The Vale of Glamorgan has country parks, a gardens estate and a Heritage Coast, plus a council dog order and summer beach bans that catch people out. Our separate dog swimming guide for the Vale covers the beaches in more detail, so here we focus on the rules and the walks.
The council’s dog control order
Vale of Glamorgan Council’s dog control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was last reviewed on 15 July 2024, and the council’s page says it runs until 14 July 2027. It requires owners to pick up after their dogs, puts dogs on leads in certain places such as cemeteries, town centres and parks, bans dogs from children’s play areas and school grounds, and includes the seasonal beach ban. The order sets no maximum number of dogs. The council’s order document gives a £100 fixed penalty, though one council beach page mentions £75 for fouling and we couldn’t reconcile the two. Maps showing exactly which areas need leads sit on the council’s PSPO page, and the schedule table was hard to read, so check the maps before you set off.
Beaches: 1 May to 30 September
According to the council, dogs are banned in summer at Whitmore Bay (Barry Island), Cold Knap, Dunraven Bay at Southerndown, Cwm Colhuw at Llantwit Major, Penarth Pier decking and Penarth beach between the Pier and the Yacht Club. The council lists Summerhouse Bay, Aberthaw, Fontygary Bay, Porthkerry, Jackson’s Bay, St Mary’s Well Bay, Watch Tower Bay, Old Harbour, Hardees Bay and Penarth beach from the Pier to the Cardiff Bay barrage as open to dogs in summer. At Ogmore-by-Sea the council says its order is under review and that no ban applies in summer 2026, but another council page still lists it as seasonal, so check the signs on the day.
Parks and nature reserves
Cosmeston Lakes Country Park welcomes dogs, which must be on leads in the car park and around the east lake. Swimming is prohibited. Dyffryn Gardens (National Trust) welcomes dogs almost everywhere on a short lead at all times, except the two log-stack play areas and the Glass House; the house itself is closed to dogs. Lavernock Point nature reserve (Wildlife Trust) asks for dogs on leads, and some clifftop paths are prone to erosion. Visit Wales advises leads on the Dunraven Bay to Nash Point route because it crosses farmland and high, steep cliff paths.
Nesting birds and livestock
Natural Resources Wales and RSPB Cymru ask owners to keep dogs on leads or under close control on marked paths during the nesting season from March to August. On open access land, dogs must be on a lead of 2 metres or less from 1 March to 31 July. If parent birds start calling in alarm, back away.
What we couldn’t confirm
We couldn’t confirm dog rules at Porthkerry Country Park, Hensol, Barry Island promenade, Penarth Marine Parade and the cliff walks, Cowbridge Common, Llandough and Cogan, or the Heritage Coast Path beyond the Visit Wales advice. We also found no 2026 algae or closure notice for the Vale, which is not proof there isn’t one. Merthyr Mawr is in Bridgend rather than the Vale.
Cliffs, cattle and busy beaches add up to a lot for a dog to take in. A calming bite can help take the edge off a busier day out, and if your dog struggles to settle wherever you walk, that is worth a word with your vet or a qualified trainer. For everything else, see our Vale of Glamorgan dog services hub, and for a pub stop afterwards, our dog-friendly pubs and cafés in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Vale of Glamorgan beaches ban dogs in summer?
Between 1 May and 30 September the council lists Whitmore Bay, Cold Knap, Dunraven Bay, Cwm Colhuw and part of Penarth beach. Ogmore-by-Sea is unresolved, so check the signs.
Is there a limit on how many dogs I can walk in the Vale?
The council’s dog control order sets no maximum number of dogs.
Can dogs go to Dyffryn Gardens?
Yes, on a short lead, almost everywhere except the two log-stack play areas and the Glass House.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who thinks a cliff path is only as good as its smells.
