Which Padstow Beaches are Dog Friendly in the Summer Months?

Looking to go on a beach holiday with your canine companion? Padstow is one of the top dog-friendly destinations in Cornwall, boasting mile-upon-mile of sandy shoreline where you can frolic with Fido. But which beaches have restrictions and which beaches are the most dog-friendly in the summer months?

Hailed as one of the UK’s most popular places to holiday with your dog, Cornwall welcomes your furry friends with paw-friendly beaches, attractions and accommodation. While lots of Cornish beaches welcome dogs year-round, the peak holiday season also sees dog restrictions in place across the county – especially in the busier seaside resorts.

Dog bans vary and are clearly indicated on the information sign at each beach. Fortunately, even in the summer months, Padstow comes up trumps as a pooch-friendly destination, with plenty of beaches where dogs can bound along the shoreline and cool off in the sea.

What are the dog restrictions on beaches in the Padstow area?

If you want to enjoy your walkies on the beach closest to the harbour, St George’s Cove, you’ll need to get up early or wait for the heat of the day to subside, as there’s a dog ban in place from 1 July to 31 August, between 10am and 6pm. Polzeath and Trevone also operate dog restrictions between these hours, from 15 May to 30 September. Meanwhile, on the other side of the estuary, Rock Beach and the hidden gem of Greenaway Cove operate an all-hours dog ban from Easter Day until 1 October.

Apart from these beaches, however, you’re free to roam with your four-legged friends at all the other local bays and coves that the Padstow area is famous for.  If you’re bringing your hound on holiday to North Cornwall, check out these dog-friendly beaches in and around Padstow that allow canine visitors all year, including the high summer season.

Beaches Near Padstow Where Dogs Are Allowed in the Summer

Daymer Bay

Facing Padstow at the neck of the Camel Estuary, Daymer Bay is a dreamy destination for a dog-friendly outing on a summer’s day. Hop on the ferry from Padstow to Rock, keeping your dog on a lead as you follow the coast path to the sweeping, dune-backed sands of Daymer, where you can skip along the beach, play ball at the water’s edge, or wear the dog out on a climb to the top of Brea Hill. While the surrounding beaches of Rock, Greenaway and Polzeath operate seasonal dog bans, this sandy crescent is a sublime spot for dogs and their owners all year round. 

Harbour Cove

Also known as Tregirls Beach, Harbour Cove is the closest beach to Padstow without dog restrictions during the summer months. A little more than a mile from the harbour, just beyond St George’s Cove (where seasonal restrictions apply from 10am-6pm between 1 July to 31 August), here your hound can run free all day long, even in the height of summer. This means you don’t have to stray far from Padstow’s buzzing streets to find a stretch of pristine and relatively quiet golden sands that’s a true haven for your four-legged friend. Nestled in the lee of Stepper Point, it’s protected from the sea breeze, making it an idyllic spot to spend summery days splashing in the cerulean ocean and basking on the white sands. 

Hawkers Cove

Linking up with Harbour Cove at low tide, Hawkers Cove boasts gently shelving sands that stretch over 1.5 miles as the tide ebbs. With gob-smacking views to Stepper Point, the Doom Bar and The Rumps, it’s a favourite of dog walkers, picnickers, kite flyers and paddlers, and it’s a sublime spot for a dip with your dog if you’re walking along the South West Coast Path. Just two miles from Padstow, you can pause with your pooch in the Rest A While Tea Garden overlooking the bay. 

Porthilly Cove

Considered by many to be part of Rock Beach, this little low-tide cove doesn’t have dog restrictions in place like its neighbour. If you’re on the opposite side of the estuary to Padstow, and don’t want to walk out to Daymer Bay, it’s a picturesque cove that keeps the crowds at bay, with an endless plateau of sand and shingle, as well as a river for the dogs to splash in. Once you’ve enjoyed a peaceful walk with your pooch, why not head to The Mariners for dog-friendly dining beside the water?

Mother Ivey’s Bay

Cushioned from the wind by the Merope Rocks, Mother Ivey’s is an idyllic spot to shelter from the elements and the crowds. Free from any dog bans all through the summer months, here you can play fetch beside the Caribbean-blue sea, picnic on the white sands and – when the tide reclaims the shoreline – wander along the coastal path to soak up dreamy views of Trevose Head, keeping your eyes peeled for dolphins. 

Harlyn Bay

Follow your nose west from Padstow and you’ll find a necklace of sandy bays lacing the coastline all the way back towards Newquay. While nearby Trevone bans dogs from 15 May to 30 September, 10am-6pm, Harlyn Bay welcomes paws into the mix of surfers, swimmers and families that flock to its generous stretch of sand. Splash in the stream, frolic in the sea foam and bound along the shoreline, before refuelling at the beachfront café. It’s a popular spot and can get crowded in the summer, so it may be advisable to keep dogs on leads at busy times.

Booby’s Bay

If you’re looking for a rugged beach where you can discover a shipwreck, rock pools and miles of pillowy sands, head to Booby’s Bay at low tide. There are no dog restrictions at any time, and it’s a wild, wave-hewn spot for shoreline adventures. As the tide reclaims the beach, scramble back up the rocks and enjoy glorious dog walks around Trevose Head.

Constantine Bay

Connecting with Booby’s at low-tide, this dune-backed beauty is unsurprisingly popular with dogs and their owners. Allowing dogs year-round, it’s an idyllic spot for playing fetch and padding barefoot along the water’s edge while hunting for sea glass. There is a small kiosk at the head of the beach serving ice cream and tasty treats for dogs and their owners. It’s only a short walkfrom dog-friendly cottages in Constantine village.

Treyarnon Bay

The next beach along also allows dogs without any restrictions – even on the busiest summer days. Treyarnon is another classic Cornish beach where waves crash onto rocks and swimmers revel in the breakers. Dogs will love cooling off in the whitewater and tidal pool on a hot summer’s day, and the café at the youth hostel overlooking the beach serves great food and welcomes dogs.

Porthcothan Bay

This long, narrow cove is hemmed with rock pools and interesting rock formations. Opening out into a vast expanse of wave-lashed sand at low tide, it’s popular with dog owners, with no restrictions at any time of day or year. 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. Mawgan Porth has some great dog-friendly accommodation, a couple of pet-friendly restaurants and a pub with a beach-view beer garden where dogs are more than welcome.

Book Your 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.