Laura
13 July 2021
Cornwall is the perfect place to enjoy a dog-friendly holiday. Whether you are sandy-pawed beachgoers, high moorland meanderers or wonderful woodland wanderers, Cornwall offers plenty of waggy-tail walks to enjoy together.
It's no surprise that Cornwall is one of the most popular dog-friendly places to visit; its fantastic Heritage Coast, the Lizard Peninsula, St Michael’s Bay and the brilliant beaches including world-renowned Newquay and Perranporth lend to the fact it's a must-visit for dog walkers.
Dog-friendly cottages in Cornwall
Here are some of our favourite dog walks in Cornwall.
1. Harlyn Bay to Padstow
- Distance: 6.9 miles
- Difficulty: 🐕🐕🐕
- Suits: Burning off energy.
- Pawsome features: Getting sandy paws at low tide, with plenty of sand to play on at the dog-friendly beaches of Harbour Cove and Hawker's Cove.
- Terrain: Mostly follows the South West Coast Path, with some small inclines.
- Nearby: Parking is available in Padstow, catch the 56 bus to Harlyn to begin your walk. Harlyn has facilities such as toilets and refreshments. Once back in Padstow, there are plenty of dog-friendly cafes and restaurants to cool off and fuel up in.
Stay: Padstow - Treetops, Padstow
Sleeping two and a dog, the beautifully presented Padstow - Treetops lodge sits in a secluded woodland setting with a footpath to Padstow, making it perfectly placed for dreamy dog walks. It's just 1 mile from Padstow, so you can enjoy brilliant beach days and salty paws before returning to your lovely lodge for a cosy evening in.
Dog-friendly cottages in Padstow
2. Holywell Bay
- Distance: 1 mile
- Difficulty: 🐕
- Suits: Families wanting to enjoy the sandy landscape together.
- Pawsome features: Lots of sandy dunes to explore and an exciting stream to cool off in.
- Terrain: Mostly across sand and dunes, and along the stream.
- Nearby: Park in the Holywell National Trust car park and then get going on this circular walk. Grab a drink at the dog-friendly Treguth Inn pub opposite the car park which offers water bowls and complimentary dog biscuits!
Stay: The Studio, Newquay
The perfect base for a family, this three-bedroom barn conversion also welcomes one four-legged family member. Within easy reach of several dog-friendly beaches, The Studio is the perfect holiday hideaway. Plus, there’s a private hot tub - what’s not to love?!
Dog-friendly cottages in Newquay
3. Mount Edgcumbe and the Rame Peninsula
- Distance: 2 miles
- Difficulty: 🐕
- Suits: Catching up with loved ones while pups frolic about.
- Pawsome features: Well-behaved dogs can run free along most parts of this walk - though keep dogs on leads in the formal gardens and deer park. There’s a lovely dog-friendly cafe to rest up at.
- Terrain: Paths with a gentle slope at one section.
- Nearby: Park at the Barrow Centre; the cafe there is dog-friendly with water bowls and shade to help cool off after all that frolicking. There are also some shops and exhibitions to explore.
Stay: Rock End Haven, Cawsand
This stunning hidden gem enjoys magnificent views of South Devon and the English Channel and is a perfect choice for a luxury escape. Explore the southwest coastal path right from your doorstep. Rock End Haven sleeps 6 and 2 dogs.
South Cornwall dog-friendly cottages
4. Poldhu to Mullion Cove
- Distance: 4 miles
- Difficulty: 🐕🐕
- Suits: Rock lovers and blowing away the cobwebs.
- Pawsome features: Spectacular walk along the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There's a sandy, dog-friendly beach at Mullion Cove; lots of wonderful wildflowers line the tops of the cliffs; the route passes a dog-friendly pub for refuelling.
- Terrain: Mostly leisurely clifftop walking. Some steep-sided valleys and inland paths.
- Nearby: Mullion is the biggest village on the Lizard, with a choice of dog-friendly pubs, cafes or restaurants to visit after a busy day chasing sticks and following scents.
Stay: Cormorant, Mullion Cove
Sleeping 4 and 1 dog, the delightfully light and airy Cormorant holiday bungalow is situated on top of Mullion Cove. Discover the multiple nearby sandy beaches and visit Lizard Point, which is just a short distance away.
Mullion dog-friendly cottages
5. Cape Cornwall
- Distance: 5.2 miles
- Difficulty: 🐕🐕🐕
- Suits: History lovers and adventurous hounds.
- Pawsome features: Old mines, mills, ancient forts, barrows and a 5th-century oratory. Takes in England's most westerly town, Kenidjack Castle and Dinosaur Egg beach.
- Terrain: Mostly good paths with some manageable gradients.
- Nearby: This dog-friendly walk passes two beaches and pubs where dogs are welcome.
Stay: Giddy Up Home, Sennen
Sleeping 2 and 2 dogs, Giddy Up Home is situated on a charming Cornish smallholding close to the South West Coast Path and offers incredible clifftop walks. The enclosed private garden and use of surrounding fields make this the ideal dog-friendly holiday home for fun adventures with your furry friend. Enjoy the beautiful golden beach at Sennen Cove and take a day trip to the famous Land's End.
West Cornwall dog-friendly cottages
6. Tintagel King Arthur Walk
- Distance: 3.4 miles
- Difficulty: 🐕🐕
- Suits: Romantics.
- Pawsome features: Atmospheric ruins of 'King Arthur's castle' on Tintagel Island, which is dog friendly with dogs on leads. A great spring walk with bright blue sea and the flourishing of the countryside. Fulmars, kittiwakes and gannets can be spotted offshore in autumn.
- Terrain: Mostly good paths, tracks, lanes and pavements. Some short stretches of rocky surfaces. Some steep gradients.
- Nearby: Boscastle, Bude and Widemouth Bay are also worth visiting for some super places to explore with your pooch.
Stay: Forget-me-not, Tintagel
Enjoy access to a 5-acre paddock with cut walkways and lovely views from this beautifully presented, stone-built, chocolate-box barn conversion, located in an oh-so-pretty courtyard setting. Forget-me-not is just 2 miles from the beach at Trebarwith Strand, or you can take trips to Rock, Port Isaac and Padstow, home of Rick Stein’s popular seafood restaurant. Sleeps 2 and 2 dogs.
Tintagel dog-friendly cottages
Top Cornwall dog walks map
Find the perfect dog walk in Cornwall and take a look at the map to find out where all of the featured dog walks are.
Take a look at our guide to dog-friendly pubs in Cornwall for a welcome pit stop and for more dog-friendly activities, visit our guide to the best dog-friendly things to do in Cornwall, and let us lead the way to your next getaway.
Is your furry friend in need of a break? Take a look at our collection of dog-friendly cottages in Cornwall.
Dog-friendly cottages in Cornwall
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.