Dog Friendly Beaches
Please don’t forget to check which beaches are dog friendly before visiting with your four-legged friends.
The annual by-law, which comes into force on 1st May and remains in place until October, restricts dogs to specific beaches in Swansea and Gower.
A full list of dog-friendly Council beaches is available with an interactive map here: Dogs on beaches - Swansea
Other dog-friendly beaches not owned by the Council include Oxwich, Pwll Du, Pobbles, Three Cliffs Bay, Rhossili Bay and Llangennith.
Langland Bay
Flanked by 57 picture-perfect Edwardian-era beach huts that are secured by a council lottery draw each year, Langland’s Blue Flag beach is a combination of rocks and sand with some excellent surf breaks when conditions are right.
A promenade provides access to the beach, neighbouring Rotherslade Bay when the tide is high, and the various coffee, snack, ice cream and dining options that make it such a popular destination for everyone.
The tennis courts behind the beach huts are available for hire, there are toilet and shower facilities, and two car parks just 100m from the beach.
Lifeguards supervise Langland Bay between the flags during peak season, however dogs are not allowed May to September inclusive.
Three Cliffs Bay
Three Cliffs Bay is a spectacularly scenic sandy beach backed by three limestone cliffs, with a shoreline of sand dunes, rock pools and an archway under the cliffs you can walk through at low tide. Riptides and currents created by Pennard Pill stream make swimming suitable only for strong swimmers, so paddling or going a little deeper under the watchful supervision of RNLI lifeguards (seasonal) is recommended.
Parking at Three Cliffs Holiday Park will enable you to use the stepping stones to cross the stream, whilst parking at Shepherds, Parkmill, or the field opposite (peak times only) and walking alongside the stream will allow you to take in the clifftop splendour of the remains of Pennard Castle. Three Cliffs Holiday Park and Shepherds have coffee and snacks available.
Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round and you can walk across to Pobbles Beach, which is next to Three Cliffs. There are no public facilities at the beach.
Pobbles Bay
Pobbles is most often accessed via the spectacular clifftop Coastal Path from Southgate’s National Trust car park, however it can also be accessed from a path that starts next to Pennard Golf Club or from Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park.
When the tide is out there is a large sandy beach bordered by rock pools and plenty of space for all the family to enjoy. As the tide comes in and the sand is covered, there is a lovely small bay that is a great place from which to watch the sun go down.
A great beach for swimming and occasionally surfing, where dogs are allowed all year round. There is no lifeguard stationed here, and you can also wander across to Three Cliffs Bay and enjoy everything it has to offer.
There are no public facilities at Pobbles.
Pwll Du Bay
Whether you drop down from High Pennard, the end of Pwll Du Lane or through Bishopston Valley, the view that unfolds is worth the walk whichever way you arrive at Pwll Du Bay.
The beach is mostly pebbles until low tide, however there are usually some sandy areas to throw down your towel and enjoy the beach or use as a pit stop on a hike. Being a longer walk to reach, it is seldom busy, even in the height of summer, and the fact that dogs are allowed all year round makes this a popular spot for locals.
You’ll need to bring everything with you as there are no amenities close by (and no lifeguard). However, you can pick up refreshments at Bishopston Post Office or enjoy a coffee and a meal before you go, or as a reward afterward at Three Cliffs Coffee Shop in Southgate.
The nearest parking is located at the National Trust car park in Southgate or near Pyle Corner in Bishopston.
Caswell Bay
Caswell Bay’s Blue Flag beach is a firm family favourite – golden sands with a stream running through it, shower and toilet facilities, two cafés, a beach toys and snack shop, and surf lessons available for all ages and abilities.
Two car parks are available and can also be used if you want to take a walk into Bishop’s Wood Nature Reserve behind – a rare example in the UK of limestone woodland – or join the Coastal Path and stroll to Langland or Pwll Du Bay.
