Angus has a long, sandy stretch of coast between Dundee and Montrose, and we checked 6 beaches. The honest headline is that we found no council ban, seasonal restriction or dog control order for any Angus beach, and no Angus Council page that says dogs are welcome either. The only official hint is that the Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profiles for Montrose and Carnoustie list a “Dog Restricted Area” without saying where it is or what it means. Every card below is therefore marked “check”.
Each card names its source and the date we checked. Angus Council’s dogs page covers fouling and other topics, but nothing on beaches that we could find. Just down the coast, see our guide to dog-friendly beaches in Dundee, where Broughty Ferry has a published summer ban, and for a day out beyond the sand our dog walks in Dundee City guide is the nearest we have. Our full list of dog-friendly beaches in the UK shows how Angus compares with other areas.
The rules in short
Scotland has no blanket beach rule for dogs. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says dogs must be kept under proper control, that you should keep your dog “close at heel or on a short lead” to avoid causing concern to others, that during the bird breeding season (usually April to July) a dog should be on a short lead or close at heel, and that you should pick up your dog’s mess in public places. Councils can add their own rules, but we found few that apply to beaches here. Rules can change, so read the signs on the day, and if you need certainty before you travel, ask Angus Council through its general enquiry form.
An official profile mentions a dog restriction
These two are the only Angus beaches where an official source mentions dogs at all. Treat them with care until you have seen the signs.
Montrose Beach — Montrose
The Keep Scotland Beautiful profile for Montrose seafront lists a “Dog Restricted Area” among its facilities, but does not say where it is, whether it is year-round, or what is restricted. The Beach Guide (weak) says dogs are allowed all year, so the sources do not agree. Please look for signs before you let your dog off. The Beach Guide mentions plenty of parking near the promenade.
Source: Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profile (official), mentions a “Dog Restricted Area” with no detail; The Beach Guide (directory, weak), says dogs allowed all year (checked 11 November 2026)
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Carnoustie Beach — Carnoustie
The Keep Scotland Beautiful profile lists a “Dog Restricted Area” here too, again with no location or detail. The Beach Guide (weak) says dogs are allowed all year. The profile lists free parking at the Leisure Centre and along Links Parade, and toilets with set opening hours, but nothing about dog bins. Look for signs near the park and play areas behind the beach.
Source: Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profile (official), mentions a “Dog Restricted Area” with no detail; The Beach Guide (directory, weak), says dogs allowed all year (checked 11 November 2026)
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No official dog rule found; directories say dogs are allowed
For these four we found no official statement either way. A directory is not an official source, so please treat each as “check”.
Lunan Bay — Between Arbroath and Montrose
The Keep Scotland Beautiful profile says nothing about dogs, only to follow local signage. The Beach Guide (weak) says dogs are allowed on the beach all year round and that there is free parking next to the beach, reached by a path over the dunes. It does not mention dog bins. Not a confirmed rule, so read the signs, and remember the Code asks for a short lead in the spring and summer breeding season.
Source: Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profile (official), silent on dogs; The Beach Guide (directory, weak), says dogs allowed all year (checked 11 November 2026)
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Arbroath West Links — Arbroath
We found no Angus Council or other official statement on dogs for this beach, and the Keep Scotland Beautiful page could not be fetched. The Beach Guide (weak) lists dogs as allowed, and a pet-travel directory (Wild Pack Collective, weak, no official source cited) says the same. Not a confirmed rule.
Source: The Beach Guide (directory, weak); Wild Pack Collective (directory, weak); no official page found (checked 11 November 2026)
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East Haven — East Haven, near Carnoustie
We found no official dog information for this beach. The Beach Guide (weak) lists East Haven as dogs allowed, with no detail on seasons or areas. Not a confirmed rule.
Source: The Beach Guide (directory, weak); no official page found (checked 11 November 2026)
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Monifieth Beach — Monifieth
We found no official dog information for this beach. A pet-travel directory (Wild Pack Collective, weak, citing no official source) says dogs have year-round access, and The Beach Guide did not list it. Treat it as unconfirmed.
Source: Wild Pack Collective (directory, weak); no official page found (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
What we could not confirm
We could not find any official statement that dogs are allowed or banned at an individual Angus beach, and we could not find where the “Dog Restricted Area” at Montrose or Carnoustie is. The Beach Guide says one Tayside beach may be restricted but does not name it, and says seasonal bans usually run from April or May to September; that may refer to Broughty Ferry in Dundee, but we cannot tell. Angus Council’s dogs page did not mention beaches. The Keep Scotland Beautiful page for Arbroath West Links could not be fetched. We have not carded Ferryden, Usan, Auchmithie or other small coves, and we did not check for livestock or nesting-bird notices at any beach. We show a Google Maps link for every beach and have left postcodes, dog bins and parking out unless a source stated them.
Planning to stay? Our find your area guide lists the dog guides we have for each part of the UK, and our dog-friendly beaches in Aberdeenshire guide covers the coast north of Montrose.
Busy beaches can be exciting for a dog. If yours finds crowds unsettling, the Calmdogs calming bites are a complementary feed some owners keep for days out, though for ongoing anxiety it’s best to speak to your vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Angus ban dogs on its beaches?
We found no Angus Council ban, seasonal restriction or dog control order on any beach. But no council page says dogs are allowed either, and the Keep Scotland Beautiful profiles for Montrose and Carnoustie list a “Dog Restricted Area” without saying where. Read the signs and ask Angus Council if you need to be sure.
Can dogs go on Montrose beach?
We cannot confirm it. The official beach profile lists a “Dog Restricted Area” with no detail, while a directory says dogs are allowed all year. Look for signs on arrival and keep your dog close until you know where the restricted area is.
Do dogs need to be on a lead on Angus beaches?
We found no beach-wide lead rule. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks for proper control, a short lead or close heel where others may be worried, and a short lead or close heel in the spring and summer bird breeding season (usually April to July).
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
