Porthcurno Beach Guide | Cornish Cottage Holidays
Located on the south west coast of Cornwall, Porthcurno Beach is considered to be one of the UK’s finest....
by Justine King / Dog Friendly
With its jaw-dropping coastline and stunning countryside, Cornwall is famed for being a popular destination for both humans and their four-legged friends. There are over 250 miles of coastline to explore, and well over 150 beaches lying in wait.
All these choices can make it hard to know where’s best to go, especially when you’ve got a pup in tow. So to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 top dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall.
Looking for something specific? Use our quick links below or read on for our comprehensive guide to dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall:
Cornwall is bursting with dog-friendly beaches. While some are seasonal, many others welcome dogs all year round. From tourist hotspots and famous bays to secluded coves with waterfalls and crystal-clear waters, you and your pooch will be bounding through the waves in no time.
Here are our top picks of the best dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall:
Also known as Perran Sands, Perranporth Beach is a great place for surfing, snorkelling and swimming. It welcomes dogs all year round, though in July and August, dogs must be kept on short leads between the promenade and the Flat Rocks steps.
With a river running through the beach into the sea, your pooch will love to splash around before running across the golden sands. The beach backs onto the village which offers an array of shops and cafés for a bite to eat.
Alternatively, The Watering Hole is the perfect place for a pint on the beach. If scallops are on the menu, we highly recommend trying them.
Gorran Haven Beach is a small sheltered beach in St Austell. The quaint seaside village of Gorran Haven is close at hand for all your needs, offering cafes, restaurants, toilets, and shops. It’s the perfect family-friendly beach and welcomes dogs year-round too!
The stone pier forms a small harbour which adds to the sheltered nature of the beach, making the waters calm and safe for a swim. Here, you’ll be able to let your pooch off their lead and watch them happily splash about in the sea.
Considered one of the best family-friendly beaches in Cornwall, and dog-friendly year-round, Harlyn Bay Beach offers perfect waves for a good day’s surfing or bodyboarding. It’s a wide expanse of yellow sands and pebbles with plenty of rock pools for your kids and four-legged friends to explore.
The combination of rocky shoreline, sand dunes, and tidal pools, along with the beautiful bay, offer an unbeatable location to try your hand at sea kayaking. For walkers and dog lovers, you’ll find plenty of delightful walking routes from the beach to Mother Ivey’s Bay and Trevose Head.
Located in the far west of Cornwall, Porthcurno Beach has been described by some as paradise. With stunning white sand, turquoise waters and high cliffs on both sides, it’s a stunning natural oasis. While the beach is dog-friendly for most of the year, during the peak months of July and August, dogs are not permitted between 10 am and 6 pm.
This large dog-friendly beach in Cornwall has won many awards and is very popular with families. There’s a stream that flows down one side which is great for kids and pooches to paddle in. The cliffs are also home to one of Cornwall’s famous landmarks, the Minack Theatre, making Porthcurno Beach the perfect place for a varied family day out.
Looking for some additional inspiration on things to do in Cornwall? Check out our blogs on unusual things to do in Cornwall and the top 10 things to do in Cornwall. For any climbing enthusiasts, why not check out our blog on climbing spots in Cornwall?
There are plenty of things to do in Newquay, from taking an exhilarating steam train ride, to countryside and woodland adventures. But that’s not all – Newquay is also home to some of the best beaches in Cornwall.
Check out these dog-friendly bays where you and your waggy-tailed friend can have lots of fun:
World famous as one of the best surfing spots on earth, Fistral Beach is a must for any outdoor and water sports enthusiasts. Backed by cliffs and sand dunes, there’s a wealth of places for you and your pooch to explore before taking a refreshing dip in the sea.
Be sure to check out the annual surfing events, where you can watch both pros and beginners showing off their skills on the epic swirls. Dogs are welcomed all year round.
Towan Beach sits in the heart of Newquay, nestled at the bottom of a steep hill. There are several car parks nearby, making it easy for a full day out. If you arrive early, you might even snag some on-street parking.
This dog-friendly beach in Newquay welcomes pups of all sizes year-round. Take a wander over to Great Western and Tolcarne beaches at low tide for an extended sandy stroll—just be sure to check the tide times so you don’t get cut off!
Another dog-friendly beach in Newquay is Porth Beach. A large, flat area of golden sands that offers the perfect combination of water to swim in and sand to roll in. There is a seasonal ban in place, where dogs are not permitted between 10 am and 6 pm, from May 15th to September 30th, but you’re welcome to explore outside these periods.
Porth Beach provides a perfect starting point for a walk to Trevelgue Head on Porth Island. Or head into the nearby village, where you’ll find several cafés and a pub for a well-deserved drink and bite to eat.
The fine golden sands and turquoise waters of St Ives Bay are some of the cleanest in Europe. So, it comes as no surprise that there are some truly lovely dog-friendly beaches.
Here are two of our favourite St Ives dog-friendly beaches:
Accessible when the tide is out, Harbour Beach is an ideal swimming and sandcastle-building spot. This sheltered beach has easy access to the hustle and bustle of St Ives. With shops, restaurants, and cafes close by, you’ll be able to make a day of it.
Harbour Beach welcomes dogs year-round, other than a seasonal ban between 1st July and 31st August, between 10 am and 6 pm. St Ives is very much a working port, so why not spend some of your day watching local fishermen land their catch while your pooch paddles in the water?
