Cornwall and Devon's dog-friendly beaches take the top spot

Taking your dog on holiday can be one of the greatest joys of pet ownership. But it's not always as easy to plan a staycation with your pooch in tow, that's why the pet experts at PDSA Pet Insurance have pulled together their favourite dog-friendly beaches so you don't have to, with Cornwall and Devon topping the charts!

"In the UK, we're lucky to be (literally) surrounded by amazing coastline and loads of beaches, which can be fun for us and our canine pals," explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing. "But not every beach is dog friendly, so before you go anywhere make sure you've researched the area first to make sure there are no restrictions in place.

The top seven dog-friendly beaches from PDSA Pet Insurance have been revealed, with Par Sands in St Austell, Cornwall at number one.
Par Sands is a lovely sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes and even has a little lake. It's ideal for playing and walking with your dog and having a paddle in the sea. If you do go walking away from the beach, keep your dog on the lead in case of wildlife. Any restrictions? No restrictions – it's dog friendly all year round!

Woolacombe in Devon is a large beach located on the north coast of Devon and was named as the second most dog-friendly beach. It's a popular spot for families and surfers, so do keep in mind it can get a little busy. Next to the beach is Woolacombe Village, where there are lots of dog-friendly places to eat and stay if you're planning a getaway. Any restrictions? Yes – the beach is split into three zones (there should be signs up to tell you exactly where these are). In zone A (from the north end of the beach to the stream) dogs are not allowed from Good Friday or April 1 (whichever is first) until the first Monday in November. In zone B (the stream to Mill Rock) dogs must be kept on the lead between these dates. In zone C, South of Mill Rock, you can exercise your dog off the lead all year round.

At number three was Durdle Door in Dorset, four was Weston-super-Mare, number five was Holkham in Norfolk and at number six was Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland. St Bees Beach in Cumbria came in at number seven.

To plan a holiday in Devon, visit https://www.visitdevon.co.uk and to plan a holiday in Cornwall, visit https://www.visitcornwall.com

Image courtesy of www.gettyimages.co.uk