Par Sands among best UK dog-friendly beaches says PDSA

Par Sands near St Austell was included in the list of the seven best dog-friendly beaches in the UK by the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals).

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “In the UK, we’re lucky to be (literally) surrounded by amazing coastline and loads of beaches, which can be fun for us and our canine pals.

“But not every beach is dog friendly, so before you go anywhere make sure you’ve researched the area first to make sure there are no restrictions in place. To make that a bit easier, we’ve listed our top seven from around the country.”

Par Sands was described as ideal for playing or walking with your dog (Image: Getty Images)

What are the PDSA's best dog-friendly UK beaches?

The full list of the seven best dog-friendly beaches in the UK according to the PDSA is as follows:

1. Par Sands (St Austell, Cornwall)

2. Woolacombe (Devon)

3. Durdle Door (West Lulworth, Dorset)

4. Weston-super-Mare (North Somerset)

5. Holkham (Norfolk)

6. Bamburgh (Near Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland)

7. St Bees (Whitehaven, Cumbria)

Speaking about Par Sands the PDSA said: "Par Sands is a lovely sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes and even has a little lake/pond!

"It’s ideal for playing and walking with your dog and having a paddle in the sea. If you do go walking away from the beach, keep your dog on the lead in case of wildlife."

The PDSA also gave out advice on keeping your dogs safe whilst out on beaches, particularly whilst out at sea.

They said: "While swimming is a great exercise for dogs, the sea can be unpredictable, always pay attention to signs or flags warning you not to swim and try to check currents and tide ahead of time. If the sea looks dangerous, don’t let your dog swim!"

Alongside that, they added: "The British seaside is home to all sorts of animals, from birds and barnacles to seals and starfish.

"Keep an eye out for what’s about and try to keep your dog on a lead until you know it’s safe."