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Anglesey in Wales is one of the better UK islands for dog friendly coastal holidays. The beaches are spread around the whole island, the coast path runs for about 130 miles, and many villages are located close to the seaside. You can stay near sandy beaches, small harbours, tidal bays, woodland paths or quieter coves.
The dog rules are not the same everywhere. Isle of Anglesey County Council restricts dogs from marked areas on seven beaches between 1 May and 30 September each year. These are Beaumaris, Benllech, Cemaes Bay, Llanddwyn at Newborough, Llanddona, Porth Dafarch and Trearddur Bay. At Benllech, Cemaes Bay and Trearddur Bay, dogs must also be kept on leads on the promenades.
That doesn’t mean these beaches are off the list for dog friendly breaks in Anglesey. The council states that signs and maps show the restricted areas, and that dogs and owners can still use parts of those beaches. The safest plan is to check the signs at the beach entrance before going onto the sand.
Beaumaris
Beaumaris is one of Anglesey’s best towns for a dog friendly break if you want history, sea views and walks by the Menai Strait. The town has a seafront, pier, independent shops, cafés, pubs and one of the most famous castles in Wales.
Beaumaris Castle is the main landmark. It was started by Edward I in the late 13th century and is part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site. The castle sits close to the town centre, so it is easy to combine with a seafront walk, lunch or a boat trip.
Beaumaris does have seasonal dog restrictions on certain sections of the beach from 1 May to 30 September (clearly marked). Outside those dates, the beach is easier for dog walks. In summer, check the signs and use the permitted areas.
For walks, the seafront is the easiest option. You can follow the water towards Gallows Point for views across the Menai Strait. For a longer day, head towards Penmon. The wider route from Beaumaris towards Penmon Point gives views across to Puffin Island and the Great Orme on clear days. Penmon Point has Trwyn Du Lighthouse, Penmon Priory nearby and a rocky shoreline rather than a sandy resort beach.
Beaumaris is a good base if you want a town stay rather than a beach-only holiday. You have food, shops, history and boat trips close by, while Penmon, Llanddona and Red Wharf Bay are all within reach.
Rhosneigr
Rhosneigr is one of the best places on Anglesey for dog owners who want beaches, water-sports and places to eat close together. The village sits on the west coast and has two main sandy beaches: Traeth Crigyll and Traeth Llydan, also known as Broad Beach. Rhosneigr has two broad sandy beaches and is a popular centre for water-sports.
Traeth Crigyll is the main beach beside the village. It’s wide and sandy at low tide, with views towards Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, on clear days. It’s also popular for walking, water-sports and beach time, with cafés, shops and restaurants nearby.
Traeth Llydan sits to the south of the village and has a more open feel, with dunes behind the beach and views across the bay. It’s a good option for longer beach walks, but be sure to check tide times.
Rhosneigr is one of the best beaches in North Wales and is not included among the seven Anglesey beaches with the main 1 May to 30 September dog exclusion zones, which makes it a better summer option than Benllech, Cemaes Bay or Trearddur Bay. The council’s dog restriction list covers beaches including Beaumaris, Benllech, Cemaes Bay, Llanddwyn, Llanddona, Porth Dafarch and Trearddur Bay. Local signs should still be checked when you arrive.
For walks, you can follow the coast path south towards Aberffraw Bay, passing open shoreline, dunes and views across the west coast of Anglesey. North of the village, the coast path heads towards Porth Nobla, Porth Trecastell, also known as Cable Bay, and the area around Barclodiad y Gawres, a Neolithic burial chamber close to the coast.
Rhosneigr suits dog owners who want sandy beaches without being too far from food, pubs, shops and water-sports. It’s a livelier town than Moelfre or Red Wharf Bay, but still smaller and easier to get around than the larger resort towns.
Benllech
Benllech is one of Anglesey’s most scenic beach towns. It sits on the east coast and has a wide sandy beach, cafés, shops and places to eat close to the shore. The beach is the reason most people stay here.