Lifeguards supervise Caswell Bay between the flags during peak season, however dogs are not allowed May to September inclusive.
Oxwich Bay
Two and a half miles of golden sand, toilet and shower facilities, lifeguards on hand between the flags during peak season, and water sport opportunities galore, with parking right next to the beach, make Oxwich Bay one of the most popular beaches on the Gower.
The Beach House, Oxwich, is the Gower’s only Michelin-starred restaurant and sits on the edge of the beach, with views that perfectly complement the stunning food.
Beyond that there is a wide selection of choices – from ice cream, coffee and soft drinks to light meals, fish & chips, and full dining options – with the Oxwich Bay Hotel and The Dunes Café and Shop being two of the most well-known.
With dogs allowed on the beach year-round, why not take advantage of all that space by walking across to Great Tor and Little Tor – via a bridge over the stream – and onward across to Three Cliffs and Pobbles at low tide.
Llangennith Beach
Hidden from view until you crest the sand dunes that border it, Llangennith’s windswept charm lies in the fact that it is a slightly longer journey to reach, but rewards everyone who makes the effort. The dunes provide partial shelter if the breeze picks up, however that same breeze contributes to Llangennith being one of the best and most consistent surf breaks on the Gower Peninsula (with its own surf cam).
Whether you are already a surfer, heading there for a surf lesson (available in peak season), or just out for a day on the beach with the dog (welcome all year round), Llangennith has more than enough sand and sea for everyone. The beach does not have a lifeguard presence.
The beach is reached from Hillend campsite (paid access), where you can leave the car and enjoy a coffee or bite to eat in Eddy’s (open April to September), with access to toilet facilities. On your way back through Llangennith village, look out for The King’s Head, which serves pub food and drink.
Rhossili Bay
An ever-present on any list of ‘best beaches’, Rhossili’s dog-friendly (year-round) sweeping three miles of golden sand lives up to its reputation. The National Trust car park in Rhossili is your starting point for the 75m drop down onto the beach via a signposted path, from which you can swim, walk, see the Helvetia shipwreck (low tide), or continue on foot (or up and across via Rhossili Down) to neighbouring Llangennith Beach.
There are no lifeguards at Rhossili Bay.
Staying up top and walking past the public toilets, the National Trust gift shop and tourist information brings you onto the clifftop path, which takes you out to the Old Coastguard’s Station. This is now operated by the National Coastwatch Institution as a set of eyes and ears supporting the Coastguard. From here, you can, tides and timings permitting (take extra care), venture across onto the spectacular Worm’s Head – the most westerly point of the Gower Peninsula.
Adjacent to the car park, The Worm’s Head Hotel (currently being rebuilt) and The View Café, Bar & Kitchen each serve great food and local beer, with some of the best views from their terraces you’re likely to experience. There are also a few other places to grab a coffee, light snack or ice cream within 150m of the car park.
See further details here for National Trust car parks and visit locations in Wales: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales
Port Eynon Beach
Port Eynon’s sand-dune edged Blue Flag beach is another firm favourite, as its gently sloping shoreline, lifeguard supervision between the flags during peak season, and often calmer waters make it perfect for younger family members. A combination of sand and pebbles, the beach at low tide also reveals tree trunks from an ancient forest, which create rock pools for spotting starfish and seashells.
A stroll to the east along the beach, or via the path in the dunes behind, leads to neighbouring Horton Beach, whilst a short walk west brings you to the Salt House, built to produce salt in the mid-16th century.
Port Eynon Beach does not allow dogs between the lifeguard hut and the eastern edge of Horton Beach access from May to September inclusive (dogs are allowed to the right of the lifeguard hut out to the Salt House and on Horton Beach). Behind the beach there is the main public car park and toilets.
Opposite the car park there are two fish and chip shops and a gift shop which open seasonally, as does The Beach House Surf & Coffee Shop. Also located within the village are The Ship Inn and Smugglers Beach Bar & Kitchen, which open all year round.
