Dog-Friendly Days Out in North Devon: Sandymouth, Northcott, Summerleaze and Saunton Sands 🐾

Saunton Sands

This week we visited North Devon with Bonnie, and we wanted to share four brilliant dog-friendly beaches we explored: Sandymouth, Northcott, Summerleaze, and Saunton Sands.

Sandymouth Beach

Tucked away just a few miles north of Bude, Sandymouth was one of our favourite stops. At low tide, the beach stretches right out, with loads of space for Bonnie to run and explore. The waterfalls and rock pools made it feel like a little adventure playground! Dogs are welcome all year round, and there’s a handy National Trust café at the top. The walk down to the beach is a bit steep, so good shoes are a must — and a short lead is handy for excited pups.

Northcott Mouth

Northcott Mouth felt a bit more hidden and peaceful. It’s a rugged, wild spot with huge open sands when the tide is out. Bonnie loved weaving between the rocks and chasing the waves. It's dog-friendly all year, and we pretty much had the place to ourselves for a while.

One of the best things about this part of the coast is the access to the South West Coast Path. There are miles of trails running along the cliffs, linking beaches like Sandymouth and Northcott, and the views are absolutely stunning — endless ocean, dramatic cliffs, and rolling green hills as far as you can see.We took Bonnie on a few short sections and she loved it just as much as the beach. It's worth bringing a lead for the cliff-top bits, but it’s an amazing way to take in the scenery and get a bit of extra adventure in. Some sections are nice and easy, others a bit more rugged, but every turn seemed to have another jaw-dropping view.

(Just make sure to check tide times if you're planning to stay on the beach — at high tide it shrinks quite a lot.)

Summerleaze Beach

Right by Bude town centre, Summerleaze was busier but still lovely. Bonnie needed to be on the lead because of the seasonal rules, but she didn’t mind — there was plenty to see and sniff, and the atmosphere was really friendly. It’s a great choice if you want a beach day but still have cafés, toilets, and shops close by.

The Bude Sea Pool looked amazing too (humans only for that bit though!). There’s a pretty section of the coast path here as well, perfect for a more relaxed stroll with a view after a busy beach morning.

Saunton Sands

Further east along the coast, we made a special trip to Saunton Sands — and it was absolutely worth it. This beach is huge, with three and a half miles of golden sand and shallow waves that go on forever. Dogs are allowed all year round, and Bonnie had the best time sprinting across the open sand.

Behind the beach are massive sand dunes (the famous Braunton Burrows), which are fun to explore if you fancy a break from the beach itself. There are also coastal walks nearby that lead up onto the headlands if you want to stretch your legs and take in some higher views across the bay. Saunton has a car park, café, and even outdoor showers to rinse off sandy paws, which was really handy before heading home.

It was such a brilliant trip — and it was so nice not having to worry about finding places that welcomed Bonnie too. Between the huge, beautiful beaches and the miles of breathtaking coastal paths, North Devon really is a paradise for dogs (and their humans). 🌊🐾