It’s that time of the year again! Cornwall has more than 200 beaches along 400 miles of coastline, from sandy bays to shingle coves, but not all are dog friendly – so where to choose when you’re looking for a walk with the hound?

Some of the most popular Cornish beaches ban dogs from 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm, so no daytime walks here until the autumn.

DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES TO GO INSTEAD

BUDE – POLZEATH

Crooklets (Bude) (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

Summerleaze (Bude) (dogs must be on leads 21 May – 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

Widemouth (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: BLACK ROCK BEACH

Black Rock beach is just to the south of Widemouth, interconnected at low tide, separate at high, and marked by the distinctive rock that gives the beach it’s name, and has it’s own café, car park and lifeguarded section, and is dog-friendly all year round.

GO INSTEAD: WATER COVE BEACH, BUDE / NORTHCOTT MOUTH BEACH

Northcott is to the north of Bude and Water Cove just to the south – from where you can also enjoy a walk back across the fields to the all-day restaurant at Whalesborough Farm Resort.

Crackington Haven (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: MILLOOK HAVEN

Large pebbles and an impressive cliff shape make Millook an experienced surfers dream, so when the surfs right, the sea is full. Dog-friendly year round this is one for those who don’t like sand, as there’s practically none!

Polzeath (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: ROCK BEACH

The shallow water and long sandy stretch make Rock a favourite for dogs that like to paddle and swim. Start or finish your walk at The Mariners – dogs are allowed on the patio and inside on the ground floor, or Four Boys café where dogs are allowed in the front space.

GO INSTEAD: DAYMER BAY

Keep walking from Rock and you’ll reach Daymer (or drive and park in the carpark overlooking the beach – just don’t get caught by the cameras). At the back of the beach are beautiful rolling dunes to explore, perfect for when the tide is in. Make it a longer walk by following one of our favourite walks here – head up over the golf course to look at St Enodoc’s church where previous poet laureate John Betjeman is buried.

PADSTOW – PORTHTOWAN

Trevone (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: HAWKER’S COVE, NR PADSTOW

Follow the road out of Padstow and keep going for Hawker’s Cove. A wide sandy beach at low tide, this is a little secret for kite surfers in the right conditions, and there’s also a farmer’s field in summer where you can run dogs off lead. Enjoy the Rest a While tea garden where you can order cakes and cream teas through a charmingly converted kitchen window and walk the coastpath if your dog is good on a lead.

Porth (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: WATERGATE BAY

watergate bay beach in summer, cornwall uk

Two huge miles of open sand make Watergate Bay a dog-walking (running?) favourite. One of the best places to walk then catch the sunset and the surfers as the light fades. Grab a takeaway coffee from No1Cubs on your way down to the beach, or head into the hotel for a cold drink.

GO INSTEAD: HOLYWELL BAY BEACH, NEAR NEWQUAY

Another long stretch of sand, Holywell is six miles west of Newquay. Great fun for the whole family, with high dunes and waters that are popular with surfers and swimmers – pack food and water for all of you though, no café at this beach.

Porthtowan (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: PERRANPORTH

During the summer months, dogs have to be kept on a lead for the first section of the beach. After Flat Rocks, which is about 1/2 a mile along the beach, you are able to let your dogs go free. In the winter, there are no restrictions. The Watering Hole makes a nice place to get a drink and watch the sunset.

HAYLE – SENNEN

Carbis Bay (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

Porthmeor and Porthminster (St Ives) (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: PORTHKIDNEY and BAMALUZ, ST IVES

West of St Ives is another stretch of expansive sand at Porthkidney. Dogs are free to run on the beach off-lead but must be kept on the lead on the footpath down.

Want to stay more central to the town? You’ll find the local’s secret dog walking paradise Bamaluz (above) at low tide between Porthgwidden beach and the harbour – while there are no lifeguards there are plenty of rockpools to keep the kids entertained, and you can pick up lunch or coffee easily at the harbour to keep you sustained all afternoon.

Sennen (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

GO INSTEAD: GWYNVER BEACH

There’s a bit of steep path down, and no café but if you’re looking for a sandy dog-friendly beach near Sennen, Gwynver is perfect. Find the carpark by heading towards Sennen Cove but around a mile before you get down to Sennen Cove itself, take a right towards Tregiffian Farm – this will lead to Gwynver Beach car park (TR19 7BB).

FALMOUTH

Gyllyngvase Beach (Falmouth) (dogs banned 15 May until 30 September from 10am – 6pm)

Almost all the beaches in Falmouth have dog bans, with Maenporth, Castle Beach and Swanpool joining the ban from 1 July – 31 August.

GO INSTEAD: SUNNY COVE BEACH / BREAM COVE

You’ll find Sunny Cove between Maenporth and Swanpool (TR11 5BG) although you’ll need to park at either of the main beaches and walk. It is an unofficial nudist beach though, so you could always park at Maenporth and then walk further south to Bream Cove (above), where you’ll also find Hotel Meudon and their beachside horsebox for a takeaway.

For the full list see Cornwall Council’s site, including details of all bans from 1 July – 31 August)

Beat the ban! Cornwall’s dog-friendly beaches for daytime walks

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