Dog-friendly activities in the Arun District
Share the delights of ‘Sussex by the Sea’ with your four-legged companions…
With miles of coast, countryside and some wonderful local parks, plus many ‘dog friendly’ attractions, places to stay, eat and drink, you’re spoilt for choice.
We’ve put together some suggestions that you might like to sniff out together, plus pointers to where you can find more information.
Visiting the coast?
Here’s some great safety messages that are worth reading, helpfully provided by the RNLI, and HM Coastguard to help you plan and fully enjoy your visits safely, all year round.
Arun District Council welcome dogs to the beaches in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, but there are some summer restrictions to note and some helpful guidance and rules to remember. From Easter to September, stop and say hello to the friendly and knowledgeable Beach Patrol Officers when you see them too.
If beaches are not your thing, discover the of the great local Public Parks in the district too. If you’re heading into the countryside scroll down to find some great advice from the experts at the National Park.
Choose Arundel
The historic town of Arundel has lots to offer its visitors, both human and canine, all year round.
We could give you lots of ideas here, but our friends at Visit Arundel have already done the leg work. Take advice from the knowledgeable locals and jump over to their dog friendly activities page
You may have to visit more than once to try out all the ideas on offer!
Choose Bognor Regis
The flat promenade from Aldwick in the west and Felpham to the east of the town offer great walking potential with a shingle and sand (at low tide) beach as a great location to enjoy the fresh air all year round. Dogs are welcome (on a lead in the busiest spots please) and as already mentioned, there are some local restrictions during the summer months. Head over to the Love Bognor Regis website and check out their great Dog Friendly Bognor Regis blog for more information and ideas.
Choose Littlehampton
The long stretches of beaches and riverside walks of Littlehampton create a lovely adventure playground for canine companions with many dog-friendly cafes and eateries to stop for a break along the way. West Beach, Clymping and East Beach are dog-friendly but it is important to be aware of the strong tidal river that separates the West Beach Nature Reserve (please watch out for local wildlife and nesting birds) from the busier East Beach. Its best to avoid the river banks as the River Arun is one of the fastest rivers in the country, and the strong current is dangerous for both humans and dogs! There’s some great advice and information at the Littlehampton Harbour website where you can check out the tide times. We suggest that you Read the FAQs too. You could add even more interest on your walks by looking out for the information signs that can help you Explore the history of Littlehampton and check the Visit Littlehampton website for Things To Do and Events to enjoy.
Visiting the countryside?
With miles and miles of wonderful countryside right on our doorstep, the South Downs National Park HAS to be worth exploring together with your best canine friends.
As you’d expect, the Park Authority have some great guidance for responsible dog walkers in the Dog Friendly South Downs. Take a look at their Take the Lead campaign for more information and guidance.
If you’re venturing further afield, our near neighbours throughout the county of West Sussex have even more choices to offer. Just enter the words ‘dog friendly’ into the Experience West Sussex website and you’ll find a whole range of ideas to discover together with your canine pal.
