14 Apr Dog friendly beaches in Cornwall
With its epic coastline and gorgeous countryside, Cornwall is famed for its outdoors lifestyle – and that’s why it’s the best possible destination for dog lovers of all kinds!
There are honestly so many beaches it’s been difficult to narrow it down, but we’ve put together some of our favourite coastal spots for you and your four-legged friend to explore together. On the doorstep we’ve got:
- Newquay beaches – Towan, Great Western, Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze, Fistral
- Crantock
- Polly Joke
- Watergate Bay
- Mawgan Porth
- Treyarnon Bay
- Holywell Bay
- Perranporth
And for adventures further away, here are our favourites:
- Trevaunance Cove
- Porthluney
- Porthcurno
Remember: If you’re walking in the country, always follow the countryside code – leave gates as you find them, take your litter and dog poo bags home etc. If you’re headed to a beach not listed here, you can check whether there are any restrictions on Cornwall Council’s official webpage.
On the doorstep:
Newquay beaches – Towan, Great Western, Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze, Fistral
Where else could you have your pick of so many beaches, each with their own character, plenty of options for eating and drinking close at hand, and all within walking distance of each other?!
- Dogs allowed all year round
- All are family friendly and easily accessible
- Fistral is Cornwall’s premier surfing beach
- Connected by the South West Coast Path
- Lots of car parks by different beaches
- 7 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR7 1HY)
Crantock
Nestled at the end of an utterly beautiful estuary and overlooking Goose Island, Crantock has a beautiful expanse of golden sand – and was voted best British beach by BBC Coast 2013!
- Dog friendly
- Public toilets
- National Trust parking
- 7.8 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR8 5RN)
Polly Joke
Situated in cove between Crantock beach and Hollywell Bay, this unspoilt sandy beach can be an oasis of calm throughout the year. Take care to keep your dog on a lead during seal pup season though, as there is a secluded nursery cove on the southern side.
- No lifeguard cover
- Dogs allowed all year round
- There is a small National Trust car park about 15 minutes’ walk away at West Pentire.
- 8.4 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR8 5SE)
Watergate Bay
Watergate Bay, about 3 miles from Newquay on the North Cornwall coast, is a huge beach. Two miles of golden sand at low tide stretches towards Newquay and out to sea – providing an excellent walk and wonderful views.
- Dogs allowed all year round
- Acres of space at low tide
- Plenty of facilities
- Lifeguard cover – there are RNLI lifeguards from mid-May to the end of September
- Parking – there are two beachside car parks
- 8.4 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR8 4AA)
Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth is a large, west-facing beach that is backed with headland cliffs. Wide and long at low tide, it offers a sheltered stretch of sand perfect for families – and plenty of shops and options for food and drink at the top of the beach.
- Dogs allowed all year round
- Good access and parking
- Handy for Newquay Airport
- 8.6 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR8 4DA)
Treyarnon Bay
An unsung gem, Treyarnon Bay is a small but beautifully formed little bay with craggy cliffs and a YHA if you need a pit-stop (and often an ice-cream van in the summer). It’s just a short walk away from Constantine to the north.
- Dogs allowed all year round
- Public toilets
- Lifeguarded in season
- Easy access and beachside parking
- 12.4 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav PL28 8JP)
Holywell Bay
Located between Newquay and Perranporth, with a spectacular sand dune system and dramatic rocky islands in the bay, the large beach at Holywell Bay is popular for swimmers, surfers and those that simply want to lay in the sun with a good book!
- Dogs allowed all year round
- Lifeguarded in season
- National Trust car park (a walk through the dunes to get to the beach)
- 9.9 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR8 5PF)
Perranporth
Opening up to an absolutely vast expanse at low tide, this huge vista of sand almost feels as if you have the place to yourself. Snorkelling, surfing, swimming and playing in the sand, with lots of beach cafés close by, this is definitely one to visit.
- Dogs allowed all year round but dogs must be kept on leads between July and August, 9am – 5pm
- Good access
- Facilities nearby
- 12.5 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR6 0JN)
For adventures further away:
Trevaunance Cove
Situated slightly further down the north Cornish coast, Trevaunance Cove is a quaint little beach just beyond gorgeous St Agnes. Head there at low tide for surfing, rockpools, swimming and sun bathing!
- Dogs allowed all year round, but must be kept on leads
- Parking nearby
- Beach café
- Beach pub
- Lifeguarded during peak times
- 15.6 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR5 0RU)
Porthluney
With spectacular views of Caerhays Castle and Gardens on one side and sea views of the south coast on the other, Porthluney is nestled at the bottom of a peaceful green valley – the classic beach of childhood dreams.
- Dogs allowed all year round (but must be kept on leads from June-September)
- Beach car park
- Beach café
- No lifeguard cover
- 17 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav PL26 6LX)
Porthcurno
The hugely dramatic granite coastline is the backdrop for this incredibly photogenic and popular family, sandy beach – the stream at the top of the beach is ideal for children paddling! Although there’s a seasonal dog ban, this iconic beach is most definitely worth a visit due to all the fantastic facilities available nearby, as well as its proximity to the iconic Minack Theatre and Telegraph Museum.
- Seasonal dog ban from Easter day to 1st October
- Lifeguard service in the summer (10am-6pm, 19th May to 30th September)
- Large car park above beach
- 46 miles from Atlantic Reach (Sat Nav TR19 6JX)