Cornwall is renowned for its incredible beaches with golden sand and azure waters. It’s one of the main reasons why people flock to dog-friendly cottages in Truro and beyond, especially during the summer.
Cornwall is a great holiday for those with dogs, and while there are summer restrictions on some of Cornwall’s 300 beaches, several of the very best are dog-friendly year-round! Discover some of our favourites below.
Cornwall’s Seasonal Dog Ban Explained
Cornwall has a lot of beaches. Some are large and visited by hundreds of people a day, while others are hidden and mainly visited by locals. As a result, rules regarding dogs can vary significantly across the county.
Generally, the main tourist beaches in the most popular areas, including Blue Flag beaches, operate seasonal dog bans. These usually mean that dogs are not allowed on the beach in the peak months of May to September (except for assistance dogs). However, this can also vary – some may only ban dogs for July and August, whereas others, particularly privately-owned beaches, may not allow dogs at any time of the year.
However, because there are so many beaches across Cornwall, most areas will have at least one dog-friendly beach. If a town’s main beach has a seasonal dog ban, you’re usually only a short walk from one where your four-legged friend can get in on the fun.
The Best Year-Round Dog-Friendly Beaches in Cornwall
If you’re visiting Cornwall with your dog, here are some of our favourite beaches where you can let them run free year-round!
- Perranporth
- Marazion
- Mawgan Porth
- Fistral
- Holywell Bay
Of course, there are many other wonderful dog-friendly beaches beyond these in every part of Cornwall. For more information on beaches near you, check out our full guide:
Perranporth
One of the biggest and most popular beaches in Cornwall, Perranporth is open to dogs all year round. There is a seasonal ban on the main beach area near most of the amenities, but this beach is so long that there’s still plenty of space beyond to let your dogs burn off their energy.
Perranporth beach also boasts the UK’s only bar on a beach, in the form of The Watering Hole. Also dog-friendly, you can pop into The Watering Hole after your walk for a rest and a bite to eat.
Marazion
Marazion is perhaps best known for being the beach opposite St Michael’s Mount. At low tide, a stone causeway emerges between the beach and the Mount, allowing for a safe crossing. In addition to its iconic views, Marazion beach is also well-loved for being a dog-friendly spot, offering a mile of beach for pups to explore.
As with other beaches, the main section of Marazion has a seasonal dog ban in place. However, dogs are allowed year-round on other parts of the beach, which are only a short walk away and offer plenty of space for four legs to scamper around.
Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth is not only a lovely, expansive beach with stunning blue waters, but it’s also completely dog-friendly all year.
At low tide, the beach area is huge, offering ample space for dogs to run free. Even at high tide, there is still plenty of sand for your pup to stretch their paws. A stream runs down the beach into the sea, and dogs love to splash about and play in the shallow waters.
Compared with many of the north coast beaches around Newquay, Mawgan Porth is fairly quiet. After your walk, there are plenty of quality fish and chip shops nearby to enjoy a delicious nibble on the go!
Fistral
Fistral is one of the most popular beaches in the UK for surfing and is widely considered one of the best spots for the sport. It’s also a brilliantly dog-friendly location, with the beach allowing dogs all year and many shops and cafes also welcoming four-legged friends.
Fistral is a very wide beach, but given its popularity, it can become very busy during the peak season. Many visitors enjoy taking their dog for a morning stroll along the sand, where they can run free, then keep them on the lead while the family enjoys the afternoon sun.
Fistral also boasts a connection to the coast path, which offers some great alternative walks if you find that the sandy strip is too packed for your pup.
Holywell Bay
Arguably Cornwall’s most picturesque beach, Holywell Bay has been made famous by its multiple film and TV appearances, including James Bond, Game of Thrones and Poldark!
A mixture of rugged coastline, golden-sand beach and sparkling blue sea with picture-perfect waves has made this once hidden gem a bucket-list place to visit. Also, because it’s not connected to a major town, there are no seasonal dog bans here, so your four-legged friend is free to reenact all his favourite scenes!
At The Valley, we understand that when you go away on a family holiday, you don’t want to have to leave a key member of the gang behind. That’s why we offer dog-friendly cottages, providing the perfect getaway for the whole family! We also have a dog-friendly restaurant on-site to help take the stress out of family mealtime.