North Yorkshire

Miles of golden sand curving from Filey Brigg's rockpools down towards Hunmanby, with ramps and slipways giving some of the coast's best wheelchair-friendly access. The summer ban covers only the central town stretch between Royal Parade's sea wall and the Coble Landing slipway — but take care exploring the Brigg, where the tide can cut you off.

Redcar's town sand runs below the Esplanade under the vertical pier, and at low water it is wide enough and hard enough to lose a dog on. The Redcar and Cleveland dog Public Spaces Protection Order excludes dogs from one stretch only, between the Regent cinema and the point where the Esplanade meets Graffenberg Street, and only from 1 May to 30 September; the council's own wording is that during those months dogs are still welcome to be walked on a lead along the Esplanade itself. From 1 October to 30 April the whole beach is open with no lead requirement, and the sand west of the Regent towards Coatham is outside the zone all year round. Enforcement is a £100 fixed penalty on the spot with a maximum court fine of £1,000, and the order runs to 30 June 2028. Parking is on the Esplanade and at the Coatham end, both pay and display, and both fill by mid-morning on a hot Sunday.

Saltburn's sand sits below Marine Parade with the pier and the cliff lift on it and Hunt Cliff rising at the eastern end. The dog exclusion under the borough PSPO covers only the middle of it, described by the council as running from the point of access to the beach at Hazelgrove east to the eastern side of the pier, and it applies from 1 May to 30 September. That leaves two stretches open all year: west of the Hazelgrove access the sand runs unbroken towards Marske, and east of the pier the beck mouth, Cat Nab and the sand under Hunt Cliff are not covered at all. During the closed months the council states dogs are still welcome on a lead along the promenade. Fines are £100 on the spot and up to £1,000 in court; the order runs to 30 June 2028. Cat Nab car park at the foot of Saltburn Bank is the useful one and is full by ten on a summer weekend.

A long sweep of sand running from Sandsend village back towards Whitby, with step-free access towards the north end via a steep walkway. The summer ban only covers the village-adjacent section from the steps below the public toilets to the Bank Bottom Car Park slipway — but note high tide reaches the sea wall in places, squeezing the dog-friendly sand.

Scarborough's quieter northern beach below Royal Albert Drive, with excellent ramp access and the SEA LIFE centre at its far end. The summer exclusion only covers the middle stretch between the former Corner Café slipway and the end of the chalet run, so dogs can still enjoy the sands either side all year.

The classic bucket-and-spade beach beneath Scarborough's harbour and Grand Hotel, with ramps and wheelchair-friendly paths along the Foreshore. In summer the ban runs from the West Pier to the steps by the underground car park roundabout, leaving the quieter stretch towards the Spa open to dogs.

Whitby's big sandy town beach below the West Cliff, with a gentle slope suitable for wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs available for hire. In summer the banned zone runs from the West Pier to the steps half way along the beach chalets, so head north past the chalets where dogs are welcome all year.