Holidaying with your dog in Cornwall
Bringing a dog on holiday should to be easy and fun! Afterall, your dog is part of the family and it is nice to be able to take them with you and enjoy yourselves. Cornwall is a place well-loved by dogs and their owners. It is a great destination for a dog-friendly holiday, with spacious beaches to explore: your dog will love getting sandy paws!
Cornwall is very dog-friendly, with many of the beaches being dog-friendly throughout the year. There’s also dog-friendly Cornish attractions, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Here is our guide on places to take your furry-friend while on holiday in Cornwall.
Dog-Friendly Beaches…
Fistral beach is dog-friendly all year round, so you don’t have to miss out on Newquay’s top surfing beach. Dogs will love this large beach. Watergate Bay is another iconic, large beach, with 3 miles of beach, perfect for dogs to run around on. Other dog-friendly beaches include, Mawgan Porth, Great Western, Tolcarne, Little Fistral, Porth, Crantock, Towan, Perranporth, and Holywell Bay (please note that Porth, Lusty Glaze and Tolcarne prohibit dogs in the summer).
Please check beach signage for other restrictions.
Dog Friendly Attractions…
Lappa Valley
Lappa Valley Steam Railway, is the perfect attraction for the whole family, including the dog. Dogs must be kept on leads. There is a dog walking area, where they can run off their lead, as well as water bowls throughout the valley. Lappa Valley has a number of steam trains that run around this scenic countryside location with old Cornish Engine houses.
There are play areas, including a multi-story soft play, ride along tractors, Adventure Golf, boating lake, and cafes when you get hungry! This spring and autumn, we have our Little Adventurers’ Package, which you can add on to your booking (certain dates apply) and get a ticket to Lappa Valley, as well as a 4×4 experience at Hendra, and tots swim free, play Adventure Golf for free and get breakfast for free at Hendra!
Healeys Cyder Farm
Healeys Cyder Farm is another dog-friendly attraction near Hendra, though dogs are not permitted in the jam room or on the cider tours. Kids will love the animals including Shire horses, Shetland ponies, chickens, pygmy goats, pigs, donkeys and peacocks! There are tractor rides, seasonal activities, as well as a tour on how cider is made. Healeys is the home of the famous Cornish Rattler, so cider loving grown-ups will be happy too, with chances to taste cider, and stock up. The cafes serve delicious lunches, roasts and of course Cornish cream teas, with Healeys jam (which must be put on before cream, remember!).
This attraction is free at certain times of the year, though there are seasonal events which are extra. You can ‘Pay for a Day’ and visit all year, which is great value. Tours and tractor rides are extra.
The Lost Garden’s of Heligan
The Lost Garden’s of Heligan, is a dog-friendly attraction, great for families, couples, and dogs! Dogs are to be kept on leads as there’s a variety of livestock around the park. There’s acres of gorgeous gardens to explore from formal areas, vast woodland and even Cornwall’s very own jungle! Complete with one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain, stretching 100 feet above ancient tree ferns and across the Jungle floor! This bridge adds a proper sense of adventure to the whole experience – let your imagination run wild and pretend you are in your very own adventure movie!
This beautiful attraction is sure to delight, where everyone can enjoy the great outdoors. Heligan’s Kitchen and Bakery and Steward’s House, are sure to satisfy everyone, with locally, and Heligan sourced produce. Dogs are allowed in both eateries too. There’s homemade cakes, pastries, hot and cold food options, sensational Sunday lunches, and seasonal food from summer barbecues, to autumn soups. Enjoy seasonal activities and the ever-changing seasons and beauty of this famed Cornish garden.
On the website, check out this ‘dog’s eye view’ so you, and your dog, can see for yourselves how perfect this attraction is for them!
The National Lobster Hatchery
Located in the postcard perfect Padstow, The National Lobster Hatchery is the home to many lobsters, and a place to see marine conservation in action. Working alongside the fishing community, the National Lobster Hatchery were winners of the Best Family Attraction in 2024, from Muddy Stilettos. Children will love seeing these fascinating and rarely seen creatures, including lobster babies, pregnant lobster mums, and giant lobsters! An indoor attraction, which you can also bring your dog too (on a lead).
Dog-friendly cafes and restaurant…
Having a dog doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on foodie fun; there are plenty of places to eat out in Newquay with a pooch. You can try the lovely Lewinnick Lodge at Pentire. It has fantastic sea views along with a great menu with locally caught fish.
There is the Beach Hut at Watergate, perfect for a beach-side beer or hot chocolate, and home to ‘extreme’ hot chocolate, with all the trimmings, or even make it boozy.
There is The Mermaid at Porth, which is next to Porth Beach, serving hearty pub meals, and amazing Sunday roasts.
Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips at Fistral, is dog-friendly and in a cracking spot.
By Adam Gibbard
Dog-Friendly at Hendra Holiday Park…
Here, at Hendra, we have many ways to stay with a choice of accommodation for you and your dog. We have our classic, comfortable, and good value dog-friendly Mawgans, premium dog-friendly Porthminsters, and, new in 2024, the luxurious Watergate dog-friendly. All equipped with dog-friendly features, such as bowls, and a dog bed.
As well as our idyllic camping and touring pitches, we have our doggy bath to wash those sandy paws, and a dog walking field where they can run free!
The Terrace Bar and Restaurant conservatory is also dog-friendly, with dog water bowls, blankets and treats that can be purchased from the bar. Our newly refurbished Deck Bar, coming in May, will also be dog-friendly in peak-times.
