Isle of Wight beach dog ban dates

The council's summer exclusion zone (1 May to 30 September) runs from Ryde Harbour east as far as Appley Tower, within 100 metres of the sea wall, so the stretch just west of the tower is covered. East of Appley Tower towards Puckpool, dogs are allowed all year. Dogs must be on a lead on Appley Walk and Garden Walk, the service roads along the seafront, and are excluded from the fenced Appley Park playground.

Bembridge is not in the council's seasonal dog exclusion order, and the council's April 2026 guide lists Bembridge Beach as a year-round dog beach.

Not in the council's seasonal dog exclusion order. The council's April 2026 guide lists Priory Bay among its year-round dog beaches. The land behind the beach is private, so keep dogs on the public paths and the foreshore.

From 1 May to 30 September dogs are banned from the beach between the Ryde Harbour wall and Appley Tower, out to 100 metres from the sea wall. West of the pier and east of Appley Tower, and beyond the 100-metre line at low tide, dogs are allowed all year. Dogs must be on a lead on seafront roads and pavements, including Appley Walk. Visit Isle of Wight says the ban starts at the end of March; the council's order and map (1 May) take precedence.

Seagrove Bay is not one of the beaches in the council's seasonal dog exclusion order. The council's April 2026 guide lists it as a year-round dog beach and points dog walkers to the quieter outer sections. Pick up after your dog; check signs at the access points in case of local requests.

Dogs are allowed on the beach all year; it is not in the council's seasonal exclusion order. From 1 May to 30 September a council order requires dogs to be on a lead on the St Helens revetment (the sea defence along the top of the beach). The National Trust asks for dogs to be on a short lead near the grazing sheep and under close control elsewhere.

Dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September on the central seafront either side of the pier, along the Esplanade (council map E49). Outside the marked zone dogs are allowed all year. Dogs are not allowed on the pier except guide dogs.

Dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September along the Esplanade beach, from roughly the café at the northern end of the Esplanade south to the Shanklin Chine end (council map E51). Outside that zone dogs are allowed all year.

Not covered by the council's seasonal dog exclusion order, and the council's April 2026 guide lists Whitecliff Bay among beaches where dogs can be walked all year. Older guides (around 2015) said the holiday park operator banned dogs from the beach; the council's 2026 guidance is more recent, but check any signs on the access paths.

Dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September on the section of beach directly in front of the main Yaverland car park (council map E54). They can be walked all year east of the car park, towards the sailing club and Culver Down.

Not covered by the council's seasonal dog exclusion order, and the council's April 2026 guide lists Steephill Cove as a beach where dogs can be walked all year, noting the small space suits well-controlled dogs. Holiday-rental guides say the cove asks for dogs to be on leads during the day; check signs on arrival.

Allowed all year. The council lists Brook Bay among its year-round dog beaches for 2026, and the National Trust allows dogs between Hanover Point and Brook Chine all year. Keep dogs on a short lead around livestock on the downs behind.

National Trust rule, not the council's: dogs are not allowed on the beach west of the Compton Bay (Hanover) car park from 15 May to 15 September. They are welcome all year on the beach between Hanover Point and Brook Chine, to the east. Compton is not one of the beaches in the council's 1 May to 30 September order.

Dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September in the council's marked zone, which covers the main beach in front of the promenade from the western end to just east of the slipway (council map E46). That is most of the beach. Allowed everywhere from 1 October to 30 April.

The Needles Landmark Attraction allows dogs on its site, the beach and the boat trips, on a lead at all times. Dogs cannot ride the chairlift or go indoors (assistance dogs excepted), so take them down the steps. Alum Bay is not in the council's seasonal dog ban.

Allowed all year east of the slipway. Banned west of the slipway from 1 May to 30 September under the council's Public Spaces Protection Order; £100 fixed penalty, or up to £1,000 if prosecuted.

Allowed all year with no seasonal exclusion zone (Isle of Wight Council, April 2026). Some older holiday guides say dogs are restricted here in summer; the council's current list takes precedence. Dogs must be on a lead on roads and pavements.

Yarmouth is not among the beaches the council lists under its 1 May to 30 September dog exclusion order for 2026 (Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard, Sandown, Shanklin, Springvale, Ventnor, Yaverland and Ryde), and it was not in the council's earlier list of exclusion areas either. One third-party beach guide says dogs are restricted here from May to October; we have gone with the council's list, but check for signs on the day. Dogs must be on a lead on roads and pavements, and the pier is run separately by Yarmouth Harbour.

Cowes is covered by the council's dog exclusion order from 1 May to 30 September (confirmed for 2026). The council's published zone runs from the public slipway at the bottom of Egypt Hill east to a point level with the eastern edge of Princes Green, so the shore west of Egypt Hill towards Gurnard is outside it. That zone wording comes from a 2015 council leaflet, as the current PSPO maps could not be opened during research; follow the signs. Dogs must be on a lead on Princes Green itself all year. The whole beach is open to dogs from October to April.

East Cowes is covered by the council's dog exclusion order from 1 May to 30 September (confirmed for 2026). The council's published zone is short: from the slipway opposite the Esplanade toilets to the first set of steps past the toilets, between the groynes. The rest of the beach is outside it. That zone wording comes from a 2015 council leaflet, as the current PSPO maps could not be opened during research, so follow the signs. Dogs must be on a lead on the Esplanade all year.

Gurnard is one of the beaches covered by the council's dog exclusion order from 1 May to 30 September (confirmed for 2026). The council's published zone description puts the banned stretch from the eastern edge of the public slipway where Shore Road meets the promenade, east to the groyne by the Princes Esplanade fountain; the shore either side is outside the zone. That zone wording comes from a 2015 council leaflet, as the current PSPO maps on the council website could not be opened during research, so follow the signs on the sea wall. Dogs are allowed on the whole beach from October to April.

Dogs are banned from 1 May to 30 September on the whole main beach, from the western end below Bath Road to Ventnor Haven (council map E53). Allowed from October to April. Neighbouring Bonchurch, east along the sea wall, allows dogs all year.