🐾 Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beaches in East Sussex
From golden sands to quiet shingle coves, East Sussex offers miles of coastline where dogs can run free, paddle, and sniff the sea air. Whether you’re local to Hastings or visiting for the weekend, here are ten of the county’s most dog-friendly beaches — complete with seasonal rules and a few fascinating stories along the way.
🐶 1. Hastings Beach
Rock-a-Nore Beach, Hastings
When the tide pulls back and the winter sun glows on the water, Hastings Beach becomes a vast playground of light and salt air. From 1 October to 31 March, dogs can roam the entire stretch, from the old fishing quarter to St Leonards.
Between 1 April and 30 September, the main resort zones — between Harbour Arm and Hastings Pier, and from Bottle Alley to the Royal Victoria Hotel — are off-limits, but there’s plenty of room beyond. Dogs must be on leads along the promenade and between Groyne 1 and 3, though few mind: the scent of coffee, gulls overhead, and fishing boats clinking make every walk feel like a scene from a film.
🐾 2. St Leonards Beach
A short stroll west of Hastings Pier, St Leonards Beach has a calmer rhythm — a favourite of locals, artists, and early-morning swimmers. The shingle glows rose-grey at sunrise, and long sections west of Warrior Square stay dog-friendly all year. On windy days, it feels delightfully wild and open.
🏖 3. Camber Sands
Camber Sands
Few beaches in the South East are as striking as Camber Sands. Vast dunes roll into miles of open sand where dogs can sprint, dig, and chase waves. Dogs are welcome year-round, though in summer (April–September) the central bathing zone is restricted.
Visit early or off-season to enjoy near-empty sands, wind-etched dunes, and those huge skies that seem to stretch forever.
🌅 4. Bexhill-on-Sea
Graceful and unhurried, Bexhill blends seaside charm with creative spirit. The striking De La Warr Pavilion — a 1930s modernist icon — anchors the promenade, offering coffee, sea views, and the occasional art exhibition.
Outside summer, dogs can roam freely; from 1 May to 30 September, they’re only banned between Brockley Road and Sea Road.
At low tide, head east of the Pavilion to spot fossilised dinosaur footprints pressed into the rocks — a quiet thrill for anyone with an eye for history.
🌊 5. Pevensey Bay
Between Eastbourne and Bexhill lies Pevensey Bay, a shingle beach known for its calm, wide horizons — and its place in English history. It was here, in 1066, that William the Conqueror is said to have landed before marching inland to face King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.
Today, the echoes of that moment linger in the sea breeze. The beach is peaceful now, lined with fishing boats and weathered huts, and dogs are welcome all year round.
Walkers come for the stillness, the open sky, and the endless sweep of shingle. Stay for sunset, when the pebbles catch the light and the whole bay glows gold — a gentle end to a place once tied to conquest and legend.
🐾 6. Winchelsea Beach
Where the Sussex countryside meets the sea, Winchelsea Beach feels quietly timeless. Dogs are welcome all year, and at low tide, wide sandflats appear, ideal for long off-lead runs.
In the 18th century, these dunes were alive with smugglers, sneaking brandy and silk through the marshes by moonlight. Today, only the sea breeze and the cry of curlews remain — and perhaps a hint of mystery in the mist.
Bring sturdy shoes and a dog who loves an adventure.
🐕 7. Cooden Beach
West of Bexhill, Cooden Beach is an unspoilt gem where time moves with the tide. At low water, ribbons of sand appear between smooth pebbles, and the rhythmic hush of waves sets the tone for an easy, contented walk.
Dogs are welcome all year, and it’s rarely crowded. Stop at the Cooden Beach Hotel for lunch or a coffee while your dog dozes at your feet, then watch the sky blush pink as the sun sinks into the Channel. Simple, serene, and utterly restorative.
🌿 8. Cuckmere Haven
Cuckmere Haven is pure drama — the river winding lazily to meet the sea beneath the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters. Dogs can explore freely all year, padding through long grass and along the shingle edge.
During World War II, this valley was a defensive front line, scattered with pillboxes and anti-tank traps to repel invasion. Some still stand, softened by grass and salt, quiet reminders of the past.
Today, only the larks and the laughter of dogs echo across the valley — a place where history, beauty, and stillness coexist.
🏝 9. Birling Gap
Part of the National Trust’s Seven Sisters landscape, Birling Gap is both breathtaking and humbling. Dogs are welcome year-round, and the beach below the cliffs feels wild and elemental.
The sea is constantly reshaping this coastline — eroding chalk, claiming cottages, and redrawing the edge of England inch by inch. At low tide, rock pools sparkle with anemones and limpets. Stand at the cliff top, feel the wind, and it’s impossible not to sense the power of time itself.
🌤 10. Norman’s Bay
Quiet and open, Norman’s Bay stretches between Pevensey Bay and Cooden. It’s dog-friendly all year and rarely busy — a perfect place to let your four-legged companion run free.
At its eastern end stands a solid Martello Tower, one of many built in the early 1800s to defend against Napoleon’s forces. Weathered and round, it now watches over seabirds and dog walkers instead of soldiers.
As the light fades, the tower casts a long shadow across the pebbles, and the sea glows bronze — a peaceful full-stop to a day well spent.
📅 Seasonal Dog Bans & Rules (2025 Summary)
Always check local signage — councils update PSPOs periodically.
| Area | Restriction Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hastings | 1 Apr – 30 Sep | No dogs in main resort zones — see council map |
| Bexhill | 1 May – 30 Sep | No dogs between Brockley Rd & Sea Rd |
| Eastbourne | 1 May – 30 Sep | No dogs between Wish Tower & Pier |
| Seaford Bay | 1 May – 30 Sep | Central section ban only |
| Pevensey Bay, Cooden, Norman’s Bay, Winchelsea | None | Dogs welcome all year |
❓ FAQ: Dog Rules on East Sussex Beaches
Are dogs allowed on Hastings Beach?
Yes — from 1 October to 31 March, dogs can use all areas. From 1 April to 30 September, they’re restricted to outside the main resort zones.
Do I need to keep my dog on a lead on the Hastings promenade?
Yes — dogs must be on a lead on the promenade and in marked lead-control areas (between Groyne 1 and 3).
Which East Sussex beaches allow dogs all year?
Pevensey Bay, Cooden Beach, Norman’s Bay, Winchelsea Beach, Cuckmere Haven, and Birling Gap.
When do summer dog bans apply?
Most resort beaches enforce bans from April or May through September.
How many dogs can one person walk on Hastings Beach?
Local PSPOs allow up to six dogs per handler.
Plan your next adventure
Whether it’s chasing waves at Camber, exploring smugglers’ shores at Winchelsea, or wandering beneath the cliffs at Birling Gap, East Sussex is a dream for dogs and their humans alike — a coastline full of space, history, and fresh sea air.