Don’t leave your pups at home, bring them on holiday with you! A family holiday just isn’t the same without the dog joining you on your travels! Thankfully, Cornwall is a brilliant place for our four-legged friends as there are plenty of dog-friendly spots; however, some still have restrictions. We have put together this guide, so you know where is best for your family to visit with the dog!
On the Roseland Peninsula, this sandy and rocky beach is dog-friendly all year round, though your dog must be kept on a leash in the summer months. Nare Head rises above the bay and protects it, making it a lovely spot! At low tide, this beach joins with Pendower Beach, also a dog-friendly beach.
Perranporth is perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved beaches in Cornwall. With its long stretch of golden sands, it is the perfect place for the kids and dog to run around! The beach also features a bar called The Watering Hole; this is also dog-friendly making it a great spot to stop for a bite to eat after an enjoyable coastal walk.
On the Lizard Peninsula, this sand and shingle bay on the Helford River is dog-friendly all year round! Close to Trebah Gardens, this quiet beach is beautiful and a fun place to have a family day in the sunshine!
Situated in Truro, this quiet, south-east facing beach is near St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula and is dog-friendly all year round! The beach is sand and shingle and at low tide rock pools are revealed, making it great for kids to explore too.
Located between Maenporth and Mawnan Smith there is a footpath which leads you through some wooded areas and ends at the little beach of Nansidwell. Part of a National Trust area, this beach is dog-friendly all year, and it is an excellent spot for a picnic!
One of the hardest aspects of taking the dog on holiday is finding places to eat out, but there are loads of great places near our dog-friendly cottages in Truro, Cornwall.
If you are looking for locally sourced food, great selection of ales and wines and some live music, this is the place for you! With fish and chips to 4oz beef burgers, there is a delicious array of dishes to choose from, and to top it all off; the pup can come too!
Situated right by the river, this picturesque location makes it the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. From delicious baked sweet potato to roasted monkfish fillet, this place has an exciting menu and is somewhere you can try something new! The dog can join you on your trip so long as you choose to sit on their terrace. While you are in the area, why not enjoy a walk around the water gardens!
Perhaps most well-known for their delicious Sunday roast, The Old Coastguard is a great place to visit for some wonderful food, and an added bonus is that your four-legged friend can join you! Providing one of the best views seen in Cornwall, the restaurant has seasonal changes to the menu and offers the best fresh fish and seafood.
Serving home-made cakes, breakfast and wholesome lunches made to order, all using organic produce, this cafe is a great place to head to in Falmouth. Right next to the cafe is the garden, perfect for building up your appetite before you tuck into a hearty lunch.
Overlooking the stunning St Michael’s Mount, this restaurant offers a full English breakfast from 8 am, and the daytime menu includes delights such as crab sandwiches and classic fish and chips. On their dinner menu, you will find delicious dishes such as crab mac ‘n’ cheese and Cornish lamb steak. A children’s menu is also available, and dogs are welcome in certain areas.
Enjoy views over Falmouth Harbour while sipping on a pint of Cornish ale in The Working Boat. The place was rebuilt in 2015 and sits on the edge of the harbour. The authentic Cornish atmosphere will make you want to return every day and try everything on the menu! Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the pub also invites you to bring along your pups!
There are over 60 self-guided and themed Treasure Trails in fantastic places across Cornwall, many close to our 5-star cottages! Order a package online and enjoy solving the clues along the trail as you take in the sights and give your dog the chance to stretch its legs and run wild!
This attraction provides something for both the adult and kids! There is a guided tour of the cider making, a ride through the orchards on a tractor and you can finish off with a delicious cream tea. Dogs are welcomed so long as they are on a lead; the only part they aren’t allowed in is the production areas.
The world-famous open-air theatre in Cornwall is carved into the granite cliff face and set among gardens overlooking the spectacular Porthcurno. Whether or not you plan on seeing a performance, the theatre is a great place to explore with the dog and kids.
This country park has 250 acres of woodland, lakes and nine miles of footpaths to explore. In the summer, the park is beautiful with flowers, birds and butterflies, making it a wonderful place to go on a family walk with the dog!
Hear about the dramatic rescues and meet the seals and sea lions at the sanctuary, as well as otters, penguins and much more marine wildlife who are recuperating there. The 42-acre centre also has a woodland trail to explore. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on their lead at all times.
Between Marazion and Penzance is Long Rock Beach, which looks out toward St Michael’s Mount. You can walk along the shingle beach with the dog all year round, but only at low tide for safety. At low tide, you can also walk the causeway to the Mount and walk around the village there and visit the gardens.
This woodland walk has plenty of routes to choose from, the majority of them are flat, so young children, wheelchairs and elderly have easy access to them. Some routes also take you along the river, which at shallow points, is great for the dogs to splash about in.
A countryside charm, from the top of Chapel Carn Brea, the view is spectacular, with St Michael’s Mount, the western moors, Lizard Peninsula, Sennen and Longships Lighthouse and the Scilly Isles on the horizon. The wide-open spaces make this a perfect spot for the kids and dog to run around and burn off some energy!
Towards the north coast is Pendeen Carn, crisscrossed by bridleways and footpaths suitable for dog walking. There are plenty of routes to choose from, many circular and you can take the level routes or try a bit of challenge by heading uphill.
This rough headland might not be the most popular part of Cornwall, but it does make for an exciting dog walking area. There are remnants of war bunkers and quarrying as you walk up to the headland point, and the views from there are fantastic, with Perranporth Beach in the background.
With Cornwall containing over 300 miles of the South West Coast Path, and covering a variety of terrain, your dog will love roaming along the trail. Depending on your own abilities, you can tackle the challenging sections or simply opt for a gentle stroll.
Though Cornwall is very welcoming and accommodating to dogs, you may come across some hazards you are not used to in your hometown. Cornwall has steep cliffs, and it is best to keep your dog close by when walking along a narrow precipice or by a cliff edge that has a sheer drop to avoid any accidents.
You should always be aware of the sea! Powerful waves and currents can quickly take your dog out to sea, a lot further than you may think, so play it safe in the shallows. Finally, when out in the countryside, be aware of adders, which can bite and kill dogs. Hiding in long grass, a dog could come across an adder before realising, so always be wary when out on a countryside walk.
Here at The Valley, we know that no family holiday is complete without the pup! We offer a collection of dog-friendly holiday cottages so you can bring your dog along with you on your Cornish getaway. Situated near both Falmouth and Truro, numerous attractions and stunning beaches are all within a 30-minute drive, making it a perfect location to discover Cornwall!
THE VALLEY is proud to be the only 5 Star Gold Self Catering holiday village of its size in the whole of Cornwall
