Bring Fido! Cornwall Now Even More Dog-Friendly

Cornwall is now an even more dog-friendly holiday destination, following a relaxation of dog bans on public beaches.

Dog owners can rejoice after Cornwall Cornwall overhauled its rules in an attempt to standardise regulations and allow greater access for dogs on Cornish beaches.

Previously, the dog restrictions varied considerably from beach to beach, making it very difficult to know what bans were in place and when, especially for visitors who are not familiar with the local area.

These recent changes have made the rules easier to understand for dog-loving residents and visitors to the county.

Now there are three simple classes of beach in Cornwall:

• Dog-friendly beaches where dogs are allowed at any time, all-year-round.
• Dog restricted beaches where dogs are banned between 10am and 6pm for two months from 1st July to 31st August.
• Blue Flag beaches where dogs are banned between 10am and 6pm from 15th May to 30th September.

Dog-Friendly Beaches Near Padstow

Luckily for visitors staying in our holiday homes, most of the beaches in the Padstow area remain dog-friendly and open to dogs at any time. There are only a few beaches with partial restrictions. Here’s a list of the top dog-friendly beaches near Padstow and why dog owners should visit them on their holidays.

Daymer Bay
This beautiful beach on the opposite side of the Camel Estuary is dog-friendly at all times. Daymer Bay can be reached via the Padstow to Rock ferry, followed by a short walk along the shore. This quiet, unspoiled beach, backed by sand dunes, is perfect for dog walks and exercise.

Hawkers Cove
On the Padstow side of the estuary, towards Stepper Point, is this sheltered beach where dogs can roam free all-year-round. It’s a sensational stretch of white sand which opens up into a wide expanse of beach as the tide goes out.

St George’s Cove
This small beach on the Camel Estuary is one of the beaches where seasonal restrictions are in place (dog ban 10am to 6pm from 1st July to 31st August). But outside these restricted times, dog owners and their pets can roam freely on the golden sand of this beautiful cove just outside Padstow.

Trevone Beach
Trevone Beach is one of the few in the area with Blue Flag status, which means the dog restrictions remain in place for a longer period (dog ban 10am to 6pm from 15th May to 30th September). This is a lovely family beach with many rock pools and a tidal swimming pool to explore. Dog owners can walk their pets on the cliff path overlooking the beach or visit early morning or evenings for access to the sandy beach. There is also a great dog-friendly café behind the beach.

Harlyn Bay
This is another dog-friendly beach just a short drive from Padstow. Although it’s on the north coast, it’s a relatively sheltered beach so it’s ideal for dog walking even on a windy day. This popular surfing beach can get crowded in the summer so it may be advisable to keep dogs on leads at busy times.

Constantine Bay
This north coast gem is also open to dogs at all times. It’s a beautiful crescent-shaped beach of golden sand that is great for canine exercise or for sitting down and admiring the view. There is a small café at the head of the beach which serves tasty treats for dog owners and their pets.

Treyarnon Bay
The next beach along also allows dogs without any restrictions. It’s another classic Cornish beach where waves crash onto rocks and swimmers revel in the surf. There are some deep rock pools here, which are ideal for cooling off on a hot summer’s day. The café at the youth hostel overlooking the beach serves great food and welcomes dogs.

Porthcothan Bay
This long cove also has enticing rock pools and interesting rock formations. It’s popular with dog owners at low tide, as they can walk dogs across the entire length of the cove. At high tide, the beach is very small but there are great scenic walks to be enjoyed along the cliff path in either direction. The beach shop sells pasties, sandwiches and delicious ice creams, and provides water bowls outside for thirsty canines.

Mawgan Porth Beach
This is a large, sandy beach where dogs can roam free at any time of the year. It’s a popular beach for dog walking where visitors are likely to meet many other dog owners at all times of the day. The village has a couple of pet-friendly restaurants and a pub with a beach-view beer garden where dogs are more than welcome.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation
To make the most of relaxed dog laws and the variety of dog-friendly beaches in our area, pet owners should check out our wide range of dog-friendly holiday homes and cottages in and around Padstow. Many of the properties welcome one dog or more, and most are located within walking or easy driving distance of these wonderful beaches.

Book online or call today to reserve your dog-friendly retreat on the north coast of Cornwall.