Dog Friendly Beaches Anglesey Guide for Your Stay

Where are the best dog friendly beaches Anglesey has for a stay?

Start with a simple rule. Anglesey County Council restricts dogs in designated areas at seven beaches between 1 May and 30 September. The other beaches on the island aren't on its list. Those restrictions cover part of each beach, so dogs can still use the rest of the sand. You'll find the full list, with maps, on the council's dog restrictions page.

The seven are Beaumaris, Benllech, Cemaes Bay, Llanddwyn at Newborough, Llanddona, Porth Dafarch and Trearddur Bay. That's a lot of the best-known names, which is exactly why the base you choose matters.

Everything else in this part of North Wales, from Rhosneigr to Bull Bay, isn't on the list, though signs on the day always win.

Dogs are welcome on the permitted sand of all seven. Some beaches are dog friendly year round while others have dog restrictions on part of the sand for five months, so it pays to know which is which before you book.

Year round dog friendly beaches: the ones with no ban

These dog friendly Anglesey beaches are the ones to aim for if you're travelling between May and September with a dog who needs a proper run. None of them is on the council's list, so four legged friends have the sand all year round. Only let your dog off the lead if it comes back when called and there are no birds or livestock close by.

Rhosneigr beaches

Two sandy beaches sit within reach of the village: Traeth Crigyll and Traeth Llydan. Kayakers and paddleboarders share the water. Pubs and shops are close to the sand. From a base in Llanynghenedl, a few miles outside Holyhead, it's a 13 minute drive of 9.8 miles.

If you want to wake up close to it, browse our holiday cottages in Rhosneigr.

Traeth Lligwy

Wide, sandy and backed by dunes. You can park close to the sand. At low tide there's room for a dog to run flat out and still be a speck on the horizon!

It sits just north of Moelfre, so you can pair a beach morning with a harbour-village lunch. From Benllech the drive is 10 minutes and 5.2 miles. From Llanynghenedl allow 29 minutes.

Church Bay (Porth Swtan)

Sand and pebbles on the north-west coast. Rock pools are there to poke around at low tide, so a dog with a curious nose will be busy for an hour. You'll find toilets and parking close by, with places to eat too. It's the closest of these to Llanynghenedl, at 12 minutes and 6.2 miles. Walk the cliffs and coves nearby on the Anglesey Coast Path for a longer day.

Bull Bay

Smaller and more mixed underfoot, with sand, shingle and rock. The Anglesey Coast Path runs close by, so a short beach visit can grow into a longer walk towards Amlwch. Allow 31 minutes from Llanynghenedl. Take a flask: the sea wind up here bites outside summer.

Red Wharf Bay

Red Wharf Bay turns into a vast plain of sand and mud when the tide goes out. Birds feed on the mudflats and saltmarsh, so keep your dog on a lead out here. The water also comes back faster than you'd expect, so look up tide times before you wander far out. If a dog gets stuck in the mud, don't go in after it: call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. From Benllech it's 13 minutes and 4.2 miles.

Malltraeth

A quieter estuary beach on the south-west side of the island, good for a long walk with plenty of birdlife. Keep your dog on a lead until you reach the beach. It's 19 minutes and 14.3 miles from Llanynghenedl. Don't assume the rules match at nearby Newborough and Llanddwyn, which have their own seasonal restriction.

Dog restrictions on Anglesey beaches: what they mean in practice

The council's dog restrictions are seasonal dog rules, not a blanket dog ban. It means a designated section is off limits to dogs from 1 May to 30 September. Outside that window dogs are fine. On the open sections they're fine all year round too.

• Benllech: a busy family beach. Dogs must be on leads on the promenade.
• Trearddur Bay: a big sandy bay with smaller coves nearby. Leads on the promenade.
• Cemaes Bay: two beaches split by the harbour. Leads on the promenade.
• Llanddona: a long, quieter stretch on the east side of Red Wharf Bay with fewer facilities.
• Porth Dafarch: a small cove on Holy Island with a designated area from May to September.
• Beaumaris: a seafront beach with a designated area from May to September.
• Llanddwyn at Newborough: check the council map before you set off.

The practical answer is to book somewhere with an open beach within easy reach. Our Benllech holiday cottages are a good example: the village beach has a seasonal restriction but Lligwy and Red Wharf Bay are both a short drive away.

Choosing the right stay for beach days with a dog

If you're after dog friendly beach cottages in Anglesey, the stays listed below all welcome dogs. Sizes run from places for two to big family houses. Use the dogs filter on the listing to narrow things down. Then read each stay's page for its dog rules.

Trearddur Bay and Holy Island

Trearddur Bay has a seasonal restriction and so does Porth Dafarch, 10 minutes away. For sand off the council's list, Rhoscolyn is a small bay further down Holy Island at 12 minutes and 3.3 miles, while Rhosneigr is 19 minutes. Take a look at our holiday cottages in Trearddur Bay for the sea-side end of Holy Island.

Rhosneigr and the west

The best choice if you want an open beach close by all season, with the village pubs and shops a short stroll from the sand.

Benllech and the east

Moelfre is 10 minutes away and Red Wharf Bay 13, with Llanddona further round at 25, so the east suits anyone who wants variety. Plenty going on, with cafés and shops close to the sand. Dogs have to follow the seasonal rules at the village beach, so from May to September plan to drive to Lligwy or Red Wharf Bay.

Newborough and the south-west

Forest, dunes and a huge beach, but dogs are restricted on part of Llanddwyn from May to September. Our guide to where to stay near Newborough beach covers the area in full. Malltraeth is the easy alternative.

Exploring the Anglesey Coast Path with a four legged friend

The Anglesey Coast Path circles the island. Most of these beaches double as walking stops, with views over the water from the cliffs. Wind along the cliffs from Church Bay, drop down to the sand for a paddle, then carry on. The coast path is a lead-on, lead-off sort of route, so keep your dog close near cliff edges and livestock. Wildlife matters too: nesting birds and grazing animals share the same paths.

Walking holidays here suit dogs well. Explore a different stretch every day. Walking around the headlands gives access to quieter coves. After a day on the coast, a village pub or café is the usual reward. Many welcome dogs but policies change, so ring ahead before you make a special trip.

Beaches in North Wales beyond Anglesey

If you're crossing from the mainland at Menai Bridge, you'll pass the edge of Snowdonia on the way. Snowdonia has its own walks, but the beaches are the draw here. Other North Wales beaches have their own dog rules, set by each council across Wales, so don't assume one council's map covers another. Within Anglesey, the council page above is the one to trust.

When to go

Outside 1 May to 30 September the marked-off areas aren't in force, so autumn and winter suit the busiest bays. Those months are quieter for family holidays too. A short break on the coast feels very different out of season. Early mornings are cooler for dogs. In summer the open beaches can get busy by midday. Hot sand burns paws, so test it with your hand.

Packing and planning checklist

If the council's map and the signs on the beach disagree, follow the signs.

Finding your holiday cottages base

Ready to pick? Whether it's a short break or a week, our dog friendly hot tub cottages page lists holiday cottages across Anglesey that welcome dogs, from the west coast to the Menai Strait. You can also see everything on the Anglesey Hot Tub Cottages homepage and choose a village that puts an open beach within a short drive.

Questions