From coast to countryside: North Cornwall’s best dog-friendly walks
Chapel Porth to St Agnes
Start point: Chapel Porth Beach car park Type: There-and-back Distance/time: 10km/3hrs Directions: AllTrails
If it’s glorious sea views and a little mining history you’re after, this walk on Cornwall’s north coast is one the money. You’ll track the cliff tops from Chapel Porth Beach, heading northward to St Agnes along undulating coastal path. The ocean views and glimpses of the dramatic coast ahead of you are spectacular, but most enchanting of all is the old mining ruins around Wheal Coates, where the Towanroath engine house stands tall above the sea. The halfway point for this walk is at Trevunance Cove, where a couple of dog-friendly pubs make great pit stops before the hike back.
Pentire Headland walk
Start point: Pentireglaze car park Type: Circular Distance/time: 5.5km/2hrs Directions: National Trust
Glorious coastal views abound on this romp around a National Trust-managed headland, as well as the chance to spot grey seals out at sea and peregrine falcons in the sky. The walk begins at Pentireglaze and heads north to the South West Coast Path, then tracking northwest along the cliffs. The first impressive viewpoint is The Rumps, where an Iron Age hillfort can be seen on the edge of the coast – it’s thought this was built in AD 200. Continuing west you’ll reach Pentire Point, where the views stretch across the Camel Estuary and Trevose Head lighthouse. There’s a lovely National Trust cafe at Pentireglaze for refuelling at the end of your hike.
Carnewas at Bedruthan coast walk
Start point: Carnewas at Bedruthan car park Type: There-and-back Distance/time: 7km/2hrs Directions: National Trust
This there-and-back walk is another coastal adventure with spectacular views. The most impressive is the view of the beach at Bedruthan Steps, where rocky stacks are scattered about the sand when the tide is out. There’s no access to the beach here currently due to a rock fall that damaged the route in 2019, but it’s still worth coming for the cliff top views alone. This route has all manner of intriguing history – look out for Bronze Age barrows and prehistoric Redcliff Castle – and the wildflowers are a riot of in spring and summer.
Rough Tor & Brown Willy, Bodmin Moor
Start point: Rough Tor Car Park Type: Circular Distance/time: 8km/3hrs
This circular walk is easy to follow simply by using Google Maps in satellite view. There are several well-trodden paths up and around the 400-metre-high Rough Tor, and from there it’s an easy walk to Brown Willy (420 metres). Once you’ve scaled both of these lofty mounds, you can either go back to the way you came without scaling Rough Tor, or head along the south side of Rough Tor via the Fernacre Stone Circle. The views from both tors are wonderful, stretching right across Bodmin Moor.
Lanhydrock Great Wood & Beech Avenue, Bodmin
Start point: Main Car Park at Lanhydrock House Type: Circular Distance/time: 4km/75 mins Directions: National Trust
This gentle trail around the 1000 acres of grounds within the Lanhydrock estate is perfect for those seeking something a little more sedate. The paths are generally easy and flat, and while wheelchairs might struggle, all-terrain mobility vehicles are suitable and can be borrowed if booked in advance. You’ll wander through native woodland and parkland, and eventually finish by walking along the pleasingly symmetrical Beech Avenue to the 17th-century gatehouse. There’s a dog-friendly cafe on site for a scone and tea afterwards.
The Camel Trail, Wadebridge to Padstow
Start point: Piggy Lane car park, Wadebridge Type: Point-to-point Distance/time: 9km/3hrs Directions: The Camel Trail
It’s impossible to get lost on this point-to-point walk thanks to the excellent signposting for the Camel Trail. The route follows a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge and Padstow, which totals almost 30 kilometres of smooth-surface track suitable for anyone on wheels, be it bikes, buggies or wheelchairs. This section of the trail passes through beautiful Cornish countryside before ending at Padstow, where dog-friendly pubs and cafes abound for a little fuel before you take the bus back to Wadebridge.