5 Dog-Friendly Beaches To Visit In Hampshire
Hampshire may not get the attention that neighbouring Dorset and West Sussex receive, but this is a wonderful coastal destination with 60 miles of stunning shoreline… and as there are plenty of dog-friendly beaches in Hampshire, it’s a particularly appealing spot for those seeking a South East seaside holiday with a dog in tow.
Most of Hampshire’s beaches are of the shingle variety — ideal for dog days out without trailing half the beach back with you in sandy paws and coats. Many of the shoreline stretches are pretty peaceful too, so they’re suitable for even the most energetic bounding hounds. (Incidentally, lots of the best walks in Hampshire are great to take your dog on too.)
In common with much of the rest of the UK, there are some dog restrictions on Hampshire’s beaches – usually running from April or May through to September. You’ll need to check local websites and signage for the latest information on specific locations. To keep things simple, here we’ve listed the five best dog-friendly Hampshire beaches that you can visit at any time of the year.
If you’re visiting the area you’ll also need a place to stay – and outdoor stays are great options for those travelling with a dog, giving you easy access to walks and space for your canine pal to run around. Pitchup has an excellent range of dog-friendly accommodation for your Hampshire stay, from simple farm campsites to cosy wooden pods – check out the full list below.
Browse all dog-friendly Hampshire campsites
Browndown Point
Browndown Point, between Lee-on-the-Solent and Gosport, makes for an interesting day out with a dog. The land is owned by the Ministry of Defence so fences and lookout towers dot the perimeter. No one really knows what the concrete ‘Browndown mushroom’ is – you’ll recognise it when you see it –though it’s probably a vent so plenty speculate as to what underground facility lies beneath the shingle beach.
Dogs are welcome at any time at Browndown Point, except for the occasional days on which the army uses it for training. Watch out for red flags flying to warn you away during periods when beach access is restricted.
The beach here is generally very quiet with an air of hush only broken by a round of blanks being fired somewhere in the vicinity. There’s rare heathland all around with an abundance of butterflies during the summer; watch out for the occasional adder basking in the sun, too.
Calshot
Calshot beach is a place to lie back and watch the ships coming and going from Southampton while your dog plays happily in the sea. The beach forms part of a mile-long shingle spit jutting out from Southampton Water. There’s a lot of history here as the entrance to one of the biggest ports in the UK has long been of strategic importance.
At the head of the spit is Calshot Castle, built by Henry VIII. A naval air station was established here during World War I, from where Aircraftman Shaw (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) flew. Today, the hangar that once housed flying boats is used as a watersports and activities centre. Dogs are welcome on Calshot beach and outside the seafront cafés at any time.
Milford-on-Sea
The beach at Milford-on-Sea, a vibrant village with a folksy and foodie vibe, is a long stretch of shingle with sandy bits revealed at low tide. A strip of colourful huts off the promenade looks out to the Isle of Wight with views of the Needles. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on Milford-on-Sea beach all year round, and a walk along the spit to Hurst Castle can be rewarded with a cup of tea for the humans and the chance for your dogs to share a bowl of water with the pair of resident black labradors.
Alternatively, an hour-long ramble along a low clifftop takes you to Barton-on-Sea, where dogs are also permitted on the beach at any time.
Hayling Island
The south coast of Hayling Island is effectively one long sandy beach. Dogs are not permitted on the main swimming beaches between 1 May and 30 September, but parts of Ferry Beach and the western end of Eastoke Beach are dog-friendly all year round. You can happily walk along the promenade at Eastoke with dogs on leads, too.
There are also walks to be had on the island (reached by a road bridge from the mainland), with popular options including the Hayling Billy Trail along the old railway line to Havant and the World War II Heritage Trail.
Southsea Beach
The Victorian seaside town of Southsea has a long stretch of beach where the coastline curves round from Old Portsmouth to Eastney. Seasonal dog restrictions apply on some parts of Southsea beach, but there’s always some space for a run around on the sand. Dogs are allowed on the section eastwards from Eastney’s Coffee Cup café and along Clarence Esplanade from the Pyramids to Clarence Pier. The beach is made up of large shingle and the sea deepens really quickly off the beach – good for a plunge if your dog is a good swimmer.
So that’s our list of our favourite Hampshire beaches to get tails wagging – now how about a campsite for some rest between your beach trips? Click the link below to see Pitchup’s tempting range of dog-friendly Hampshire campsites and glamping sites.