Visiting Llŷn Peninsula with your dog

Two people are walking two small dogs along Llanbedrog beach, a wide stretch of sand lined with colourful beach huts with tall, dark green trees directly behind them. — Dog walking at Llanbedrog beach | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Every dog deserves to splash around in the sea once in a while. Here in Llŷn we’ve got a range of walks to please you and your four-legged companion. Please always bring a lead with you – you never know if you’ll encounter a wandering sheep or two. And don’t forget your pooper scoopers, use the bins provided or take any waste home with you. Happy dog-walking.

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to find out how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your four-legged-friend arrive. To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

The Llŷn Peninsula is a one pawprint rated place.

Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season. There are many places to visit on Llŷn Peninsula, read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go on the Llŷn Peninsula?

Llanbedrog beach: Bring your canine companion with you to Llanbedrog beach where you can enjoy a mile long walk along the sandy beach. From 1 April to 30 September dogs will need to be kept on a lead until beyond the beach huts. We offer free pooper scoopers from the welcome cabin and all that we ask is that you use the bin provided at the entrance to the car park. Llanbedrog is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Llanbedrog beach
Porthor: Bring your dog for a wintery walk to Porthor. There are no restrictions from 1 October to 31 March. During the summer months (1 April to 30 September) no dogs are allowed on the beach, although they can be taken to the café and sit on the café terrace. You can access the Wales Coast Path in both directions without going on the beach from here. Or walk the rugged coastline above Porthor all year round with your dog. Porthor is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Porthor

Dog walkers on the beach at Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd, North Wales — Porthdinllaen is the perfect place to visit with your dog | © National Trust Images/ James Dobson

Porthdinllaen: A very popular dog walking spot; start at our car park at Porthdinllaen and follow the path along the beach to the picturesque fishing village. Let your canine companion rest while you sit back and relax while enjoying a drink at the Tŷ Coch Inn. Please note there are restrictions as you enter the beach to the right (towards Nefyn) from 1 April until 30 September. From Tŷ Coch you can continue along the footpath towards the lifeboat station and through the golf course back to the car park. Please keep your dog on a lead as you walk through the golf course – we don’t want to disturb any golfers. Porthdinllaen is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Porthdinllaen
Porth Meudwy: Go on a pilgrimage to Porth Meudwy; a small cove at the tip of the Llŷn peninsula that was once the embarkation point for pilgrims making the journey to Bardsey Island. Sit back on the beach as you watch the local fishermen or tourists making their way to Bardsey Island. Porth Meudwy is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Porth Meudwy

Mynydd Mawr and Braich y Pwll: Go on an adventure to the westernmost point of Llŷn with your furry friend, where you’ll be greeted with the best view of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) and panoramic scenes stretching out as far as Ireland and south Wales on a clear day. Mynydd Mawr and Braich y Pwll is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Mynydd Mawr and Braich y Pwll
Pistyll: Enjoy the peace and quiet with your four-legged friend along the waymarked path to Porth Pistyll beach and take in the views over the Irish sea and the dramatic hills of Yr Eifl. Pistyll is a 1 pawprint rated place.Visit Pistyll
Morfa and Nant Bach: Walk in the shadow of what was once the world’s largest granite quarry along the pebble beach and clifftops and marvel in the sea stacks and marine life along the way. Please be mindful of livestock and eroding cliffs. Morfa and Nant Bach is a 1 pawprint rated placeVisit Morfa and Nant Bach

A view of Ynys Enlli from Mynydd Mawr | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is:

Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one