Places To Visit With Dogs
Discover dog-friendly pubs, beaches, hotels, and parks across the UK. Find the best places to visit, stay, and eat with your dog today.
Overview
Pembroke Bay and L’Ancresse Bay are adjoining sandy beaches on the northern tip of Guernsey, in the parish of Vale. They are known for their long stretches of sand, clear turquoise waters and wide open spaces, and are popular for swimming, paddling, beach games and water sports, with dogs welcome outside the summer ban period.
Dog Policies & Seasonal Rules
The States of Guernsey confirm that dogs are banned on both L’Ancresse and Pembroke beaches from 1 May to 30 September. Outside these dates, dogs are allowed and the bays are highlighted as brilliant beaches for dog walking in autumn through to spring, offering a large expanse of sand for dogs to run around.
Dog owners are asked to prevent their dogs from chasing or disturbing wildlife, especially birds, which are particularly vulnerable during the February to July breeding season, and to clean up after their dogs using public litter bins or by taking waste home. No specific on-lead requirements, time-of-day restrictions or designated dog areas are listed for Pembroke and L’Ancresse in the provided sources; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Beach Features & Environment
Pembroke and L’Ancresse bays together form one of the longest stretches of sand in Guernsey, with wide sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. The bays have a gentle slope, making them suitable for swimming, paddling and playing games on the beach.
The water is described as perfect for windsurfing, surfing, sailing, sea kayaking and fishing, reflecting their popularity with water sports enthusiasts. Located at the most northern part of the island, they offer open coastal views and a spacious, sweeping bay setting.
Facilities & Amenities
The Visit Guernsey listing states that there is a large car park and toilets at both ends of the wide sweeping bay. There is also the Beach House restaurant at Pembroke and a traditional kiosk at L’Ancresse, offering food and drink close to the beach.
Beach wheelchairs are available for use at Pembroke Bay and can be booked by emailing the address provided (info@gsybeachwheelchairs.com). No additional facilities such as lifeguards, drinking water points, dog waste bins, picnic areas or beach showers are mentioned in the provided sources; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Parking & Access
The Visit Guernsey page confirms that Pembroke and L’Ancresse are easily accessible by bus and also have a large car park serving the bays. However, it does not specify parking charges, time limits, exact distances from the car park to the beach or opening hours; parking details are not listed in publicly available sources.
The page encourages visitors to download the VisitGuernsey app to find out more about the best times to swim and ease of access, but does not give further parking specifics. This information is not publicly stated; visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Safety Information
Pembroke and L’Ancresse are described as having a gentle slope with clear waters that are great for swimming and paddling, which suggests generally family-friendly conditions. The Visit Guernsey page recommends using the VisitGuernsey app for more information on the best times to swim, indicating that conditions vary with tide and weather.
There is no explicit mention of lifeguard presence, rip currents, tide hazards or cliff risks in the provided sources. No official safety information is provided online; visitors should follow on-site signage and take general coastal precautions.
Accessibility Information
The Visit Guernsey listing notes that beach wheelchairs are available at Pembroke Bay and can be booked via email, indicating some provision for visitors with mobility needs. It also states that the bays are easily accessible and advises using the VisitGuernsey app to learn more about ease of access.
No detailed information is provided on step-free routes from parking, ramps, surface types, gradients, accessible toilets or designated disabled parking in the cited pages. Accessibility details are not publicly available; visitors requiring specific accommodations should contact the managing organisation for up-to-date information.
Nearby Dog-Friendly Spots
L’Ancresse is also home to one of Guernsey’s best 18-hole golf courses, over 100 years old, located near the bays. The Beach House restaurant at Pembroke and the traditional kiosk at L’Ancresse are mentioned as nearby food and drink options by the beach.
The sources do not state whether any of these businesses or attractions are specifically dog friendly. No nearby dog-friendly locations are referenced in the provided sources; visitors should contact individual businesses directly to confirm their dog policy.
FAQs
Dogs are banned on L’Ancresse and Pembroke beaches from 1 May to 30 September each year. From autumn through to spring, dogs are allowed and the beaches are described as brilliant places to walk your dog, with a large expanse of sand to run around on.
Pembroke and L’Ancresse are long sandy beaches with clear turquoise waters and a gentle slope, making them ideal for swimming, paddling and beach games. They are located at the most northern part of Guernsey and form one of the island’s longest stretches of sand.
There is a large car park and toilets at both ends of the wide sweeping bay, along with the Beach House restaurant at Pembroke and a traditional kiosk at L’Ancresse. Beach wheelchairs are also available at Pembroke Bay and can be booked by emailing the address provided.
Yes, the waters at Pembroke and L’Ancresse are described as perfect for windsurfing, surfing, sailing, sea kayaking and fishing, in addition to swimming and paddling.
The Visit Guernsey listing recommends downloading the VisitGuernsey app to find out more about the best times to swim and ease of access to Pembroke and L’Ancresse bays. No detailed safety guidance is provided online, so visitors should also follow on-site signage and local advice.
Accommodation
