We checked 14 Ceredigion entries against the county council and Natural Resources Wales. The council bans dogs from part of the sand from 1 May to 30 September at Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Borth, Clarach, New Quay, Llangrannog, Mwnt, Penbryn and Tresaith. One Borth section rests on an order that the council page says ran to 19 October 2026, and we could not find a renewal, so we say so plainly below.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. The ban limits come from the council’s dogs on beaches page, which gives them in words, but the council’s map documents did not load for us, 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 Ceredigion sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
The pattern is simple. The council reports a set of seaside byelaws with the same dates at every named bathing beach, 1 May to 30 September inclusive, with no time-of-day limits, plus leads on promenades and beach access roads. The council page exempts guide dogs, though the byelaw wording covers registered blind people only, so ask the council if you rely on an assistance dog. Our Ceredigion area guide explains what each service covers. Councils can change their rules, so read the signs on the day.
Summer bans: 1 May to 30 September
At these beaches dogs are not allowed in the dates shown, in the area described, and are allowed outside them. If you want a swim in the off season, our guide to dog swimming spots in Ceredigion may help.
Aberaeron South Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The council describes the ban area as between the harbour walls and the groyne south of Beach Parade. Dogs must be on a lead on Ffordd y Traeth (Beach Parade), but the page gives no dates for the lead rule.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Aberystwyth South Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban runs from Castle Headland to the first groyne at the end of South Marine Terrace. Dogs must be on a lead on the South Beach promenade, from Castle Headland south to the southern limit of the jetty.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Aberystwyth North Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban runs from the north side of the Landing Stage (jetty) to the northern end of the beach at Craig Glais (Constitution Hill). Dogs must be on a lead on the North Beach promenade, from Castle Headland to Constitution Hill.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Borth: Youth Hostel to RNLI station
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The byelaw covers the stretch from the Youth Hostel on the High Street south to the RNLI station. Dogs must be on a lead on the promenade and High Street, from the end of Cliff Road north to the Youth Hostel. The council told a local newspaper in 2022 that dogs are allowed on the rest of Borth beach, and outside these dates, despite an incorrect “all year” graphic. That is a press report, so treat it as a weaker source.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Clarach, south of the river — Aberystwyth / Bow Street
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban applies to the beach south of the river. Dogs must be on a lead on the beach access roads, from the Llangorwen junction north of the beach and from the B4572 junction south of it.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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New Quay Harbour Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban covers the harbour beach between the pier and Penpolion (the old harbour wall by the RNLI station). Dogs must be on a lead on Glanmor Terrace, from the High Terrace junction up to and including South John Street. A tourism site (weak) says Traeth Gwyn and Cei Bach nearby are open to dogs all year.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Llangrannog
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The council describes the ban area as between Nant Hawen and Pen Rhip cliff. Dogs must be on a lead on the B4321 westward from The Ship pub. A tourism site (weak) says Cilborth, reached at low tide, is open to dogs all year.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Mwnt — Cardigan
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The council says the ban covers the entire beach.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Penbryn
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban covers the beach area south of Nant Hoffnant. Dogs must be on a lead on the road from Llanborth to the seashore.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Tresaith — Aberporth / Penbryn
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban covers the southern part of the beach, between the access steps and Carreg-y-Ddafad cliff. A tourism site (weak) says the rest of the beach is open to dogs. Dogs must be on a lead on the beach road, from the junction down to the beach.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Nature reserve: leads and control
This one is run by Natural Resources Wales, not the council, and its rules are about leads rather than a ban.
Ynyslas (Dyfi National Nature Reserve)
We found no seasonal dog ban from Natural Resources Wales. Dogs must be under control, on a lead inside fenced grazing areas from October to the end of March and near roped-off ground-nesting bird areas, and wardens advise leads in the dunes in the breeding season. A tourism site (weak) lists the stretch between Borth and Ynyslas as dog-friendly. A press list (weak, undated) names an Ynyslas northern groyne among restricted spots, but neither the council nor NRW confirms it, so check the signs.
Source: Natural Resources Wales, Ynyslas (checked 11 November 2026)
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Dates and rules to check before you travel
Here the sources conflict or an order may have run out, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out.
Aberporth (Dolwen Beach)
The council lists Dolwen Beach among the beaches restricted from 1 May to 30 September, and says dogs must be on a lead west from Maes y Felin along Ffordd yr Odyn to the seashore. The Discover Ceredigion tourism site (a weaker source) lists Dolwen as open to dogs all year. They may be describing different parts of the beach, and the council does not publish the exact extent in words, so check the signs or ask the council.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Borth: RNLI station to the cliffs under Cliff Road
This section is covered by a public spaces protection order (a council order, called a PSPO) rather than the byelaws. The council page says the Borth beach exclusion and promenade lead orders were extended until 19 October 2026. That date has passed and we found no renewal. The council page gives no season dates for the exclusion; a local newspaper report from 2023 (weak) says 1 May to 30 September, and the council’s byelaw booklet gives the same dates for the lead rule on the promenade. Check the signs or ask the council before you go.
Source: Ceredigion County Council, “Dogs on Borth beach and promenade” (checked 11 November 2026)
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Reported as dog-friendly (tourism source only)
No council page says so, so treat this as a starting point.
Llanrhystud, Tanybwlch (Pendinas), Cei Bach and Traeth Gwyn
A tourism site lists these as open to dogs all year, and also names the Aberaeron harbour area, which sits close to the council’s Aberaeron South ban area, so check the signs there. The council has not confirmed any of them. The Maps link goes to Llanrhystud only.
Source: Discover Ceredigion (tourism site) (checked 11 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 could not confirm whether the Borth order was renewed after 19 October 2026, and the council’s Appendix C document listing the byelaws and orders failed to load for us. We also could not read the exact ban-area maps for each beach, and the council does not list Penparcau, Llanrhystud or Llansantffraed, so we assume there is no ban there but have not confirmed it. 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 Ceredigion covers the places that welcome muddy paws.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in Ceredigion 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
Which Ceredigion beaches ban dogs in summer?
Ceredigion County Council bans dogs from part of the beach from 1 May to 30 September at Aberaeron South, Aberystwyth North and South, Borth, Clarach, New Quay Harbour Beach, Llangrannog, Mwnt, Penbryn and Tresaith. At Mwnt the ban covers the entire beach.
Can dogs go on Borth beach?
Between the Youth Hostel and the RNLI station the byelaw bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September. The council told a local paper the rest of the beach is open, but the section from the RNLI station to the cliffs rests on an order the council page said ran to 19 October 2026. We found no renewal, so check the signs.
Are dogs allowed on Ynyslas beach?
We found no seasonal ban from Natural Resources Wales. Dogs must be under control, on a lead in fenced grazing areas from October to March and near roped-off nesting bird areas, and wardens advise leads in the dunes in the breeding season.
Do I need a lead on Ceredigion promenades?
Yes, at the beaches where the council lists a lead rule, such as Aberystwyth, Borth, New Quay and Aberaeron. The council page gives no dates for some of these lead rules, so keep your dog on a lead in the summer months and check the signs.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
