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.
With all these choices it’s often 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 best 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 are welcoming all year round. From tourist hotspots and hidden gems to secluded coves, waterfalls and crystal clear waters, you and your pooch will be bounding through the waves in no time.
Also known as Perran Sands, Perranporth Beach is a great beach for surfing, snorkelling, sailing, and swimming. It welcomes dogs all year round, however, during the months of July and August, you will need to keep your pooches on a lead.
With a river running through the beach into the sea, your pooch will love a 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. We highly recommend trying the scallops if you want a bite to eat.
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 it 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. You’ll be able to let your pooch off their lead and watch them happily splash about in the sea.
Harlyn Bay Beach is considered one of the best family-friendly beaches in Cornwall. It’s also dog-friendly year-round and offers the perfect swells for a good day’s surfing. 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 fascinating combination of rocky shoreline, sand, dunes, and tide pools along with the beautiful bay offer an unbeatable location to try your hand at sea kayaking. For walkers and dog-lovers alike, 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 soft white sand washed by a turquoise sea and high cliffs on both sides, it’s a stunning natural oasis. While the beach is dog-friendly there is a ban on dogs between 1st July and 31st August between 10am and 6pm.
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. It really is the perfect place for a family day out.
Looking for some additional inspiration on things to do in Cornwall? Check out our blog on unusual 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 ones where you and your pooch can have lots of fun:
Towan Beach is located right in the heart of Newquay at the bottom of a steeply sloping hill. There are several car parks within close distance to the beach, so you’ll always find somewhere to park for the day. If you arrive early enough you may even find a bit of on-street parking.
This dog-friendly beach in Newquay welcomes pooches of all sizes all year-round. At low tide, you and your four-legged friends will be able to reach both Great Western and Tolcarne for an epic sandy walk, but be sure to check the tide times as you don’t want to get stuck!
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 10am and 6pm from May 15th to September 30th.
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.
World famous as the best surfing hotspot in the world, 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 festivals, where you can watch both pros and beginners showing off their skills on the epic swirls. Plus dogs are welcomed year-round.
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 they also have 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, however, there is a seasonal ban between 1st July and 31st August between 10am and 6pm.
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, however, 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 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.
Complete your day with a bite to eat in one of the two seasonal cafés. Hannafore beach makes a wonderful starting point for a walk 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 and if you’re up for a small challenge it will be the perfect place for a peaceful swim with your furry friend.
Plaidy Beach offers the perfect summer getaway spot a short distance from Looe.
Dog-friendly year-round, the mix of sand and shingles make 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 or 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 North Cornwall is no different.
Whether you’re looking for golden sands or pebbled coves, there are plenty of dog-friendly beach in North Cornwall. So you and your pooch can enjoy a fun filled day.
Hidden away from the beaten track, Porthilly Cove is a tranquil haven for dog walks, watersports lovers, and evening strolls. Just around the corner from Rock Beach, this dog-friendly beach is welcoming year-round.
The shallow waters mean the water is perfect for your pooch to have a cool off on a warm summer‘s day. At low tide you can take a leisurely stroll to Rock Beach which is also dog-friendly. We highly recommend Porthilly Cove as a great place to escape the crowds.
Bordered by sand dunes and hills, Daymer Beach is a wonderful dog-friendly beach in North Cornwall. It’s off the beaten track so has a much more secluded feel compared to its neighbours Rock and Polzeath.
The beach is located within the mouth of the Camel Estuary and has a gently sloping beach making it perfect for swimming and paddling. Be sure to climb the grassy mound of Braey Hill for stunning views of the area.
Here at Cornish Cottage Holidays, we have a great range of holiday cottages in our portfolio.
From dog-friendly cottages to romantic cottages, choose your ideal break today and explore the many delights Cornwall has to offer.
by Justine King / Dog Friendly
Hi, I'm Justine. Holidays and travelling have always been a favourite of mine from a young age. Having recently decided to travel...
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