The Scottish Borders has a very short coast, a stretch of Berwickshire cliffs and small bays between Cockburnspath and the English border, so this is a short guide. We checked three beaches and one headland: Coldingham Bay, Eyemouth, Pease Bay and St Abb’s Head. The honest headline is that we found no council ban or seasonal restriction on any of them, and only one place, St Abb’s Head, where an official body states a dog rule. For the three beaches, nobody official says dogs are allowed or not, so each is marked “check”.
Georgiana and Figo would rather give you three honest cards than pad this out with beaches we cannot vouch for. Just south of the border, Northumberland has far more sand, and our guide to dog-friendly beaches in Northumberland and our Northumberland dog walks guide cover Berwick-upon-Tweed and beyond. For everything else in the Borders, our dog walks near me page is the place to look.
The rules in short
Scotland has no blanket beach rule for dogs. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says your dog must be under proper control, on a short lead or close at heel near farm animals, and on a short lead or close at heel on sea shores during the bird breeding season, usually April to July. You should also pick up after it. Scottish Borders Council’s own “control your dog” page says dogs do not have to be on leads in all public places, but advises a lead if you have no voice control over your dog. The council can serve a Dog Control Notice on an owner whose dog has been out of control, which can require the dog to be kept on a lead, and breaking a notice is an offence. The council’s pages we read do not mention beaches, Coldingham or Eyemouth, and we did not find a published fouling fine for the Borders. Rules can change, so read the signs on the day. For vets and other local services, our area guides are a good starting point.
An official dog rule: St Abb’s Head
This is a cliff-top nature reserve rather than a beach, but it is the one place on this stretch of coast with a dog rule from an official body.
St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve — St Abbs (TD14 5QF)
The National Trust for Scotland says dogs are welcome, but to keep them under close control, or on a lead near farm stock, and to clear up after them. It also says there are no dog waste bins on the reserve, so bring a sealable container. The page describes cliff walks and a viewpoint over Starney Bay, and does not mention reaching a beach. The car park costs £5 a day (free for members).
Source: National Trust for Scotland, St Abb’s Head planning-your-visit and dog-friendly places pages (official) (checked 11 November 2026)
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Council says nothing about dogs; check the signs
These three beaches are named on SEPA bathing water profiles, and Coldingham and Eyemouth are managed by Scottish Borders Council. Every SEPA profile we read says only that if you bring a dog you should clear up any fouling. That is a request, not a statement that dogs are allowed, so each card is a “check”. After coastal-path walks, our guide to ticks on dogs is worth a read.
Coldingham Bay (Coldingham Sands) — Coldingham / St Abbs
The Beach Guide (a directory, weak) says dogs are allowed but must be on a lead from June to September, and a press roundup of Scottish dog beach restrictions (also weak) says the same, without naming a council or giving a date. We could not find that rule on a council or other official page. The SEPA profile only asks you to clear up fouling, and the Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profile does not mention dogs. Until you see a sign saying otherwise, we would treat a lead from June to September as the safe choice. The Keep Scotland Beautiful profile lists toilets, a cafe, lifeguard cover and free parking; we do not know about dog bins.
Source: SEPA bathing water profile (official, fouling only); Keep Scotland Beautiful beach profile (official, silent on dogs); The Beach Guide and a press roundup (weak) (checked 11 November 2026)
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Eyemouth Beach — Eyemouth
The Beach Guide (a directory, weak) lists the beach as “no dog restrictions”. The SEPA profile only asks you to clear up fouling. The council’s coastal path leaflet is silent on beach rules for dogs, though it asks walkers to take care around the busy working harbour. That is not the same as a confirmed rule, so read the signs.
Source: SEPA bathing water profile (official, fouling only); Scottish Borders Council coastal path leaflet (silent on beach dog rules); The Beach Guide (directory, weak) (checked 11 November 2026)
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Pease Bay — Cockburnspath
We found no dog rule for this beach. The SEPA profile only asks you to clear up fouling, and the council’s coastal path leaflet describes Pease as a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. We could not tell how much of that covers the sand itself, so keep your dog close and read any signs.
Source: SEPA bathing water profile (official, fouling only); Scottish Borders Council coastal path leaflet (silent on dogs) (checked 11 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
What we could not confirm
We show a Google Maps link for every place instead of postcodes, and we have left dog bins and parking out rather than guess, except where a source states them. We could not find any council or official page that sets a dog rule for an individual Borders beach. The June to September lead rule at Coldingham Bay comes only from a directory and a press roundup, so it is unconfirmed. We did not check Cove Harbour, Linkim Shore, Burnmouth, Lamberton or Cockburnspath, which have no cards, or the dog rules at Eyemouth harbour. The Scottish Borders Council beaches information is thin, so if you need certainty the council’s contact page is the place to ask. After the sand, our dog-friendly pubs and cafés page can help you find somewhere warm for muddy paws. For beaches elsewhere, see our UK dog-friendly beaches guide.
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
Are dogs allowed on beaches in the Scottish Borders?
We found no council ban or seasonal restriction on the three Borders beaches we checked, and no official page that says dogs are allowed either. Directories say dogs are fine, but they are weak sources, so read the signs. At St Abb’s Head, the National Trust for Scotland says dogs are welcome under close control.
Do dogs need to be on a lead at Coldingham Bay?
The Beach Guide and a press roundup say dogs must be on a lead from June to September, but we could not find that on a council page, so it is unconfirmed. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code also asks for a short lead or close control on sea shores during the bird breeding season, usually April to July.
Are there many dog-friendly beaches in the Scottish Borders?
No. The Berwickshire coast is short and mostly cliffs, and we found only three beaches with bathing water profiles plus St Abb’s Head. Northumberland, just south of the border, has far more sand.
Can I take my dog to St Abb’s Head?
Yes. The National Trust for Scotland says dogs are welcome, but should be kept under close control, or on a lead near farm stock. There are no dog waste bins on the reserve, so take a sealable container.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
