We checked 10 North Yorkshire beaches against the council’s dog control orders. Dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September at Filey, Scarborough North Bay, Scarborough South Bay, Whitby West Beach and Sandsend, with leads on the promenades all year. Several smaller beaches rest on tourism and press sources only, and we mark them.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. The council’s order has been in force since 5 June 2025 for three years, but we could not read its boundary maps, 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 North Yorkshire sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
The bans cover the main town beaches, and the promenades next to them need a lead all year. The smaller bays further along the coast are not on the ban list, but we found only tourism and press sources saying dogs are welcome. Our North Yorkshire area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs, because councils can change their orders.
Summer bans: 1 May to 30 September
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 North Yorkshire are worth a look.
Filey
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be on a lead at any time on Filey promenade, and a £100 fine can apply. We took the promenade limits from the 2024 order, because we could not read the 2025 map.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (dog control) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Scarborough North Bay
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be on a lead at any time on the North Bay promenade, and a £100 fine can apply. We took the promenade limits from the 2024 order, because we could not read the 2025 map.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (dog control) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Scarborough South Bay
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be on a lead at any time on the South Bay promenade, and a £100 fine can apply. We took the promenade limits from the 2024 order, because we could not read the 2025 map.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (dog control) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Whitby West Beach (West Cliff)
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs must be on a lead at any time on the Whitby promenade, and a £100 fine can apply. The council calls it Whitby West Beach and local press calls it West Cliff.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (dog control) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Sandsend — Whitby
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. The 2024 order lists no year-round lead rule for Sandsend. Check the council map for the exact limits.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (dog control) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
Here the council’s rules changed between orders, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out.
Tate Hill Beach — Whitby
The 2024 order had a summer lead rule here, from 1 May to 30 September. A 2025 council report proposed dropping it and the current listing leaves Tate Hill out, but we did not read the final order text, so check the signs.
Source: North Yorkshire Council, public spaces protection orders (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Reported as dog-friendly (tourism and press sources only)
These beaches are not on the council’s ban list, but no official page says dogs are welcome. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Yorkshire may help.
Cayton Bay — Scarborough
Tourism and press sources say dogs are allowed on the beach all year, and Cayton Bay is not on the council’s ban list. Press says signed lead rules may apply, and we found no official page, so check the signs.
Source: The Beach Guide and Bridlington Free Press (tourism and press) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Runswick Bay — Whitby
Tourism sources say there are no restrictions at any time of year, and Runswick Bay is not on the council’s ban list. We found no official page confirming it, so check the signs.
Source: The Beach Guide and Bridlington Free Press (tourism and press) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Staithes — Whitby
Tourism sources say dogs are allowed all year, and Staithes is not on the council’s ban list. The beach sits next to a National Trust seabird colony, and we found no official page, so check the signs.
Source: The Good Dog Guide and Bridlington Free Press (tourism and press) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Robin Hood’s Bay — Whitby
Tourism sources say dogs are allowed all year, and the bay is not on the council’s ban list. The National Trust page gives a short-lead rule only at the Old Coastguard Station and Ravenscar visitor centre, not on the beach, so check the signs.
Source: The Good Dog Guide and Bridlington Free Press (tourism and press) (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 Hunmanby, Ravenscar, Boggle Hole or Cowbar, so they have no cards, and we could not read the 2025 boundary map or confirm the exact end date of the order. After the sand, our guide to dog-friendly pubs and cafés in North Yorkshire covers the places that welcome muddy paws.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in North Yorkshire 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 North Yorkshire beaches ban dogs in summer?
North Yorkshire Council bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September at Filey, Scarborough North Bay, Scarborough South Bay, Whitby West Beach and Sandsend. Dogs must be on a lead on the promenades all year.
Can I take my dog on Scarborough beach?
Outside 1 May to 30 September, yes. In those months dogs are not allowed on North Bay or South Bay, and the promenades need a lead all year. A £100 fine can apply.
Are dogs allowed at Robin Hood’s Bay?
Tourism and press sources say dogs are allowed all year, and the bay is not on the council’s ban list. We found no official page saying so, so check the signs.
What about Tate Hill beach in Whitby?
Check the signs. The 2024 order had a summer lead rule, but a 2025 council report proposed dropping it and the current listing leaves it out. We did not read the final order text.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
