We checked 13 Lincolnshire beaches against council and Wildlife Trust pages. East Lindsey bans dogs from specified areas of the beaches at Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea from 1 May to 30 September, Cleethorpes bans them on one stretch from Good Friday, and Gibraltar Point nature reserve bans them from the beach from 1 April to 1 September. Several beaches rest on weaker sources, and we mark them.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. East Lindsey publishes its ban areas as maps we could not open, so we describe the rule and tell you to look for 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 in Lincolnshire sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
East Lindsey’s order, renewed in November 2024 to 2027, bans dogs from the specified Blue Flag areas of Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea from 1 May to 30 September and requires leads on those promenades. A fixed penalty of £100 can apply. Cleethorpes is covered by North East Lincolnshire Council, which has a separate order. Our Lincolnshire area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs, because councils can change their orders.
Summer bans
At these beaches dogs are not allowed in the dates shown, and are allowed outside them. If you want an off-lead run away from the seafront, secure dog fields in Lincolnshire are worth a look.
Skegness
Dogs banned from the specified Blue Flag area of the beach from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be kept on a lead on the Skegness promenade in the same months. The exact limits are on council maps we could not open, so look for the signs.
Source: East Lindsey District Council, public spaces protection order (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Mablethorpe
Dogs banned from the specified Blue Flag area of the beach from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be kept on a lead on the Mablethorpe promenade in the same months. The exact limits are on council maps we could not open, so look for the signs.
Source: East Lindsey District Council, public spaces protection order (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Sutton-on-Sea
Dogs banned from the specified Blue Flag area of the beach from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be kept on a lead on the Sutton-on-Sea promenade in the same months. The exact limits are on council maps we could not open, so look for the signs.
Source: East Lindsey District Council, public spaces protection order (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Cleethorpes: Wonderland Rock Groyne to the Leisure Centre
Dogs not permitted on the beach between Wonderland Rock Groyne and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre from Good Friday to 30 September each year. The order runs from 14 July 2025 to 13 July 2028.
Source: North East Lincolnshire Council, dog control order 2025 (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Gibraltar Point nature reserve — Skegness
No dogs on the beach or foreshore from 1 April to 1 September. Dogs must be on a short lead at all times on the reserve, including the beach and foreshore from September to March, because of grazing livestock.
Source: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Gibraltar Point) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dogs allowed all year
The council lists this stretch as open to dogs.
Cleethorpes: Leisure Centre to Humberston Fitties — Cleethorpes / Humberston
Dogs may visit this stretch all year, according to the council. We found no separate rule for Humberston Fitties itself.
Source: North East Lincolnshire Council, news article on dog walking changes (2025) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Reported as dog-friendly (news sources only)
News roundups say dogs are welcome all year at these beaches, but no official page says so.
Huttoft (Moggs Eye)
A news roundup says dogs are welcome throughout the year. Huttoft is not on East Lindsey’s ban list, but no official page says so, so check the signs.
Source: Lincolnshire Live and Yahoo News roundup (news) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Ingoldmells (south)
A news roundup says dogs are welcome on the sand all year. We could not open the council map to confirm, so check the signs.
Source: Lincolnshire Live and Yahoo News roundup (news) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
Here the sources disagree or are incomplete, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out. Please double-check on the council or Wildlife Trust website.
Chapel St Leonards
A parish council copy of the order bans dogs from the beach 200 metres either side of the main Pullover from 1 May to 30 September. A news report gives different dates, and we did not find it on the council’s own pages, so check the signs.
Source: Ingoldmells Parish Council copy of the East Lindsey order (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Anderby Creek
A parish council copy of the order bans dogs from the beach 270 metres south of the Pullover from 1 May to 30 September. A news report agrees, but we did not find it on the council’s own pages, so check the signs.
Source: Ingoldmells Parish Council copy of the East Lindsey order (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Donna Nook nature reserve — Saltfleet / North Somercotes
The Wildlife Trust’s pages conflict. One says no dogs on the reserve at all, another says only that dogs are not permitted in the seal viewing area. Check with the Trust and the signs before you go.
Source: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Donna Nook) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park beaches — Sandilands / Chapel St Leonards
The Wildlife Trust says the beach is the best place to let dogs off the lead if you are not in a dog restriction zone, that dogs should be under close control on private land, and that nature reserves in the park are dog-free. It defers to East Lindsey’s order, so check the signs.
Source: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Coastal Country Park) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Saltfleet and Theddlethorpe dunes
A news roundup says dogs are allowed all year, but the dunes are a National Nature Reserve and the Wildlife Trust says its nature reserves are dog-free. We could not confirm Natural England’s rule, so check the signs.
Source: Yahoo News roundup and South Somercotes parish page (older) (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 Trusthorpe, Chapel Point or Humberston Fitties, and we could not open East Lindsey’s zone maps, so they have no cards or limits. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Lincolnshire covers places built for a proper dip, and it is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a coastal trip.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in Lincolnshire 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 Skegness beach in summer?
Not on the specified Blue Flag area. East Lindsey District Council bans dogs there from 1 May to 30 September and requires a lead on the promenade. The exact limits are on a council map, so look for the signs.
Are dogs allowed on Cleethorpes beach?
Partly. North East Lincolnshire Council bans dogs on the beach between Wonderland Rock Groyne and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre from Good Friday to 30 September, and says dogs may visit between the Leisure Centre and Humberston Fitties all year.
Can dogs go on the beach at Gibraltar Point?
Not between 1 April and 1 September. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust says no dogs on the beach or foreshore in those months, and dogs must be on a short lead at all times on the reserve.
Are dogs allowed at Donna Nook?
Check first. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s pages conflict, with one saying no dogs on the reserve and another saying only that dogs are not permitted in the seal viewing area.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
