Beaches For Your Best Friends

One of the most popular regions of the UK among dog-lovers, whether for short breaks or longer holidays, Cornwall has countless gorgeous beaches, some of them canine-friendly all through the year and others with restrictions in place in summer.

As well as being just a five-minute walk from glorious Mawgan Porth Beach, where our furry friends are free to roam all year round, we have more than 15 dog-friendly holiday properties with enclosed gardens, a dog-friendly restaurant and even dog showers.

We’ve shared some of our other favourite beaches around Cornwall, whether you come in spring, summer, autumn or winter.

Watergate Bay, just north of Newquay - about 5 minutes from The Park Cornwall

With a mighty three kilometres of golden sand at low tide and lots of rockpools, this famous beach hugely popular amongst surfers has lots of space for dogs to run around and have fun against the spectacular backdrop of the Atlantic breakers. Pooches are welcome here all year round, with no seasonal restrictions.

Fistral Beach, Newquay - 20 minutes from The Park

Another surfers’ hotspot, this long, sandy, west-facing beach is popular with families for its facilities including surf-equipment hire and lessons, shops, restaurants and cafés. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year, as well as in the shops and restaurants (Newquay is a very dog-friendly town!).

Harlyn Bay, just west of Padstow – 20 minutes from The Park

One of the best-loved and liveliest family beaches in Cornwall is also a favourite with dog-lovers. Blending golden sand and dunes with pebbles, rock-pools and a small stream, it’s fun for humans and pooches alike.

Boobys Bay, just west of Padstow - 25 minutes from The Park

This large, sandy beach, completely covered at high water, is not easy to reach (access is along a coastal path, followed by a short climb over rocks), but it will reward your efforts with a real feeling of peace, and it’s dog-friendly year-round. At low tide it links with beautiful Constantine Bay Beach with its golden sand and rockpools, which is also free of any seasonal dog restrictions.

Gorran Haven, just south of Mevagissey - 45 minutes from The Park

Dogs are welcome all year on this sandy, sheltered east-facing family beach next to a charming village but have to be kept on a lead in the summer months. In an off-the-beaten track location in a valley and with a cluster of pretty fishermen’s cottages at its core, this is also one of the safest places to swim in Cornwall.

Mexico Towans, just north of Hayle – 50 minutes from The Park

Part of The Towans – a six-kilometre stretch of soft, pale sand facing north-west towards St Ives, taking its name from the Cornish word for sand dunes – Mexico Towans is the most dog-friendly section (look out for restrictions on the others). When you’re done exploring, there are several dog-friendly restaurants and cafés at hand.

Trebarwith Strand, just south of Tintagel – 50 minutes from The Park

Within walking distance of Tintagel via the coastal path, this lovely spot has lots of interesting nooks and crannies that dogs (allowed all year) love to explore, as well as good swimming and surfing conditions for their human companions.

Kenneggy Sands, just east of Penzance - 1 hour from The Park

Another secluded sandy beach, this spot on the Lizard Peninsula can only be reached on foot but as a result has a wonderful away-from-it-all feel. With dogs, it’s only really accessible in winter, from neighbouring Praa Sands (where dogs are welcome from October to Easter).

Seaton Beach, just east of Looe - 1 hour from The Park

In a tranquil part of Cornwall overlooking Lyme Bay, this is a gorgeous south-facing pebbly family beach with good amenities including a spacious, dog-friendly café, along with kayak and SUP paddleboard hire.

Summerleaze Beach, Bude – 1 hour from The Park

Especially popular with families and surfers thanks to the breakwater that shelters it, this wide sandy beach sits aside a river dotted with fishing boats. There’s a saltwater rockpool, beach huts and a dog-friendly café with a large terrace. Dogs need to be kept on a lead in summer but are welcome year-round.

Find out more about our dog-friendly places to stay in Cornwall