Camber Sands and West Wittering among UK's dog-friendly beaches

Camber Sands in East Sussex ranked fifth in a study by Canine Cottages, which analysed UK beaches for dog-friendly factors.

Factors included proximity to car parks, dog-friendly activities, and positive reviews.

West Wittering Beach in West Sussex also made the list, ranking ninth overall.

Camber Sands has plenty of space for pooches (Image: Sega Boyno) The study was conducted to assist dog owners in finding the best beach destinations ahead of the summer season.

It was based on factors such as traveller reviews, dog-friendly activities, car park accessibility, and terrain.

Camber Sands was the highest ranked beach in all of Sussex.

Canine Cottages said: "If you and your dog dream of sand dunes and salty air, then hot-foot it to dog-friendly Camber Sands.

"'Miles of golden sand' gets bandied about too often—but in Camber, it’s absolutely true.

"The beach boasts literal swathes of sand, perfect for your four-legged friend to run, play, and dig to their heart’s content."

West Wittering Beach also made the list (Image: Wikimedia) Dogs are welcome year-round on Camber Sands. While some restrictions apply in designated zones from May 1 to September 30, there’s still ample beach and dune space available during this period.

The Owl in Camber was named as a nearby dog-friendly pub, ideal for a bite to eat and a pint of local ale.

The study ranked UK beaches, based solely on their suitability for dogs.

The six factors used in the study included the number of TripAdvisor reviews that mentioned 'dog-friendly', and the number of dog-friendly cafes and restaurants in the area.

Dogs do love to be beside the seaside (Image: Tim Buss) Other factors included the number of dog-friendly walking trails near the beach, the average annual temperature in the area, and the total number of searches for each beach between April 2024 and March 2025.

The presence of a car park within 500 metres of the beach was also considered.

Perranporth Beach in Cornwall was named the most dog-friendly beach, followed by Fistral Beach, Cornwall, and Woolacombe Beach, Devon.

The research was prompted by a survey revealing that 43 per cent of dog owners struggle to find dog-friendly beaches when on holiday with their pets.