Manchester might have everything but a beach, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a number of gorgeous ones just a short drive away. In fact, this peaceful Lancashire beach just an hour away from our city comes highly commended – with animal experts Vets Now, in particular, applauding it for being one of the most dog-friendly beaches in the country. What an honour.
Coming in highly rated for the North West, Bispham Beach topped the chart in the guide for allowing dogs on the beach all year round – something that many beaches don’t allow during the summer months.
Located just down the road from Blackpool, the beach offers high-quality water which is safer for pooches to swim in, as well as fantastic facilities, excellent parking and even a quieter place to relax in comparison to some of the UK’s more popular resorts.
Laura Playforth, one of the authors of the Vets Now Best Beach Guide said: “The team were really impressed with Bispham Beach, especially its pet-friendliness and facilities on offer, and believe it to be an ideal destination for the UK’s dog lovers.”
Adding: “Unfortunately, pet emergencies don’t take summer holidays and each summer we witness a significant rise in emergency cases that are related to beaches and the sea [so] we’ve only chosen beaches where water quality is deemed high, dogs are welcome all year round, parking and access is good, and a daytime vet is based nearby.
“All the beaches featured are within an hour’s drive of a Vets Now pet emergency clinic or hospital, so if you’re at the beach in the evening or weekend and suffer a pet emergency, you know you’re never far from expert help.”
Another North West beach lucky enough to receive a mention was Ainsdale Beach, Merseyside, which was also rated highly for its water quality and quiet stretch of beach where dogs can freely explore.