We checked 7 Bridgend beaches against the council’s dog beach ban page. Dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September at Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Sandy Bay and the Porthcawl seafront beach, with guide and assistance dogs exempt. Newton Beach, Pink Bay and Sker Beach stay open to dogs, so Porthcawl has dog-friendly options even in summer.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. We read the council’s summary pages, not the legal order, so we name the source on every card with the date we checked. If you are planning a full day out, our guide to local dog walks in Bridgend sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
The council’s wording is plain. No dogs on the four main Porthcawl beaches from 1 May to 30 September, and dogs allowed on the others. Ogmore-by-Sea is in the Vale of Glamorgan, so it is not here. Our Bridgend area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs.
Summer bans: 1 May to 30 September
At these beaches no dogs are allowed in the dates shown, and they are allowed outside them. If you want an off-lead run away from the sand, secure dog fields in Bridgend are worth a look.
Rest Bay — Porthcawl
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Guide and assistance dogs are exempt.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Trecco Bay — Porthcawl
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Guide and assistance dogs are exempt.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Sandy Bay (Coney Beach) — Porthcawl
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Guide and assistance dogs are exempt.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Seafront Beach (Town Beach) — Porthcawl
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Guide and assistance dogs are exempt.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dogs allowed all year
The council lists these beaches as open to dogs in summer. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Bridgend may help.
Newton Beach — Porthcawl
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council. Please collect and dispose of your dog’s waste.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Pink Bay — Porthcawl
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council. The council names it among the beaches dogs can use in summer.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Sker Beach — Porthcawl
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council. The council names it among the beaches dogs can use in summer.
Source: Bridgend County Borough Council, dog beach ban (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
What we could not confirm
The council pages give no postcodes, so we show a Google Maps link for every beach instead, and we have left dog bins and parking out rather than guess. We found no lead rule for the Porthcawl promenade or Merthyr Mawr, and no separate rule for Porthcawl harbour or Salt Lake, so they have no cards. It is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a coastal trip. After the sand, our guide to dog-friendly pubs and cafés in Bridgend covers the places that welcome muddy paws.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in Bridgend list places that publish their dog policy.
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
Can I take my dog on Porthcawl beach?
Not on Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Sandy Bay or the seafront beach between 1 May and 30 September. Guide and assistance dogs are exempt. Newton Beach, Pink Bay and Sker Beach stay open to dogs.
Is Rest Bay dog friendly?
Only from 1 October to 30 April. The council says no dogs are allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Where can dogs go on the beach in Porthcawl in summer?
The council lists Newton Beach, Pink Bay and Sker Beach as open to dogs. Please collect and dispose of your dog’s waste.
Are dogs banned at Ogmore-by-Sea?
That beach is in the Vale of Glamorgan, not Bridgend. The Vale council says there is no ban for summer 2026 while its order is under review.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
