We're currently in the village for 2 weeks with our 2 young daughters. Our eldest is absolutely terrified of dogs which is causing a few problems.

We want to spend some of our holiday at the beach - yesterday and today we visited Benagil - there's a sign clearly stating NO DOGS yet on both days there have been families on the beach with dogs! Our daughter cannot relax and we end up with hysterics and have to return to the villa - we don't want to spend the next 10 days holed -up there!!

Are there any beaches where dogs aren't allowed and where people actually stick to the rules?

We realise there are alot of strays about and avoid the village beach because of them - but we're happy to travel further afield if anyone can recommend a "dog free" beach?

Hope some-one can help - Angela

mansie wrote:We're currently in the village for 2 weeks with our 2 young daughters. Our eldest is absolutely terrified of dogs which is causing a few problems.

We want to spend some of our holiday at the beach - yesterday and today we visited Benagil - there's a sign clearly stating NO DOGS yet on both days there have been families on the beach with dogs! Our daughter cannot relax and we end up with hysterics and have to return to the villa - we don't want to spend the next 10 days holed -up there!!

Are there any beaches where dogs aren't allowed and where people actually stick to the rules?

We realise there are alot of strays about and avoid the village beach because of them - but we're happy to travel further afield if anyone can recommend a "dog free" beach?

Hope some-one can help - Angela

Hello Angela,

TRy the Caneiro's beach, that's where we have been going and I did not see any dogs there!

Unfortunatly there will be no guarantee for a dog-free beach, but Praia do Carvalho has a difficult access and it will be less likely that dogs find their way down there.

Would armacao be too far? even if its not dog free its huge so you could avoid the hures handy enough.

Thanks for the replies - we're heading for Caneiro's tomorrow (fingers crossed - no dogs)
Gerry - where/how far is the beach you suggested (we're at Vale do Milho)
but don't mind a drive - although even on a big beach she could spot a dog a mile away! but we'll give it a try.
We might try Praia do Carvalho also - how difficult is the access??

Thanks again - any more suggestions would be appreciated - Angela[/quote]

Carvalho has a narrow, dark flight of stairs leading through the rocks to the beach - the steps are a bit high and slippery but I have been up and down those stairs about a million times in the last 20 years, in flip-flops, barefoot - havent fallen down once (knock on wood) - they do seem to keep the stray dogs at bay though.

http://www.carvoeiro.com/Beaches/carvalho.htm

And this beach is only 5 mins from Val de Milho

Thanks to the guest who suggested Caneiros beach - we have been twice and had 2 fantastic "dog free" visits. We did spot a couple of strays today as we walked down but they didn't come onto the beach.

Tomorrow is our last day here - the girls have decided they want to go to Caneiros again! We all swam in the sea there today - a first for our daughters - so thanks again!!

This is really a nice story...Im so happy for the kids....Good Luck
XXX

woof woof....................grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Olá!

Why don't you try to get your daughter used to dogs?
Holiday would be an ideal opportunity to try.