Paw-some Beach Holidays
With beaches for bounding along, some 500 miles of coast path for waggy-tailed walks and plenty of paw-friendly pubs and attractions, why leave your four-legged friends at home when you visit Cornwall?
Hayley Spurway and Ziggy the dog reveal some of their favourite destinations on the doorstep of our dog-friendly holiday lets. View all of our dog-friendly properties.
TREBARWITH STRAND, nr Tintagel Caves
When the tide ebbs Trebarwith Strand beach is a gem for families and dogs alike. As the tide floods in to reach the foot of the rugged cliffs, you can either retire to the dog-friendly Port William Inn, or take a walk over the cliff-tops towards Tintagel and clap your eyes on eye-popping scenery, historic quarries and the sea-lashed ruins of Tintagel Castle.
MAWGAN PORTH, North Cornwall
A sandy runway flanked by dramatic cliffs and exposed to the full force of the Atlantic swells, Mawgan Porth beach is a year-round beauty for windswept beach walks, rock-pooling and dipping paws in the surf. When they’ve had enough of chasing balls and sea gulls, follow the wooded valley inland to Retorrick Mill, for a wood-fired feast in a dog-friendly, bohemian setting.
HOLYWELL BAY, nr Newquay
With giant sand dunes for tumbling down, a stream to paddle in and frothy Atlantic waves pounding the shore, Holywell Bay is an idyllic playground in every season. Backed by wildflower meadows, miles of heathland, and offering stunning coast path walks to hound-friendly coves in both directions, this is dog-walking territory at its best.
PORTHKIDNEY SANDS, nr St Ives
While bucket and spade brigades descend upon neighbouring Carbis Bay and Hayle Towans, Porthkidney Sands remains untouched by the masses, reserving its dune-backed beauty for a handful of dog walkers and their energetic companions. No wonder the locals have dubbed it ‘Happy Dog Beach’.
TRELISSICK, nr Falmouth
The National Trust’s Trelissick Gardens are home to miles of footpaths zigzagging through 300 acres of parkland and woodland nudging the River Fal. Opt for a half-hour stroll or four-mile walking route, pausing to play fetch on a sheltered beach and finishing up at the Crofters Café, where dog biscuits and water bowls will be waiting.
COAST PATH WALK: ZENNOR TO GURNARD’S HEAD
Nothing beats an invigorating stomp along the South West Coast Path with pit stops at dog-friendly pubs. Set out from the 13th-century Tinner’s Arms in Zennor and discover mermaids’ coves and the remains of an Iron Age castle on route to The Gurnard’s Head, an ends-of-the-earth type of place where you can kick off your walking boots and chill out with the dog at your feet.
TREMENHEERE SCULPTURE GARDENS, nr Penzance
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly day out with a dash of art and culture, hounds on leads are welcome to explore Tremenheere’s sub-tropical landscapes peppered with art installations inspired by nature. Bound beneath towering canopies, climb grassy knolls and gaze out over Mounts Bay, before tucking into homemade cake and Cornish produce at the Lime Tree Café.
GWYNVER, Sennen
Wild, remote and gob-smackingly beautiful, Gwynver is paradise for bona fide beach lovers and their four-legged pals. Fortunately, a thigh-burning flight of steps between the car park and beach deters anyone who isn’t serious about setting foot on the coarse white sands and scrambling over wave-hewn granite boulders to dip their toes and paws into the Caribbean-blue sea.
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