We checked 24 Isle of Wight beaches against Isle of Wight Council and National Trust pages. The council excludes dogs from marked sections of 11 beaches, including Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor, from 1 May to 30 September, and says dogs are allowed on all Island beaches in winter. The National Trust bans dogs on part of Compton Bay from 15 May to 15 September. Two beaches, Totland Bay and Whitecliff Bay, have sources that disagree, and we say so.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. The council only bans dogs from marked sections of each beach, and the exact limits sit on council maps we could not read, so we describe the rule and tell you to check the signs. 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 on the Isle of Wight sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
The council’s order excludes dogs from marked sections of Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Springvale, Ventnor and Yaverland from 1 May to 30 September. The council page gives no times of day. Outside those dates dogs are allowed on all Island beaches, and on roads, pavements and verges they must be on a lead. Our Isle of Wight area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs, because councils can change their orders.
Dogs allowed all year
These beaches are on the council’s year-round list or the National Trust says dogs are welcome all year. If your dog needs a safe run away from the beach, secure dog fields on the Isle of Wight are worth a look.
Compton Bay: Hanover Point to Brook Chine — Freshwater / Brighstone
Dogs welcome on this stretch all year. A short lead is requested, and is essential around sheep.
Source: National Trust (Compton Bay and Downs) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Seagrove Bay — Seaview
Dogs allowed all year on the quieter outer sections. The council does not define where those sections start and end, so check the signs.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Priory Bay — Seaview / St Helens
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Bembridge Beach — Bembridge
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Chilton Chine — Brighstone
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Atherfield Bay — Atherfield
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Brook Bay — Brook
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Rocken End — Niton
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Steephill Cove — Ventnor
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Bonchurch — Ventnor
Dogs allowed all year, according to the council’s list of year-round beaches.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, beaches where you can walk your dog (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Summer ban: 1 May to 30 September
Dogs are excluded from the marked section of each of these beaches in the dates shown, and allowed on the rest of the beach and in the winter. The limits of each section are on council maps we could not read, so look for the signs on the day.
Ryde Beach — Ryde
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September. The council lists Ryde west of the pier and Appley east of Appley Tower as open all year.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Sandown Beach — Sandown
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Shanklin Beach — Shanklin
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Ventnor Beach — Ventnor
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Yaverland Beach — Sandown
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September. The council says the section east of the car park is not restricted.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Springvale Beach (including Seaview) — Seaview
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Colwell Bay — Totland
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September. The council says the section west of the slipway is restricted and the section east of the slipway is open all year.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Freshwater Bay — Freshwater
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Gurnard Beach — Cowes
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Cowes Beach — Cowes
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
East Cowes Beach — East Cowes
Dogs not allowed in the marked exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September.
Source: Isle of Wight Council, dog exclusion PSPO page (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
National Trust summer ban
The National Trust sets its own dates at Compton Bay, which are different from the council’s.
Compton Bay: west of the car park — Freshwater / Brighstone
Dogs not permitted on the beach west of Compton Bay car park between 15 May and 15 September. A short lead is requested, and is essential around sheep.
Source: National Trust (Compton Bay and Downs) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
Here the sources disagree, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out. Please double-check on the council website.
Totland Bay — Totland
The council lists Totland as open all year and it is not on the exclusion-zone list, but a 2015 tourism guide says there is a seasonal ban. Check the council page and the signs.
Source: Isle of Wight Council beaches list and 2015 Visit Isle of Wight guide (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Whitecliff Bay — Bembridge
The council lists Whitecliff Bay as open all year, but a 2015 tourism guide says the holiday park bans dogs on its stretch all year. Check the council page and the signs.
Source: Isle of Wight Council beaches list and 2015 Visit Isle of Wight guide (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 could not read the council’s map PDFs, so the exact limits of each exclusion zone are not shown, and we do not know when the current order expires. We found no rule for Lake, Appley, Puckpool, Bembridge Harbour, Fishbourne, Binstead, Woodside, Thorness or Newtown, so they have no cards. It is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a trip to the Island.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in the Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight beaches ban dogs in summer?
Isle of Wight Council excludes dogs from marked sections of 11 beaches from 1 May to 30 September: Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Springvale, Ventnor and Yaverland. The council says dogs are allowed on all Island beaches in winter.
Which Isle of Wight beaches allow dogs all year?
The council lists Priory Bay, Bembridge, Chilton Chine, Atherfield Bay, Brook Bay, Rocken End, Steephill Cove and Bonchurch as open all year, and the outer sections of Seagrove Bay. The National Trust says dogs are welcome all year between Hanover Point and Brook Chine at Compton Bay.
Can I take my dog to Compton Bay?
Yes, with a rule. The National Trust says dogs are not permitted on the beach west of Compton Bay car park between 15 May and 15 September. Dogs are welcome all year between Hanover Point and Brook Chine, on a short lead around sheep.
Are dogs allowed at Totland Bay and Whitecliff Bay?
The council lists both as open all year, but a 2015 tourism guide gives a different rule for each, so the sources disagree. Check the council page and the signs before you go.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
