Summer dog bans lift on 1 October at many UK beaches. Here’s where to take your dog hunting this autumn, and where you never have to stop.
If you hunt with a dog, summer is a juggling act. Half the best-known beaches on the coast put their main stretches off-limits from May to September, and you end up working the far ends of beaches or leaving the dog at home.
Then October arrives, and everything lines up. Most seasonal bans end on 30 September. The summer crowds have gone. And the first autumn storms start churning up the seabed, throwing glass back onto the shore that hasn’t been seen for months, sometimes years. For hunters with dogs, the next few months are the best of the year.
This guide covers two groups: beaches where the summer ban has just lifted, and beaches that welcome dogs year-round. Each one links to its full sea glass guide and live Sea Glass Score, so you can pick your day as well as your beach.
Just reopened: bans lifted from 1 October
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Rating: Good Beach
Dog rules: Seasonal. Dogs are banned from signed sections of Whitby West Cliff beach and Sandsend from 1 May to 30 September. On Tate Hill Sands, the small beach on the east side of the harbour, dogs must be on a lead during the summer period. All sections reopen from 1 October.
Whitby in autumn is Whitby at its best: dark afternoons, the abbey on the headland, and the West Cliff sands open to dogs again. The long stretch from West Cliff up to Sandsend, closed off in sections all summer, makes one of the best dog walks on the Yorkshire coast once the ban lifts. Hunt it on a falling tide.
Whitby Beach sea glass conditions
Whitby Beach
North Yorkshire — Sea settling
64/100 — Good, best window 16:01–19:01.
Best window is 16:01–19:01 with big seas in the last few days, now easing — glass should be washing in, so the chance of fresh finds is good today.
Good day at a reliable beach
Ranked #49 in the UK ShoreSense leaderboard today.
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low water | 04:55 | 2.5 m |
| High water | 11:24 | 4.2 m |
| Low water | 17:31 | 2.8 m |
| High water | 23:33 | 4.4 m |
Read the full Whitby Sea Glass Guide
Cromer, Norfolk
Rating: Fair
Dog rules: Seasonal. Dogs are banned from the main beach on either side of the pier from 1 May to 30 September under North Norfolk District Council’s rules, and must be on a lead on the promenade during that period. From 1 October, the whole beach is open. The sections east and west beyond the restricted zone stay open all year.
Cromer is interesting for dog owners because the best hunting ground was never inside the restricted zone. Glass collects where the sand turns to shingle, and around the groynes and pier supports. In autumn, the whole beach is yours, including the stretch around the pier that was off-limits all summer.
Cromer Beach sea glass conditions
Cromer Beach
Norfolk
58/100 — Fair, best window 10:11–13:11.
Best window is 10:11–13:11 with spring tides (near full/new moon) and offshore wind, so the chance of fresh finds is fair today.
Fair — expectations lower at this beach
Ranked #79 in the UK ShoreSense leaderboard today.
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High water | 04:39 | 4.8 m |
| Low water | 11:41 | 1.1 m |
| High water | 17:19 | 4.7 m |
| Low water | 23:46 | 1.3 m |
Read the full Cromer Sea Glass Guide
Lyme Regis, Dorset
Rating: Fair Beach
Dog rules: Seasonal on Front Beach. Dogs are excluded from 1 May to 30 September and allowed from 1 October to 30 April, but must be kept on a lead. Monmouth Beach and Church Cliff Beach are dog-friendly year-round.
Lyme Regis is worth knowing about even in summer, because two of its beaches never close to dogs. Front Beach, the sandy one in the middle of town that most visitors head for first, reopens in October, but only on a lead. If you want your dog off-lead, head to Monmouth Beach, west of the Cobb.
Autumn storms also bring down cliff material along this coast, so keep well away from the cliff bases after heavy weather.
Lyme Regis sea glass conditions
Lyme Regis
Dorset
61/100 — Good, best window 09:03–12:03.
Best window is 09:03–12:03 with spring tides (near full/new moon), so the chance of fresh finds is good today.
Good window, though this beach is hit-and-miss
Ranked #61 in the UK ShoreSense leaderboard today.
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High water | 05:09 | 3.6 m |
| Low water | 10:33 | 1.2 m |
| High water | 17:21 | 3.7 m |
| Low water | 22:54 | 0.8 m |
→ Read the full Lyme Regis Sea Glass Guide
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Rating: Fair Beach
Dog rules: Seasonal. Dogs are banned from signed sections of South Bay and North Bay from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs can use the full beach.
Scarborough’s two bays are some of the most restricted beaches in Yorkshire over summer. The main sections of both close to dogs, leaving only signed areas at the edges that are often cut off at high tide. From October, both bays reopen.
Scarborough isn’t a destination sea glass beach on its own, but it’s an easy autumn day out. You get two bays, the harbour, and plenty of dog-friendly places to warm up afterwards. It works best combined with Robin Hood’s Bay, about 25 minutes up the coast.
→ Read the full Scarborough Sea Glass Guide
Open all year: no need to wait for a ban
Seaham, County Durham
Rating: Top Beach
Dog rules: Yes. Dogs are welcome all year round.
