Dunbar (Belhaven)

BeachEast Lothian Council🐾 Dog-friendly all year

A 1.3km stretch of Belhaven Bay just west of Dunbar, part of the John Muir Country Park, recently improved from Sufficient to Good.

📍 View on the map

Beach & safety

Water quality: Good

Hazards: Rainfall-driven sewer overflow pollution risk.

Dogs

East Lothian Council publicly confirmed (in response to a beach-guide website wrongly listing a restriction) that dogs are welcome at Belhaven and are not banned; only temporary restrictions apply in specific wildlife conservation areas during bird breeding season, and dogs aren't allowed in designated children's play areas.

Unofficial source: View the supporting source →Not an authority; check current signage.

Family

Part of John Muir Country Park with the famous Bridge to Nowhere and extensive dunes/estuary.

Fishing

Estuary channels and mud or sand margins can support flounder, bass and mullet, with codling and whiting in colder periods.

Species reported: Flounder, Bass, Grey mullet, Codling, Whiting

Crabbing

not recommended — No safe family crabbing edge was verified; current, mud, swell or boat traffic makes generic promotion inappropriate.

Access & parking

unknown

Researched 2026-07-24 — sources & disclaimer

https://bathingwaters.sepa.org.uk/profiles/profile?location=4579

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/16221977.beach-guide-doghouse-pet-access-claims/

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.