We checked 8 Conwy beaches against the county council’s Dog Control order. Dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September at Pensarn, Llandudno North Shore, Llandudno West Shore, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, and must be on a lead at Kinmel Bay in the same months. Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea are marked “check” because the council’s own sources disagree on whether the exclusion runs all year. The order we read dates from 2023 and we could not confirm whether it has been renewed.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. We read the council’s order pages and name the source on every card with the date we checked, but we could not confirm that the 2023 order is still the current one. If you are planning a full day out, our guide to local dog walks in Conwy sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
Outside the marked stretches, dogs are allowed on these five beaches in winter, and the council gives no time-of-day limits. The fixed penalty is up to £100, and up to £1,000 on prosecution. Our Conwy area guide explains what each service covers. Councils can change their orders, 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, on the stretch described on each card. If you want an off-lead run away from the sand, secure dog fields in Conwy are worth a look.
Pensarn — Abergele
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban covers the sand between the low water mark and the promenade, from the wooden posts by the café to the concrete posts at the western end of the promenade.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 4 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Llandudno North Shore
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban runs from Llandudno Pier to the first slipway, and the slipway itself is excluded.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 4 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Llandudno West Shore
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban covers the beach between the low water mark and the promenade, between the two stone groynes.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 4 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Penmaenmawr
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban runs from the east side of the promenade café to the sailing club slipway.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 4 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Llanfairfechan
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The ban runs from the main slipway to the river mouth, and the slipway itself is excluded.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 4 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Summer lead rule
Here dogs are allowed, but must be on a lead in summer. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Conwy may help.
Kinmel Bay — Towyn / Rhyl
Dogs must be on a lead from 1 May to 30 September, from the St Asaph Avenue car park entrance to the first promenade entrance near Woodside Avenue. Outside those dates and that stretch, dogs are allowed. The council page also says dogs must be on a lead at all times in the Kinmel Bay sand dunes.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Dog Control PSPO 2023, Schedule 5 (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
The council’s sources conflict on these two, so we have listed them with the reason rather than leave them out.
Colwyn Bay, pier to Porth Eirias
The council’s beaches page says dogs are excluded between Colwyn Bay pier and Porth Eirias all year. The 2023 order maps list Colwyn Bay beach as an exclusion without dates, and the seasonal list in Schedule 4 does not include it. We could not settle the two, so treat it as a possible year-round ban and check the signs or ask the council.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea beaches page (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Rhos on Sea, Rhos Point and Cayley Promenade
The council’s beaches page says dogs are excluded all year at Rhos Point and on the beach between the College Avenue access point and the promenade wall. A press report says the Cayley Promenade exclusion is seasonal, from 1 May to 30 September, over a limited area, and a tourism site describes the stretch differently again. The order maps give no dates, so check the signs or ask the council.
Source: Conwy County Borough Council, Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea beaches page (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 Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea are year-round or seasonal exclusions, or whether the 2023 order was renewed or amended in 2026. We found no rule for Conwy Morfa, Deganwy, Penrhyn Bay, Old Colwyn or Abergele beach, so they have no cards, and that is not the same as dogs being allowed. We could not read the full order maps, and an older council page on dog exclusion orders is no longer available. 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 Conwy covers the places that welcome muddy paws.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in Conwy 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 Conwy beaches ban dogs in summer?
According to the council’s 2023 order, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September at Pensarn, Llandudno North Shore, Llandudno West Shore, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, on the stretches described on each card.
Can I take my dog on Llandudno beach?
Not on North Shore between the pier and the first slipway, or on West Shore between the two stone groynes, from 1 May to 30 September. Outside those dates dogs are allowed, so check the signs.
Are dogs allowed on Colwyn Bay beach?
We could not confirm. The council’s beaches page says dogs are excluded between the pier and Porth Eirias all year, but the order’s seasonal list does not include it. Check the signs or ask the council.
Do dogs have to be on a lead at Kinmel Bay?
From 1 May to 30 September, yes, between the St Asaph Avenue car park entrance and the first promenade entrance near Woodside Avenue. The council page also says dogs must be on a lead at all times in the sand dunes.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