The UK’s most famous sea glass beach has never closed to dogs, and autumn is when it’s at its best. The Victorian bottleworks glass on Seaham Hall Beach comes up in the greatest numbers after North Sea storms, and October to February is peak season. Arrive on a falling tide, ideally the morning after a storm.
Seaham Beach sea glass conditions
Seaham Beach
County Durham — Sea settling
62/100 — Good, best window 06:30–09:30.
Best window is 06:30–09:30 with spring tides (near full/new moon) and calm sea, so the chance of fresh finds is good today. Sea is likely calm and picked-over — go early.
Good window at a premier beach
Ranked #54 in the UK ShoreSense leaderboard today.
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High water | 01:26 | 4.8 m |
| Low water | 08:00 | 0.9 m |
| High water | 14:04 | 4.9 m |
| Low water | 20:14 | 1.2 m |
→ Read the full Seaham Sea Glass Guide
Boulmer, Northumberland
Rating: Top Beach
Dog rules: Yes. Boulmer isn’t covered by any of Northumberland’s seasonal dog restrictions, which apply only to parts of Newbiggin, Blyth and Beadnell.
Northumberland is one of the easiest coasts in the country to hunt with a dog. Hardly any of its beaches restrict dogs at any time of year. Boulmer is a small fishing village with a big reputation among hunters, and you won’t be fighting summer crowds in autumn either.
Boulmer Beach sea glass conditions
Boulmer Beach
Northumberland — Sea settling
59/100 — Fair, best window 13:38–14:38.
Best window is 13:38–14:38 with big seas in the last few days, now easing — glass should be washing in and offshore wind, so the chance of fresh finds is fair today.
Fair for a top spot — still worth a look
Ranked #72 in the UK ShoreSense leaderboard today.
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low water | 06:21 | 1.7 m |
| High water | 12:38 | 4.3 m |
| Low water | 18:40 | 1.9 m |
→ Read the full Boulmer Sea Glass Guide
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Rating: Good Beach
Dog rules: Yes. Dogs are welcome all year round.
While Scarborough and Whitby spend the summer under bans, Robin Hood’s Bay stays open to dogs throughout. At low tide, the beach stretches along to Boggle Hole, where the youth hostel café welcomes dogs. The foreshore is wide, rocky and full of rock pools, so allow time and watch the tide carefully. It comes in fast around the scars.
[EMBED TIDE WIDGET HERE — station ID: as per beach post]
→ Read the full Robin Hood’s Bay Sea Glass Guide
Hunting with your dog in autumn
Wait for the storm to pass. The day after a storm is the best hunting day, but never go out while the swell is still up. Big waves and excited dogs don’t mix. Keep your dog well back from the water’s edge while the sea is rough.
Stay away from cliff bases. Autumn rain and storms loosen cliffs all along the coast, especially in Yorkshire and Dorset. Hunt the open foreshore, not the base of the cliffs.
Watch the tide, not just the glass. It’s easy to follow your dog round a headland on a falling tide and find the way back cut off. Check the Sea Glass Score widget for today’s tide times before you set off.
Watch what your dog picks up. Storms wash up all sorts, including lumps of palm oil and other waxy deposits that can make dogs ill. If you see white, candle-wax-like lumps, keep your dog away.
Check signs even out of season. A few beaches keep lead rules all year, and some have bird-nesting restrictions that don’t follow the summer dates.
From beach to jewellery
Every piece at Mermaid Tears starts on a UK beach, hunted by hand (with Trigger never far away) and made into something you’ll keep forever. If you’ve got a hunter in your life, it makes a lovely gift. [Browse the collection →]
Disclaimer: Dog restrictions, tide times, parking and beach conditions change regularly. Councils review bylaws and Public Spaces Protection Orders, often annually, and some beaches have extra restrictions for wildlife. Always check the signage at the beach and the local council’s website before you go.
Last updated: October 2026
Frequently asked questions
When do dog bans end on UK beaches?
Many councils run seasonal dog bans from 1 May to 30 September, so dogs are allowed back from 1 October. Dates vary by council, and some beaches have different rules, so always check the individual beach.
Can I take my dog to Seaham Beach in autumn?
Yes. Seaham welcomes dogs all year round, and autumn is peak sea glass season there.
Are dogs allowed on Scarborough beach in October?
Yes. The seasonal ban on the main sections of South Bay and North Bay runs from 1 May to 30 September, so dogs can use the full beach from 1 October.
Is Robin Hood’s Bay dog friendly?
Yes. Robin Hood’s Bay is dog friendly all year round, making it a good alternative to Scarborough and Whitby in summer.
Which UK coast is best for sea glass hunting with a dog?
Northumberland has very few seasonal dog restrictions, so it’s one of the easiest coasts for hunting with a dog at any time of year. In autumn, once summer bans lift, Yorkshire opens up too.
Why is autumn a good time to hunt for sea glass?
Autumn storms churn up the seabed and wash glass onto the shore, the summer crowds have gone, and many seasonal dog bans have ended. Hunt the day after a storm, on a falling tide.
