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
Port Soif Bay is a small, sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay on the northwest coast of Guernsey, in the parish of Castel. It is known for its sandy beach backed by dunes and a more secluded, peaceful feel than some of the island’s larger bays, with dogs subject to a summer ban period.
Dog Policies & Seasonal Rules
Port Soif is listed among the Guernsey beaches where dogs are not allowed between 1 May and 30 September. During this period, dogs are banned from the beach both on and off lead under the Control of Dogs Ordinance.
Outside these dates, dogs are permitted on Port Soif Bay, in line with the general island-wide rules that dog owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste responsibly. Owners are also asked to prevent their dogs from chasing or disturbing wildlife, especially birds, which are particularly vulnerable during the February to July nesting season. No additional on-lead requirements or time-of-day rules specific to Port Soif are published online; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Beach Features & Environment
Port Soif Bay is described as a picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay with a sandy beach backed by sand dunes. The beach is relatively small and sheltered compared with some of Guernsey’s longer west-coast bays, giving it a more intimate and tranquil atmosphere.
The bay faces northwest, offering open sea views and attractive sunsets over the water. The sand and gently shelving shoreline make it suitable for paddling and family beach time in settled conditions.
Facilities & Amenities
The Visit Guernsey listing notes that there is a kiosk at Port Soif, providing refreshments close to the beach. Other sources describe a café/refreshment kiosk known as Surfside or Surfside at Port Soif, serving food and drinks by the bay. No specific mention is made in the provided sources of public toilets, lifeguards, drinking water points, dog waste bins, picnic areas or beach showers at Port Soif Bay.
No facilities are mentioned in publicly available information beyond the kiosk/café; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Parking & Access
Descriptions of Port Soif Bay mention that there is a car park close to the beach, set behind the dunes. This allows access to the bay via short paths leading through or alongside the dunes to the sand.
The sources do not state any details about parking charges, time limits, capacities or official opening hours for the car park. Parking details are not listed in publicly available sources; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Safety Information
Port Soif Bay is described as a sheltered bay, but the provided sources do not list any formal lifeguard cover or specific safety designations. There are no detailed online warnings in these sources about strong currents, tides, or hazardous areas unique to this bay.
No official safety information is provided online; visitors should follow on-site signage and take general coastal precautions, including checking tide times and sea conditions before entering the water.
Accessibility Information
The sources indicate that access to Port Soif Bay is from a car park behind the dunes, using paths that lead to the beach, but they do not describe the exact surface, gradient or step-free status of these paths. There is no specific mention of ramps, beach wheelchairs, wheelchair-accessible toilets or designated disabled parking in the provided information.
Accessibility details are not publicly available; visitors requiring specific accommodations should contact the managing organisation for up-to-date information.
Nearby Dog-Friendly Spots
Port Soif Bay itself is framed by dunes and countryside, and a kiosk/café (Surfside at Port Soif) is located by the beach. However, the provided sources do not explicitly confirm whether this venue or any other nearby cafés, trails or attractions are 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
Port Soif is one of the Guernsey beaches where dogs are not allowed between 1 May and 30 September under local dog-control regulations. Outside these dates, dogs are permitted on the beach, provided owners clean up after them and avoid disturbing wildlife.
Port Soif Bay is a small, sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay with a sandy beach backed by dunes on the northwest coast of Guernsey. It offers a quieter atmosphere than some of the larger west-coast beaches, with open sea views and sunsets.
There is a kiosk/café at Port Soif Bay providing refreshments near the beach. No other facilities such as toilets, lifeguards, drinking water points, dog waste bins, picnic areas or showers are mentioned in the provided sources; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Sources note that there is a car park behind the dunes close to Port Soif Bay, with paths leading to the beach. Parking charges, time limits and opening hours are not detailed online; this information is not publicly stated, visitors should contact the managing organisation or local authority for clarification.
Port Soif Bay’s sandy beach, sheltered horseshoe shape and dunes create a pleasant, relatively tranquil environment that attracts visitors for relaxed beach time. However, no formal lifeguard service or specific family-safety provisions are mentioned; visitors should follow on-site signage and general coastal safety advice.
Accommodation