At low tide, Benllech Beach opens into a broad stretch of sand. It’s perfect for children, paddling and beach walks, with views across Red Wharf Bay. The village above the beach has everyday shops, takeaways and pubs, which makes it practical for longer stays.
Dog owners need to plan around the summer rules. Benllech is one of Anglesey’s restricted beaches from 1 May to 30 September, and dogs must be kept on leads on the promenade. The restrictions apply to marked areas, so check the beach maps and signs when you arrive. Outside the restricted season, Benllech is much easier for dog walks.
A good walk from Benllech follows the coast towards Red Wharf Bay. This route links beach, shore and estuary views, but tide times matter. The sand and channels can change quickly across the bay, so do not cross open tidal areas unless you know the route is safe.
Benllech suits dog owners who want a proper beach village with facilities nearby. It is busier than Moelfre or Cemaes Bay, but it gives you easy access to sand, food and the coast path.
Cemaes Bay
Cemaes Bay sits on the north coast of Anglesey and has a harbour, beaches, a river, shops, cafés and access to some of the island’s best coastal walking. It is smaller than Benllech and Trearddur Bay, but it has enough going on for a relaxed seaside stay.
The bay is split by the River Wygyr. Traeth Mawr is the larger beach to the east of the river, while Traeth Bach is smaller and sits on the west side. Both are close to the village centre. The harbour, beach and high street are all within a short walk.
Cemaes Bay has seasonal dog restrictions on marked beach areas from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must also be kept on leads on the promenade. The restrictions do not cover every part of the beach, so check the council maps and local signs before heading onto the sand.
The coastal walks are one of the main reasons to stay here. East of the village, the route towards Llanbadrig Church gives sea views, rocky coves and access to Porth Padrig, where the white quartz rock known as the White Lady stands out on the beach. Further east, the coast path continues towards Porth Llanlleiana, Porth Wen and Amlwch.
West of Cemaes, the path heads towards Wylfa Head and Cemlyn Bay. Cemlyn is known for its shingle ridge, lagoon and tern colony, so dogs should be kept under close control near wildlife areas.
Trearddur Bay
Trearddur Bay is one of the main places to stay on Holy Island, off the west side of Anglesey. It has a large sandy bay, rocky coves, cafés, restaurants, shops and easy access to some of the island’s best coastal scenery.
The main beach is sandy and popular in summer. It’s sheltered by headlands and backed by a promenade, making it a popular choice for families, swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding in suitable conditions. Around the bay, there are smaller rocky inlets and coves that are good for exploring at low tide.
Dog owners need to be careful with the dates. Trearddur Bay is one of Anglesey’s restricted beaches from 1 May to 30 September, and dogs must be kept on leads on the promenade. Check the signs for the permitted areas before using the beach in summer. Outside the restricted season, dog walks are a lot easier to arrange.
The coast path is a major part of the appeal. From Trearddur Bay, you can walk south towards Rhoscolyn, passing rocky shoreline, coves and views across the Irish Sea. The Rhoscolyn area includes Bwa Gwyn, the White Arch, and the small church of St Gwenfaen. North of Trearddur Bay, routes head towards Porth Dafarch, Holyhead Mountain and South Stack.
South Stack is one of Anglesey’s biggest landmarks, with sea cliffs, seabirds and the lighthouse reached by steps down the cliff. Dogs are welcome on parts of the RSPB reserve but should be kept under control and on paths.
Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge is not a beach village in the same way as Benllech or Trearddur Bay, but it’s a good base for dog owners who want waterside walks, restaurants and easy access to both Anglesey and mainland North Wales.
The town sits beside the Menai Strait and is named after the Menai Suspension Bridge, designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826. The Britannia Bridge is nearby, and both bridges are major landmarks in this part of the island.
