16th August 2016 (Updated on 1st August 2024)

Suffolk Coastal – Dog-Friendly Beaches

Dog-friendly Suffolk Coast (near Woodfarm)

We are so lucky to be near to Suffolk Coastal. We have some amazing Dog-friendly Suffolk beaches; some remote, some on the edge of towns. A mix of sand and shingle, all with fabulous views. Some have no restrictions and some do. Much of this information comes from a useful website called The Beach Guide.

Dog-friendly Suffolk Coastal with no restrictions (that we are aware of!)

Dunwich

Type of beach; Shingle
Nearest town; Southwold
Postcode; IP17 3DE
OS grid ref; TM 4794 7055

Facilities;

Cafe/restaurant
Toilets

Southwold Pier

Type of beach; Sand & shingle
Amusement arcade
Good fishing
Jet-skiing
Swimming/bathing
Wind surfing

Southwold is one of the Suffolk coastal best known resorts and has a long tradition as such. Perhaps the most obvious link to the seaside town’s seaside credentials is the 800 foot (250m) long pier. Along with a sprinkling of shingle, beach groynes and colourful beach huts there is no mistaking you are at the Great British seaside!

Opened in 1900 the pier has taken a few beatings from the sea over the years, in particular 1934 when the pier head was destroyed by a storm. Further storms damaged the pier up to the point that in 1998 the pier had to be closed for safety reasons.

But there is more to Southwold beach than a pier. The quality of the beach has been recognised over the years by regular Blue Flag awards which demonstrate that the beach is not only clean but provides an excellent array of amenities.

The beach at Southwold is backed by a promenade which runs along the front of the town. It is only a quick walk to the town centre and a short promenade to the harbour area. This is one of my favourite dog-friendly Suffolk beaches.

The beach is cleaned regularly and dogs are banned from certain areas of the beach during the summer season.

Facilities;

Cafe/restaurant
Toilets
Disabled facilities
First aid point
Lost child centre
Town centre nearby
Shop
Pub nearby
Beach hut hire
Promenade
Pier

Walberswick

Type of beach; Sand & shingle Postcode; IP18 6UA
Nearest town; Southwold
OS grid ref; TM 5025 7471

Without showing favouritism, this is my favourite slice of dog-friendly Suffolk coastal! Its a lovely little sand dune backed beach is just across the River Blythe from Southwold, which is within easy walking distance.

A walk in the other direction will take you past the Walberswick Nature Reserve with its mix of marsh and heathland.

The beach at Walberswick is just a short walk from the village which means all amenities are close at hand. Even if you don’t need anything it is worth the stroll up to have a look around this pretty little village.

Walberswick is however best known as the home of “The British Open Crabbing Championship”. This takes place in the waterways behind the beach and the person catching the largest crab within 90 minutes is the winner!

Dog-friendly Suffolk Coastal with restrictions

Thorpeness

Type of beach; Shingle
Dog ban from 1st May through the 30th September

Thorpeness is a quirky little village just north of Aldeburgh. It is everything an English seaside village should be; there is a golf course, a large boating lake (the Meare) and more mock Tudor buildings than you can shake a stick at! Many of these buildings line the beach front intermingling with equally quirky modern homes.

The beach itself is an expanse of steeply shelving shingle leading down to some sand at low tide. To the south it stretches all the way to Aldeburgh and to the north Dunwich.

Activities;