The most dog-friendly beaches in South Cornwall

This is an early morning beach, or at least an out of season one, as a small car park and limited spots on nearby roads make it possible that you won’t be able to find anywhere to stop. That said, there’s a little beach café to take the edge off the early start and it’s a good one to have in mind, as others in the area like Looe and Polperro have summer or lead restrictions on dogs.

This three-mile stretch of sand isn’t so much a hidden gem as a very visible but hard to access gem, like the Koh I Noor. Guarding this beach are some steep and winding paths which won’t trouble your dog at all but might give you pause for thought. At low tide you can walk from Rame Head to Portwrinkle (one for the bulldogs there) and explore rock pools, but keep an eye on the time, as some coves disappear completely when the waves come in.

If you’re travelling with the dog, the kids and the armloads of equipment that usually entails, Seaton is a great choice. Dog-friendly all year, it can also get enough of a swell for a bit of boogie boarding, has close parking, lots of places to eat nearby and no tricky paths for access. Behind the beach is Seaton Valley Country Park too, which is itself a beautiful spot for a walk and you might spot otter, kingfishers and plenty of other wildlife.

Ok, this is an important one to read in full. Pedn Vounder is one of the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall and could hold its headland high in any sandy company worldwide. But, it’s tough to get to. Really tough. Even nimble dogs will look before they leap and if you’re carrying a ton of gear it might be worth looking elsewhere for your beach day fun. Do not be tempted by the goat path that you reach first along the cliff path if you’re coming from the car park. Go a bit further round and there is a slightly saner descent available.

Getting towards a “when does south become west?” discussion here, as we reach right down to the toe of Cornwall. Another approach that’s for the more able dogs and their humans, but again completely worth it once you make it down through the dunes and cliffs. The sweep of sand is beautiful, there’s occasionally decent surfing if you can drag the board down with you, and the access keeps the crowds down, so there’s plenty of room for ball throwing and chasing.

So that’s our list of great dog-friendly beaches in south Cornwall. It is by no means comprehensive and the information could always change, so remember to check dog restrictions, tide times, and access before you head for them. We hope they lead you to many hours of sand-covered, water splashing fun.