For dog walks, the most direct option is the Belgian Promenade and the waterside paths around the Strait. The route towards Church Island and St Tysilio’s Church is one of the best short walks in the town. The island is linked by a causeway and has views across the water towards the bridges.
Menai Bridge also works well for food. The town has restaurants with sea views, pubs, cafés and takeaways, so it suits visitors who want more evening choice than a small beach village can offer. It is also close to Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Pili Palas, Beaumaris and the east coast beaches.
There is no main sandy dog beach in the town centre, so this is better for walkers than beach days. For sand, drive to Benllech, Red Wharf Bay, Llanddona or Newborough, checking dog rules before you go.
Moelfre
Moelfre is a small coastal village on the east side of Anglesey, north of Benllech and Red Wharf Bay. It has a harbour, lifeboat history, rocky shoreline, cafés, pubs and coast path walks in both directions.
The village is closely linked with the sea. The Moelfre Lifeboat Station is one of the main landmarks, and the Seawatch Centre tells the story of local maritime history, including shipwrecks and lifeboat rescues. The village also has a sculpture of lifeboatman Dic Evans, who served with the Moelfre lifeboat.
Moelfre does not have a large sandy beach in the village centre. The shoreline is more rocky, with a small pebble beach and harbour area. For sand, head to Traeth Lligwy, a broad sandy beach a short drive or coast path walk away. Traeth Lligwy is often one of the better options for dogs, but check local signs before visiting.
The coast path from Moelfre is excellent. Walk north towards Traeth Lligwy and Dulas Bay, or south towards Traeth Bychan, Benllech and Red Wharf Bay. The northbound route gives access to open coast and sandy beaches, while the southbound route links smaller coves and village stops.
Dogs are generally easy to manage around Moelfre, but leads are sensible near the harbour, cliff edges and livestock. The coast path has narrow sections, so keep dogs close when passing other walkers.
Red Wharf Bay
Red Wharf Bay, or Traeth Coch, is one of the most distinctive coastal areas on Anglesey. It is a large tidal bay between Benllech, Pentraeth and Llanddona, with wide sands and mudflats at low tide.
This is not a normal resort beach where you turn up and swim. The bay changes with the tide, and the open sands can be deceptive. It is better for views, walking, birdwatching and food by the water than for a simple swim.
The village area around Red Wharf Bay has pubs and places to eat near the shore, including waterside spots looking across the bay. It works well for a quieter stay, especially if you want to be close to Benllech without staying in the busier village itself.
Dog owners usually have more space here than at the restricted resort beaches, but care is needed. The bay is important for birds and wildlife, especially around the mudflats and saltmarsh. Keep dogs under control, avoid disturbing birds and do not walk far out across the bay without checking tide times.
A good walk links Red Wharf Bay with Benllech along the coast. Another option is to walk towards Llanddona, which has a long beach but is one of Anglesey’s seven restricted beaches in summer. The wider area also links into the Anglesey Coast Path.
Which Anglesey village works best with a dog?
For a beach-led stay, look at Benllech, Rhosneigr or Trearddur Bay, but check the summer dog restrictions before booking. Benllech and Trearddur Bay have summer dog restrictions on marked areas, so check the signs before booking around beach days. Rhosneigr is not on Anglesey’s main list of restricted beaches, which makes it a good option if you want sand, water-sports and places to eat close together.
For coastal walking, Cemaes Bay, Moelfre and Red Wharf Bay give you access to longer routes, coves, cliffs, tidal bays and quieter sections of coast. For a town stay, Beaumaris and Menai Bridge give you more history, food and waterside walks. They also work well if you want to explore different parts of the island by car.
For stays close to beaches, coast paths and villages around the island, browse our fabulous collection of Anglesey dog friendly cottages by the sea before planning your trip. You may also want to spend a few moments reading our UK guide to dog friendly holidays, full of useful tips and suggestions to ensure a stress free holiday with your hound.