgh Castle overlooking the shore. Dogs are allowed on the beach, making it a good choice at any time of year.
There is plenty of room for a long walk, and you can continue south along the sand towards Seahouses. The beach walk between Bamburgh and Seahouses is around three miles each way, although you can also return using inland paths or local transport.
Bamburgh village has places to eat and drink, while parking is available close to the castle and in the village. If you want to stay nearby, browse our Bamburgh dog-friendly cottages for properties close to the beach and surrounding coast.
2. Beadnell Bay
Beadnell Bay has a wide, horseshoe-shaped sandy beach beside the village of Beadnell. Its sheltered waters are popular for kayaking, sailing and other watersports, while the beach itself provides plenty of room for walking.
Dogs can be taken onto the beach, but there is an important wildlife restriction to remember. The Long Nanny Burn area in the middle of the bay is an internationally important breeding site for Arctic and Little Terns and other shorebirds. During the breeding season, part of this area is protected and dogs must be kept on a lead when approaching and passing the nesting site.
Signs and temporary fencing show where the protected area begins, so follow the instructions provided by the rangers.
Our Beadnell dog-friendly cottages include places to stay close to the village, beach and surrounding sections of the Northumberland coast.
3. Embleton Bay
Embleton Bay is another long sandy beach with plenty of space for a walk. Dunstanburgh Castle stands above the southern end of the bay, while Low Newton-by-the-Sea lies to the north.
One of the best ways to explore the area is to combine the beach with part of the coastal path. You can walk south towards Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster or head north towards Low Newton.
The dunes and beach are important habitats for nesting birds, particularly during spring and summer. Keep dogs under control, stay away from fenced nesting areas and follow any temporary signs along the beach.
4. Alnmouth Beach
Alnmouth has a large sandy beach beside the mouth of the River Aln. Dogs are welcome, and its proximity to the village makes it particularly convenient if you want to combine a beach walk with somewhere to stop for food or a drink.
The beach is divided naturally by the river and estuary, and care should be taken around the water. Rather than trying to cross the river, use the established paths and access points around the village.
There are also coastal walks north and south from Alnmouth, making this a good place to start a longer walk if your dog needs more exercise than a trip along the beach.
5. Druridge Bay
If space is the priority, Druridge Bay is hard to beat. The bay extends for around seven miles between Amble and Cresswell, with a long sandy beach backed by dunes.
Dogs are allowed on Druridge Bay beach throughout the year. Druridge Bay Country Park provides another choice for walking, with paths around Ladyburn Lake, through woodland and beside the dunes. The circular walk around the lake is approximately 1.5 miles.
There is parking at the country park along with toilets and other facilities, making this one of the more practical Northumberland beaches for a longer day out with your dog.
The dunes and nature reserves around Druridge Bay support a wide range of birds and other wildlife, so dogs should be kept under control away from the open beach.
6. Warkworth Beach
Warkworth Beach lies a short distance from Warkworth village and provides another long stretch of sand for walking. It tends to feel separate from the village itself, with dunes behind the beach and plenty of space once you reach the shore.
A visit can easily be combined with time in Warkworth, where the castle overlooks the village and the River Coquet runs towards nearby Amble.
For a longer outing, there are walking routes around the river, village and coast. As elsewhere in Northumberland, take extra care around wildlife in the dunes and keep dogs under control where requested.
7. Low Newton and Newton Haven
Low Newton-by-the-Sea is a small coastal village at the northern end of Embleton Bay. The beach at Newton Haven provides a more sheltered starting point for walks along this part of the coast.
From here, you can head south along the sand towards Embleton Bay and Dunstanburgh Castle. Another route follows the coast north towards Beadnell, although you need to be aware of the protected bird-nesting area around Long Nanny during the breeding season.
Low Newton is also close to Newton Pool Nature Reserve. Dogs need to be managed carefully around protected wildlife areas, so follow local signs and keep them on a lead where requested.
8. Budle Bay
Budle Bay lies north of Bamburgh and forms part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. It is very different from the open sandy beach at Bamburgh, with extensive mudflats and saltmarsh exposed as the tide falls.
The bay is particularly important for birds, so this isn’t somewhere to let a dog run through feeding or roosting flocks. Keep your dog under close control and follow signs relating to the nature reserve.
For a straightforward run on the sand, nearby Bamburgh may be the easier choice. Budle Bay is better suited to owners who want a quieter coastal walk and are happy to take extra care around wildlife.
9. Spittal Beach
Spittal provides a sandy beach just south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is a useful choice if you are staying at the northern end of the Northumberland coast and don’t want to travel south towards Bamburgh or Seahouses for a beach walk.
The promenade makes it possible to combine time on the sand with a straightforward seafront walk. You can also explore Berwick’s historic town walls and the banks of the River Tweed while you are in the area.
Check local signs when you arrive for any temporary restrictions or instructions affecting dogs.
10. Seahouses and the Beach Towards Bamburgh
Seahouses is best known for its harbour and boat trips to the Farne Islands, but there are also sandy stretches of coast on either side of the village.
The beach north of Seahouses is particularly useful for dog walkers because you can follow it towards Bamburgh, approximately three miles away. Bamburgh Castle remains visible for much of the route, making navigation fairly straightforward.
You don’t have to walk the entire distance. A shorter walk along the beach and back to Seahouses works just as well, particularly if you want to combine it with lunch or time around the harbour.
Our Seahouses dog-friendly cottages are a good choice if you want beaches and coastal walks within easy reach of the village.
Dogs and Wildlife on the Northumberland Coast
Northumberland’s relatively relaxed approach to dogs on its beaches doesn’t mean there are no restrictions to consider. Much of the coastline is important for breeding and feeding birds, and temporary protected areas are used at several locations.
The Long Nanny site between Beadnell and High Newton is particularly important. Arctic Terns, Little Terns and Ringed Plovers breed here, and part of the coast is roped off during the breeding season. Dogs must be kept on a lead when passing the protected area.
Nesting birds can also be found around Embleton Bay, Beadnell and other sandy and shingle beaches. Give fenced areas plenty of space and don’t allow dogs to chase flocks of birds resting or feeding on the shore.
Dogs should also be kept under control around livestock and seals. If you find a seal resting on the beach, keep your dog well away and give the animal plenty of space.
Planning a Dog-Friendly Break in Northumberland
Northumberland works particularly well for a holiday with a dog because you don’t have to rely on a small number of designated dog beaches. Most of the coast remains accessible throughout the year, giving you plenty of alternatives if one area is busy or has temporary wildlife restrictions.
Bamburgh, Seahouses and Beadnell put you close to several beaches in the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, while Alnmouth and Warkworth are convenient for the central coast. Druridge Bay provides miles of sand further south.
Before visiting any beach, check the signs at the main access point for current restrictions or wildlife advice. If you’re choosing somewhere to stay, our collection of dog-friendly cottages on the Northumberland coast includes properties close to beaches and walking routes throughout the county.