Lying between the harbour and Porthgwidden beach, Bamaluz Beach often goes unnoticed, making it the perfect quiet spot for a bit of relaxation and fun with your dog. The beach itself is fairly sheltered, though the high walls around it often block out some of the sun.
It also sits below St Ives Museum, so why not add this into your day and make the most of your time in St Ives? Bamaluz Beach is one of the only beaches nearby that welcomes dogs year-round with no restrictions.
There are plenty of fantastic places to visit in Looe that your dog will love just as much as you. We know that it can often be tricky to find beaches that are dog-friendly year-round, so we’ve done some of the hard work for you.
Here are four dog-friendly beaches near Looe that have no restrictions, so you and your pooch are free to have some fun:
Hannafore Beach offers spectacular views of Looe Island and is easily accessible by car. This shingle beach is dog-friendly year-round and at low tide offers some stretches of sand. It’s perfect for rock pooling with the kids, and dogs will love splashing in the shallow pools too.
We’d recommend completing your day with a bite to eat in one of the two seasonal cafés! This dog-walking beach makes a wonderful starting point for a stroll along the South West Coast Path to Polperro, where you’ll see stunning views out to sea all the way along.
Downderry Beach is a mix of grey sand and shingle, so cleaning your dogs after a day at the beach will be a little bit easier.
At low tide, the beach reveals several rock pools filled with small marine life. You and your four-legged companions will love the walk to Seaton at low tide but be sure to check the tide times so you don’t get cut off on the way back.
While the main Downderry Beach is easy to get to, the eastern end is a little more challenging and involves climbing a steep cliff path. As it’s naturally secluded, it makes the perfect place for a peaceful swim with your furry friend.
Plaidy offers the perfect summer getaway spot, a short distance from Looe. Dog-friendly year-round, the mix of sand and shingle makes it great for our four-legged friends. At low tide, the sand gives way to flat rocks which provide a variety of rock pools to explore and splash around in.
While there is no designated parking for the beach, you may find some on-street parking in the nearby residential area. Alternatively, you can find parking in Millendreath. The sheltered nature of the beach provides the perfect conditions for a relatively safe swim.
Located in East Cornwall at the foot of the wooded Hessenford Valley, is the grey pebbled beach of Seaton. The River Seaton meanders across the beach and acts as a focal point for adults, children, and dogs to play safely in the water.
The seawater surrounding the beach is fairly safe for swimming due to the shelter of the high cliffs to the west. Dog-friendly year-round, you and your pooch can run across its vast expanse and take a dip in its cool waters.
There are plenty of stunning beaches across Cornwall, and Bude is no different. Whether you’re looking for golden sands or pebbled coves, there are plenty of dog-friendly beaches in North Cornwall, so you and your pooch can enjoy a fun-filled day.
Sandymouth Bay, located near Bude in North Cornwall, is a dog-friendly destination open to canine companions year-round. Managed by the National Trust, the beach offers a vast expanse of sand at low tide, ideal for long walks and exploration.
Visitors should be aware of the steep path leading from the car park to the beach, which may be challenging for those with limited mobility. Facilities include a seasonal café and toilets, with lifeguards on duty during peak seasons. As always, it’s important to keep dogs under control, especially near cliffs and grazing livestock.
Northcott Mouth Beach is a secluded cove close to Bude that’s dog-friendly year-round. This beach features a rocky shoreline that gives way to expansive sands and numerous rock pools at low tide, providing ample space for dogs to explore and play.
The beach is managed by the National Trust, offering a small car park adjacent to the bay. During the summer months, a seasonal tea caravan operates near the beach, and lifeguards are on duty to ensure visitor safety. However, visitors should note that there are no toilet facilities on-site.
Here at Cornish Cottage Holidays, we have a great range of holiday cottages in our portfolio, many of them pet-friendly.
From coastal cottages to romantic boltholes, choose your ideal break today and explore the many delights Cornwall has to offer.
No matter where you are staying in Cornwall, there are plenty of dog-friendly beaches. Many allow dogs year-round, so you don’t have to worry about any restrictions. Some of the top choices include Perranporth Beach, Gwithian Towans, Bamaluz, Holywell Bay, and Long Rock Beach. Just be sure to check local signage for any seasonal restrictions between May and September.
According to reviews, Cornwall’s most consistently dog‑friendly town is St Ives. It has several beaches where dogs are welcomed year‑round, plus a number of dog‑friendly cafes, pubs and walks nearby. Alternative contenders include Perranporth, with miles of leash‑free stretches outside peak hours, and quieter gems like Kingsand and Cawsand, where dogs are welcome on sheltered beaches all year in a tranquil setting.
All beaches in St Ives are dog friendly from 1st October to 14th May. Outside these dates, there are seasonal restrictions. From 15th May to 30 September dogs are not allowed on Porthmeor Beach and Porthminster Beach between the hours of 10am and 6pm. From 1st July to 31st August, dogs are not allowed on Porthgwidden Beach and St Ives Harbour Beach between the hours of 10am and 6pm. Outside these times dogs are fine.
Yes — Perranporth Beach is dog-friendly, however, during peak season (1st July to 31st August) there is a seasonal ban on dogs between the hours of 10am and 6pm and dogs must be on leads on the main town-side section. Outside these times and during the off-season, dogs are free to enjoy the sand between their paws without restrictions.
by Justine King / Dog Friendly
I’m Justine, a Freelance Travel Writer with over 4 years’ experience writing about UK travel. I’ve lived in the South West f...
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