Putsborough Sands, Georgeham, Braunton, Devon, EX33 1LB
While the main stretch of Putsborough Sands operates a seasonal dog restriction in Zone A from 1st April to 30th September, the good news for dog owners is that Zone C at the southern end of the beach provides year-round access. This means that even at the height of summer, you and your dog can enjoy the extraordinary scenery of Morte Bay without having to wait for the season to end.
Putsborough itself is one of the most beautiful and least-commercialised beaches on the North Devon coast. Sitting at the southern end of the great arc of sand that stretches all the way up to Woolacombe, it has a quieter, more natural character than its neighbours. The views up the bay towards Morte Point and out to Lundy Island are spectacular on a clear day, and the combination of open sand, rock pools and coastal heathland backing the beach makes this a genuinely rich environment for a dog walk.
To access Putsborough, follow the lane down from Georgeham through Pickwell, passing through farmland before reaching the National Trust car park. The road is narrow and pastoral in character, giving a real sense of arrival somewhere unspoiled. The car park is well-managed and the walk from there to the beach is short and straightforward.
For the year-round accessible Zone C, head to the southern part of the beach beyond the marker posts. During the restricted season, signage on the beach makes the zones clear. Outside the season from October to March, the entire beach is open to dogs and the experience of walking several miles of surf-washed sand with a dog in the autumn light is genuinely hard to beat.
Bring water and a towel, keep an eye on the tide times as the beach narrows at high water, and make the most of one of Devon’s most special stretches of coast.
