Taking your dog on holiday can be one of the greatest joys of pet ownership.

Cumbria is arguably the most ideal destination for dogs due to its majestic landscape and offer of adventure, if our four-legged friends could speak, we're sure they would confirm this.

But it’s not always as easy to plan a staycation with your pooch in tow, that’s why the pet experts at PDSA Pet Insurance have pulled together their favourite dog-friendly beaches so you don’t have to.

“In the UK, we’re lucky to be (literally) surrounded by amazing coastline and loads of beaches, which can be fun for us and our canine pals,” explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing.

“But not every beach is dog friendly, so before you go anywhere make sure you’ve researched the area first to make sure there are no restrictions in place. To make that a bit easier, we’ve listed our top seven from around the country.”

Top 7 dog-friendly beaches from PDSA Pet Insurance:

  • Par Sands

Where? St Austell, Cornwall

  • Woolacombe

Where? Devon

  • Durdle Door

Where? West Lulworth, Dorset

  • Weston-super-Mare

Where? North Somerset

  • Holkham

Where? Norfolk

  • Bamburgh Beach

Where? Near Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

  • St Bees

Where? Whitehaven, Cumbria

St Bees is a shingle and sand beach which is perfect at low tide for long walks.

At the north end of the beach is St Bees Head, an RSPB nature reserve, where you can find England’s only cliff-nesting seabird colony (so great if you want to do a spot of bird watching, but keep your pooch on their lead so as not to disturb them).

Any restrictions? No restrictions – dogs are welcome all year round!

Nina adds: “While we're lucky to have so many beautiful beaches in Britain, the beach can also come with hidden hazards, especially for our four-legged friends. Here is three ways to keep your pooch safe when planning a trip to the seaside!”