Brighton, for many people, is the shining jewel in the crown of Sussex. This fantastic seaside city is well-known for its family fun and its amazing nightlife. But what about dog-friendly walks in Brighton? Great news – the Brighton area, and wider Sussex, are becoming more and more welcoming to dog lovers and walkers.
Find Good Places to Walk Dogs in Brilliant Brighton
Take a look through our list of the very best spots and trails for dog walking in Brighton and the local area. These are hugely popular strolling scenes where you and your pup will be able to take your time. Do also check out the top dog friendly days out in Brighton, too.
The Top Five Dog Walks In and Around Brighton
1. The Devil’s Dyke
The Devil’s Dyke is widely renowned for offering perhaps one of the most memorable and beautiful walks in the whole county area. This is a great one to two-hour walk through the Dyke Valley, offering you and your pets the chance to explore fields, woods and plenty more besides.
2. Sheepcote Valley
Sheepcote Valley is really close to the famous Brighton Racecourse and proves to be a flat, gentle stroll that’s likely to appeal to most dog lovers and pets of all energy levels. This walk gives you plenty of pathways where you can travel along and see the seafront, too.
3. Preston Park
Preston Park is an immensely dog friendly attraction as an urban plot of green land that’s amazingly well kept. In the heart of Brighton city itself, you and your dog will find a simple one and a half-mile trail around the greenery here. It’s great for summer strolling, too.
4. Ditchling Beacon
The imposing Ditchling Beacon makes up a small part of the wider and wonderful South Downs National Park, and it connects nicely and easily to the aforementioned Devil’s Dyke. The whole of the South Downs Way here actually extends to 100 miles – making it one of the longest trails countywide.
5. The Steyning Bowl
The Steyning Bowl is a little more adventurous, on the whole, though it occupies the same reaches, largely, as the Ditchling Beacon, you’ll find it offers amazing views over the South Downs, and is close enough to lovely villages such as Steyning itself – there are heritage and country views galore.
Wonderful Woodland Walks in Brighton with Dogs
1. Hollingbury Woods
Going really rural down in Fiveways, this Brighton walk is likely to appeal to any dog lovers who want to experience green open fields as well as heritage walks. This peaceful stroll will take you all the way up to the ancient Hollingbury Fort. There’s a golf club nearby, too!
2. Friston Forest
Friston Forest takes you closer towards the popular seaside resort of Eastbourne and is one of the biggest woodland patches you and your pets can enjoy in the southern reaches of England. It’s a great family day out with a variety of wooded trails, perfect for pups keen to explore, too!
3. Alexandra Park, Hastings
Over in neighbouring Hastings, Alexandra Park offers a Grade II park experience where you can take well-behaved pets for a nice stroll around in the sunshine. There are plenty of open spaces to enjoy across all 109 acres. It’s one of the oldest established parks in the region, too.
Cracking Dog-Friendly Coastal Walks in Brighton
1. The Hove Lawns
The Hove Lawns offer a beautiful and brisk coastal walk that gives you and your pup the chance to explore the wider seaside of Brighton from afar. This is a very popular trail with fitness fanatics, too, meaning if you fancy taking your pooch for a run, you absolutely can. Be sure to check out our guide to other dog friendly beaches in Brighton.
2. Brighton Seafront
Brighton seafront is, of course, the place to be when it comes to coastal reaches that you and your pup are going to want to explore in the area. As you can imagine, Brighton is pretty protective of its beaches, so make sure you take your dogs during designated seasons.
3. Hastings Harbour Arm
Hastings, too, can be fairly protective of its beaches for various reasons. That’s why it’s a good idea to research which sandy beaches are welcoming dogs from season to season. If you walk down from the Harbour Arm at certain times of the year, you’ll have a lovely coastal stroll.
Country Park Walks Brighton Dog Walkers Love
1. Stanmer Park
Stanmer Park is another lovely walking spot with links to the South Downs, offering open fields and wooded thickets for you to stroll along at your own pace. This countryside spot is truly enormous, stretching across more than 485 breath-taking hectares. Great for families, dogs, walkers and nature lovers alike.
2. Haysden Park, Tonbridge
You’ll need to travel about an hour out of Brighton to explore Haysden Country Park as it’s in Royal Tunbridge Wells. However, it is absolutely worth the journey. This lovely nature reserve is ideal for wildlife spotters, with more than 64 hectares of land for you to discover and explore.
3. Barley Lane
The country park walks down near Barley Lane take us back to East Sussex, specifically Hastings, where you will find a selection of three pathways and trails where you can take your dog to explore woods, hills and flats. There are even coastal views here. Essentially, there’s a little bit of everything!
Last Word
Many people will know Brighton as the seaside capital of East Sussex, offering a bright and vibrant tourist scene, while actually offering plenty of great pet friendly strolls and attractions in the local area. Dog walking in Brighton is very easy to come by, but you will always need to make sure you are permitted to walk your pets on protected beach areas during specific seasons.
What’s also really worth doing is checking out the local drinking spots. There are lots of dog friendly pubs in Brighton, Hove and elsewhere. Make a point to take a look through our list of the best dog pubs in the area and plan routes around them. The pubs, restaurants and bars down in Brighton and East Sussex really do have their own flavour and flair.
The best dog walks Brighton has to offer are really spectacular – but as you can see from our list, some of the real winning walks are available in the wider reaches, heading across to Eastbourne and Hastings. In some cases, you may need to travel into the Kent border to access some of the best dog walk routes in the south-east.
In any case – start your dog holiday or walking days out now with our help – work your way down this list and then view excellent Brighton dog friendly cottages.