Discover dog-friendly walks in Cornwall - and places to eat and drink along the way
Cornwall is a family-friendly holiday destination and many, many places to stay and visit welcome our four-pawed friends; here’s Cornwall Life’s low-down on the best walking destinations for dogs
1. Padstow to Harlyn Bay
6.9 miles
This walk takes you around the harbour and out to the headland at Stepper Point before reaching Harlyn Bay.
Dogs are allowed on the beaches at Harbour Cove and Hawker’s Cove all year round, and at low tide there are acres of sand for them to play on. This is one big sand pit playground for pooches!
While there is a seasonal dog ban on part of the sands at St George’s Cove, where you can walk at low tide back to the ferry steps at St Saviour’s Point, it’s okay to go left at low tide leading out to sea and Hawker’s Cove.
Be aware that sheep graze the fields around Stepper Point and ground-nesting birds nest in the areas of rough grassland, so please keep your dog on a lead at this point, particularly in the spring and early summer.
2. King Arthur and the Slate coast
5 miles
This is a great dog walk that starts right next to the main car parks in Tintagel. It takes you past the Tintagel Old Post Office, which is one of Cornwall’s most interesting buildings dating back to the 15th Century.
The route follows part of an old donkey track from the village of Treknow to the cove at Trebarwith Strand, both of which are great for dogs to run around and enjoy the sea breeze. Trebarwith Strand is dog-friendly throughout the year.
The Port William Inn nestles in the cliffs just above the sandy cove and offers great pub food as well four star accommodation. Dogs are welcome throughout and there’s outside seating on the beach, so you can keep a close eye on your pooch while letting them run free.
From Penhallic point, there are great views back to Trebarwith Strand and beyond to the majestic Tintagel Castle.
3. A twirl of the cape
4.8 miles
This walk takes in parts of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and offers great views of the coastline and out towards The Brisons and the Longships Lighthouse.
The entire route is dotted with some of the iconic coastal mines perched precariously on the cliff face; these are the remains of the much-photographed Crowns mines.
A walk onto the Cape is highly recommended. It is known as the only “cape” in England, and the only other in Britain is Cape Wrath at the opposite extreme of Scotland. A cape is generally defined as a headland dividing two seas, and Cape Cornwall was thought to mark the division between St George’s Channel and the Irish Sea on the one side and the English Channel leading to the North Sea on the other. At the same time it was thought to be the country’s western extremity, rather than Land’s End.
Past the Cape, you reach Priest’s Cove where there is a natural swimming pool revealed at low tide, a safe area for wave shy doggy paddlers.
Near to the start/end of the walk in St Just, The Commercial and the King’s Arms are recommended by users of doggiepubs.org.uk as serving good food and being dog-friendly. Priest’s Cove is dog-friendly throughout the year. southwestcoastpath.com/walksdb/203/
4. Poldhu to Mullion Cove
4 miles
This walk along the Lizard peninsula, part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is truly spectacular with amazing geology to look out for along the way.
At Mullion Cove, a sandy beach, which is dog friendly throughout the year, you can see the serpentine rock formation in the cliffs. A diversity of wild plants line the cliff tops.
Mullion Cove During the walk the Old Inn in Mullion is recommended by users of doggiepubs.org.uk as serving good food and being dog-friendly. The Mullion Cove Hotel in Cornwall offers dog friendly accommodation with no extra charges during low season, a free dog friendly welcome pack, outdoor washing facilities and a sea view lounge where man’s best friend is welcome too. mullion-cove.co.uk
southwestcoastpath.com/walksdb/133/
5. Cawsand to Whitsand Bay
5.2 miles
This route takes in the Rame Peninsula and Rame Head, which offers plenty of wide open spaces for dogs to run around and leads to the sandy sweep of Whitsand Bay, which is dog friendly all year round. Several pubs in Kingsand and Cawsand and two cafés near to the finishing point.
Near to the start of the walk in Kingsand the Rising Sun is recommended by users of doggiepubs.org.uk as serving good food and being dog-friendly.
southwestcoastpath.com/walksdb/32/
Other walks you may like to consider include Trelissick, which doesn’t allow dogs in the formal gardens and buildings, but there are miles of woodland and open parkland that are perfect for stretching your legs.
