We checked 5 East Riding beach areas against the council’s coast and countryside pages. Dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September on named sections at Bridlington North and South, Hornsea and Withernsea, with a £75 fixed penalty. We found no council rule for the quieter beaches along the Holderness coast, and Spurn needs a check before you go.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. One council covers this whole coast, but we could not confirm when its current orders were made or when they end, 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 the East Riding sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
The bans are on the busiest town stretches only, and the council says its maps are indicative, so the wording of the order is what counts. Outside the banned sections it asks for dogs to be on a lead and under control. Our East Riding 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 sections described, and are allowed outside them. If you want an off-lead run away from the seafront, secure dog fields in the East Riding are worth a look.
Bridlington North Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September in the section between the northern end of North Marine Promenade and the north-eastern face of the North Pier. Assistance dogs are exempt but must be on a lead. The council also advises dogs on a lead and under control on its beaches, and a £75 fixed penalty applies.
Source: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, “Dog walking” (Coast and Countryside) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Bridlington South Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September in the section between the southern face of the South Pier and the eastern face of Princess Mary Promenade Sea Wall. Assistance dogs are exempt but must be on a lead. The council also advises dogs on a lead and under control on its beaches, and a £75 fixed penalty applies. The council does not name the beach further south towards Fraisthorpe.
Source: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, “Dog walking” (Coast and Countryside) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Hornsea Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September in the section between the concrete ramp at Headland View and the steps south of Sands Lane. Assistance dogs are exempt but must be on a lead. The council also advises dogs on a lead and under control on its beaches, and a £75 fixed penalty applies.
Source: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, “Dog walking” (Coast and Countryside) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Withernsea Beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September in the section around the pier, with the exact boundary worded differently in the council’s consultation document and its leaflet. Assistance dogs are exempt but must be on a lead. The council also advises dogs on a lead and under control on its beaches, and a £75 fixed penalty applies. Check the council’s Withernsea map and the signs for the exact limits.
Source: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, “Dog walking” (Coast and Countryside) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
Here the source contradicts itself, so we have listed the place with the reason rather than leave it out.
Spurn National Nature Reserve — Kilnsea
The Wildlife Trust’s page contradicts itself. Its summary says no dogs, but its walking advice says dogs are welcome to walk north from the Discovery Centre along the beach, not south, and the routes inside the protected site are dog-free. Dogs must be on a lead on the Kilnsea Wetlands trail. Check with the Trust and follow the signs.
Source: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Spurn National Nature Reserve (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 rule for Barmston, Skipsea, Aldbrough, Easington, Sewerby, Fraisthorpe or Sunk Island, and we could not confirm whether there is a summer lead rule on the promenades or when the current orders end, so they have no cards. Press reports say Sewerby and Fraisthorpe are not affected by the ban, but we have not treated that as a rule. After the sand, our guide to dog-friendly pubs and cafés in the East Riding covers the places that welcome muddy paws.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in the East Riding 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 East Riding beaches ban dogs in summer?
The council bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September on named sections of Bridlington North and South beaches, Hornsea and Withernsea. A £75 fixed penalty applies, and assistance dogs are exempt but must be on a lead.
Can I take my dog on Bridlington beach?
Outside 1 May to 30 September, yes, on a lead and under control. In those months the sections north of the North Pier and south of the South Pier described on this page are banned, so check the signs for the exact limits.
Are dogs allowed at Spurn?
Check first. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s page says both that dogs are not permitted and that they may walk north from the Discovery Centre along the beach but not south. Keep dogs on a short lead and follow the signs.
Can dogs go on Withernsea beach?
Not on the excluded section from 1 May to 30 September. The council’s two documents word the boundary differently, so check the council map and the signs for the exact limits.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
