If you are looking for a dog-friendly beach in Cornwall, you will be able to choose from a plenty of options. There are numerous fabulous beaches where you can come to enjoy your time with your furry best friend. This article was created to provide you with the information about top 5 dog-friendly beaches you can visit. Here they are:
Harlyn Bay – Padstow
Harlyn Bay is situated on the eastern side of Trevose Head, just west of Padstow. This dog-friendly beach has a reputation of one of the best family beaches in the county. The beach is covered with yellow sands and pebbles, offering its visitors the ability to enjoy a plenty of rock pools backed by dunes. Also, this wide beach offers a plenty of space for everyone.
It is worth to mention that Harlyn Bay is very popular among surfers. There is a surfing school, so you can take some surfing sessions. All those who want to try sea kayaking are welcomed as well. What is more, fascinating combination of rocky shoreline, sand, dune and tide pools to explore, makes it a great place to enjoy walks. Walkers can also explore the remains of an old iron age cemetery situated behind the beach but hidden below the sand. Also, if you are looking for great views, Harlyn Bay is worth visiting. You can enjoy superb views towards Pentire Head and Newquay from the cliffs at Trevose Head.
Summerleaze beach – Bude
Summerleaze beach is situated just about 5 minutes walk from the center Bude. This white sandy beach has absolutely unique appeal: it is flanked by the river with lots of fishing boats and there is an impressive breakwater which makes this beach perfect both for families and surfers. What is more, there are beautiful sand dunes right behind the large car park.
One more thing which makes this beach stand out is the part man-made and part natural rock pool nestled at the foot of the cliffs. This salt-water pool is cleaned daily by the tide and is considered to be very safe for swimming thanks to the lifeguard cover provided from the 1st May until 30th September.
Beach facilities include level access with a flat viewing area, toilets, RNLI shop, sandy play area, beach cafe and even beach huts available for about £10 – £20 per day. Also, there is disabled access from the carpark, disabled toilets, and a disabled sand chair.
If you are going to enjoy the Summerleaze beach with your furry best friend, note that from 21st May to 30th September from 10am-6pm, dogs must be on leads.
Fistral beach – Newquay
Fistral beach is not just a beach – it is a paradise spot for every surfer who wants to catch the greatest waves in England – waves here regularly reach heights between 6 and 8 feet. What is more, it is considered to be one of the world’s top surfing destinations. It is a home to such UK’s surfing competitions as Boardmasters, the Quicksilver Skins, the UK Pro Surf Tour and the BUSA Championships. Nevertheless, surfing enthusiasts are also warmly welcomed. There is even a surfing school, so you can book surf lessons.
Overlooked by the imposing grandeur of the Headland Hotel, the beach offers a plenty of opportunities, including complex of cafes, takeaways, and shops. You can even hire gear to have some fun. All these make Fistral beach popular both among surfers and families. Also, it is worth to mention that despite the fact Fistral beach is considered to be dog-friendly, furry friends must be kept on leads.
Pedn Vounder – Porthcurno
Pedn Vounder is situated on the East side of Porthcurno beach. The beach is connected by a pathway with neighboring Porthcurno beach. Nevertheless, when it is a high tide, the beach becomes accessible only by a small path through the rocks and bushes which takes you down the cliff side, so if you are about visiting Pedn Vounder, get ready for a climb. Nevertheless, such access to the beach makes it even more beautiful. Just make sure you stop along the way to admire the view!
Before you go to enjoy this incredibly beautiful beach with stunning cliffs of Treryn Dinas and crystal clear waters, it is better to check tides because there is a chance that it will be completely swallowed by the sea. Also, to avoid surprises, note that Pedn Vounder is considered to be an unofficial naturist beach.
Mexico Towans – Hayle
Mexico Towans is situated east of Black Cliff. The name of the beach can be translated from the Cornish language as Mexico sand dunes. This wide beach is covered with golden sands and low dunes hidden in its name. It provides its visitors with the ability to relax or play beach games, as well as enough freedom to explore the dunes.
As the beach is considered to be a part of Hayle Towans, its available facilities, including toilets and cafes, are situated at the north end of the sands, at Hayle Towans. Also, thanks to a lifeguard cover from the middle of May to the end of September, the beach is considered to be safe for swimming. So to ensure safety, it is important to listen to advice given by lifeguards on local weather and tide conditions.