We checked 18 Suffolk beaches against East Suffolk Council and National Trust pages. The council bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September at Lowestoft, Corton, Aldeburgh and north Felixstowe, and from 1 April at the Southwold promenade stretch. It also lists a long run of beaches free of dog controls all year, including Walberswick, Pakefield, Kessingland, Covehithe and Sizewell. Two places need a check before you travel, Dunwich and Thorpeness.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. One council covers the whole coast, which makes Suffolk simpler than most, but some of its boundary maps are old drafts, 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 Suffolk sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
East Suffolk Council’s beach orders say the bans apply at all times of day and night in the dates shown, and the council says they were extended to June 2028. Dogs are on a lead on the promenades next to several of the banned stretches. Our Suffolk area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs, because councils can change their orders.
Dogs allowed all year
East Suffolk Council lists these beaches as free of dog controls, and some have a lead rule in a reserve. If your dog needs a safe run away from the beach, secure dog fields in Suffolk are worth a look.
The Denes, Southwold
Dogs allowed with no seasonal or lead conditions, from the southern end of the promenade south towards the River Blyth. The banned promenade stretch is right next door, so check the signs.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Walberswick Beach
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council. We did not check the rules on the adjoining marshes.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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North Denes Beach — Lowestoft
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, up to Tibbenham’s Score in Corton, according to East Suffolk Council.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Pakefield Beach
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Kessingland Beach
Dogs allowed all year, according to East Suffolk Council, but they must be on a lead in the Benacre nature reserve. We did not check the reserve’s own rules.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Covehithe Beach
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council. We did not check the rules on the adjacent reserve.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Sizewell Beach
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council. We did not check construction closures.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Felixstowe: Groyne 4 to Landguard
Dogs allowed all year, according to East Suffolk Council, but they must be on a short lead in Landguard Nature Reserve and Martello Park.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Clifflands Beach — Felixstowe
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Shingle Street Beach — Hollesley / Shingle Street
Dogs allowed off the lead all year, according to East Suffolk Council.
Source: East Suffolk Council, beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Summer bans
At these beaches dogs are not allowed in the dates shown, and are allowed outside them. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Suffolk may help.
Southwold beach (promenade stretch)
Dogs not allowed from 1 April to 30 September (note the earlier start), from next to the northern end of the promenade by the beach huts south to the southern end of the promenade at Gun Hill Café. Dogs must be on a lead on the promenade.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
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Lowestoft beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September, at all times of day, from South Pier south to next to the CEFAS building. Dogs must be on a lead on Lowestoft Promenade.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
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Corton beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September, at all times of day, from Baker’s Score south to Tibbenham’s Score. The beach north of Tibbenham’s Score is free of dog controls.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
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Aldeburgh beach
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September, at all times of day, on the beach from the Coastguard Lookout north to Market Cross Place and Wentworth Street. Assistance dogs are exempt.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
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Felixstowe beach (north stretch)
The council confirms a dog ban from 1 May to 30 September at Felixstowe. The only boundary we found is a 2017 draft, running north from opposite Arwela Road to opposite the Spa Pavilion, so check the signs for the exact limits. Dogs must be on a lead in the Seafront Gardens, Martello Park Gardens and Town Hall Gardens.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
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Dates to check before you travel
Here the sources disagree or the site is closed, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out.
Dunwich Beach
East Suffolk Council lists Dunwich beach as free of dog controls all year, but the National Trust says Dunwich Heath and the adjoining beach are closed after a wildfire, with no reopening date given. Check the National Trust page before you travel.
Source: East Suffolk Council and National Trust (Dunwich Heath) (checked 8 November 2026)
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Thorpeness Beach
East Suffolk’s pages disagree. One lists Thorpeness among the beaches with a dog ban from 1 May to 30 September, the other lists it as off-lead all year apart from a small exclusion zone. The only boundary map we found is a 2017 draft, so check the council page and the signs.
Source: East Suffolk Council, “Dogs on beaches” and beaches free of dog controls (checked 8 November 2026)
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Dogs banned all year
Only assistance dogs are allowed here.
Orford Ness
Only assistance dogs are allowed, because of ground-nesting birds. The National Trust also says the site is closed until May 2027.
Source: National Trust (Orford Ness) (checked 8 November 2026)
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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 adopted rule for Bawdsey, only a 2017 proposal, so it has no card. The boundaries for Thorpeness and Felixstowe come from 2017 drafts, and we did not check RSPB, Natural England or Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve rules. It is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a coastal trip.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in Suffolk 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 Suffolk beaches ban dogs in summer?
East Suffolk Council bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September at Lowestoft, Corton, Aldeburgh and north Felixstowe, and from 1 April to 30 September on the Southwold promenade stretch. Thorpeness needs a check, because the council’s pages disagree.
Which Suffolk beaches are free of dog controls?
East Suffolk Council lists Walberswick, Dunwich, Sizewell, Covehithe, Kessingland, Pakefield, North Denes, the Denes at Southwold, Shingle Street, Clifflands and Felixstowe from Groyne 4 to Landguard as free of dog controls, with leads in Benacre reserve, Landguard and Martello Park.
Can I take my dog to Dunwich beach?
Check first. The council lists it as free of dog controls, but the National Trust says Dunwich Heath and the adjoining beach are closed after a wildfire, with no reopening date.
Are dogs allowed on Orford Ness?
Only assistance dogs, according to the National Trust, because of ground-nesting birds. The Trust also says the site is closed until May 2027.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
