Whether you’ve got two legs or four, a beach holiday is guaranteed to inspire excitement.
But when you’ve got a lively four-legged friend in tow, knowing which beaches are dog-friendly is crucial. There’s nothing sadder (for you or for them!) than arriving at a perfect picture-postcard setting, only for your beloved dog to be left out of all the fun.
Cornwall is well-known for its enticing array of beautiful beaches, so not only have we narrowed them down to 10 of the best, we’ve also made sure they’re beaches that welcome dogs – all year round.
Listed in no particular order, some of these amazing Cornish beaches are justly popular, while others are true hidden gems. So whether you’re looking for a serene seaside break or a high-spirited family holiday, there’s something here for you.
Oh, and we’ve even hand-picked a selection of dog-friendly Host Unusual properties near each beach!
Author: Nina Jervis
Main image: Holywell Bay, North Cornwall
1. Watergate Bay
Just a few miles from bustling Newquay, Watergate Bay is expansive and wild; characterised by fine golden sand and soaring, sea-blanched cliffs.
Considered to be one of Cornwall’s very best beaches, surfers travel from all corners of the globe to ride Watergate Bay’s mighty Atlantic rollers!
Better still, access is easy and suitable for families (including, of course, their faithful four-legged friends) and there’s a wealth of cafés and restaurants close by – ideal if the weather should take a turn for the worse.
Blue Bay Beach House
To the Shore
2. Perranporth Beach
Rich in magical Cornish myth and legend, Perranporth Beach won the coveted Seaside Award in 2022.
It’s not hard to see why. All kinds of watersports are taught here, there are some magnificent walks begging to be taken – try the ridiculously scenic jaunt up to Ligger Point – and the sandy beach itself is so vast, you’ll feel like you’ve got it all to yourselves… even in the height of summer.
(Note: while dogs are allowed on Perranporth Beach all year round, they must be on a lead in the main beach area during peak daytime hours in July and August).
Wrinklers Wood Glamping
3. Harlyn Bay
Close to Padstow on the North Cornwall coast, Harlyn Bay is a sheltered, spacious beach that’s ideal for families and their dogs. In fact, at low tide it’s one of the best possible settings for a vigorous game of fetch!
The horseshoe-shaped bay produces waves akin to actual surfers’ paradise, while if you want to exert even more energy, a breezy coastal walk will lead you to Mother Ivey’s Bay and Trevose Head.
Nimbus Cottage
ARC Padstow
Sheepfold and Sheepshed
4. Seaton Beach
Charming and characterful, Seaton Beach is nestled on a quiet stretch of Cornish coast in the south-east, at the foot of Hessenford valley woodland and with the River Seaton meandering through.
This is a safe and peaceful beach for swimming, rock-pooling, and meticulous sandcastle-building – there’s a children’s play park just behind the beach, too – and long dog walks along the picturesque shoreline. There are also plenty of local cafés to choose from for slap-up seaside lunches.
Seaton Cabin
Railholiday
Lydcott Glamping
5. Daymer Bay
Set within the Camel Estuary, the pretty, sheltered Daymer Bay boasts clear waters that make it perfect for little swimmers and beginner kite-surfers alike.
At low tide the sand stretches all the way to Rock, so there’s ample scope for family games and long walks with your faithful four-legged friend in tow. But if it’s awe-inspiring views you’re hankering after, just climb Brea Hill at the end of the beach!
History-buffs, meanwhile, will enjoy meandering along to St. Enodoc Church; a wistful Saxon chapel nestled among the sand dunes, and the resting place of the famed poet Sir John Betjeman.
English Garden
Betty the Boutique Bedford Bus
6. Fistral Beach
How could we not include one of Britain’s most famous beaches?
Not only is Fistral Beach listed among the most legendary surfing spots, it’s also a special kind of doggy-heaven – vast expanses of sand and plenty of places to paddle!
Towering cliffs and sand dunes will add scenic drama to your holiday snaps, and there are plenty of family and dog-friendly facilities to make your beach break extra-breezy. Bustling Newquay Town is a mere 10-minute stroll away, too.
The Island Cornwall
Red Rails
7. Mexico Towans
A beach for wildlife-lovers, Mexico Towans is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, whose magnificent “towans” (or dunes) act as Cornwall’s second-largest sand dune eco-system.
Located in the midst of Hayle’s famed “three miles of golden sand”, views lead romantically out to the lighthouse at Godrevy Point, and there’s plenty of sandy space for dogs to exert some serious energy.
(The ‘Mexico’ part of the name? It’s thought to derive from Hayle’s 19th century tin miners emigrating to Mexico to find work… where the Cornish pasties they took with them went down a storm!)
The Landpods at Wildflower Wood
8. Roskilly
Roskilly is a whimsical pebble beach that goes by the nickname of ‘Skilly’… and it’s also known as Bowjey Beach.
Whatever you choose to call Roskilly, it’s nestled peacefully between Newlyn and Mousehole; a favourite with local dog-walkers but mostly untouched by the tourist crowds – even in the height of summer.
At low tide, you can follow the rocks around the coastline towards Penlee Lifeboat Station, get lost in charming bay views, or splash around in the rockpools… your choice!
Harbour Hideaway
The Bunker
Harbour Moon
9. Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay is the epitome of a beach that offers something for everyone. Surrounded by rocky islands and rugged headlands, there are grassy dunes and vast expanses of sand that mean every kind of seaside scenery is covered.
You can access the South West Coast Path from here – with panoramic ocean views of Penhale Point and Kelsey Head – while St. Cuthbert’s Cave lies beneath, waiting to be explored at low tide.
What else? There are plenty of secluded spots for families and dogs to sunbathe or play games… while the surfing conditions are truly spectacular (head to the north end of the beach for the highest, most powerful Atlantic waves!)
Halula Beach House
10. Bamaluz Beach
Wistful and serene, you’ll find Bamaluz Beach tucked just below the museum at St. Ives, romantically nestled between the harbour and Porthgwidden Beach further along.
Bamaluz’s high walls mean you’ll be sheltered from strong breezes as you go rock-pooling with your dog, and there some wonderful sandy coves for you both to explore! Meanwhile, clear waters mean you can paddle and splash around together in playful comfort.
Ocean Scene
