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Dog-Friendly Beaches in Cornwall: Where Dogs Can Go, All Year Round

Quick answer: Cornwall is one of the best places in Britain to take a dog to the beach. Most restricted beaches only ban dogs from 10am to 6pm in July and August. The busiest, Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches ban them from 10am to 6pm between 15 May and 30 September. Plenty of beaches have no restrictions at all, including Watergate Bay, Fistral, Crantock, Holywell, Perranporth, Harlyn, Daymer Bay, Par Sands and Whitsand Bay. Early in the morning, in the evening and all through the off-season, almost the whole coast is open to dogs. Here are the rules, beach by beach, and how to keep your dog safe.

This guide is all about beaches: which ones welcome dogs, when, and on what terms. For walks, days out and dog-friendly places to stay, see our wider guide to dog-friendly Cornwall. The rules below come from Cornwall Council’s current order and the National Trust’s own beach guidance, checked in September 2026. Rules change, and beach signs have the final say, so check the council’s list before you go.

Table of Contents

  1. How Cornwall’s dog rules work
  2. Dog-friendly beaches, all year round
  3. Beaches with summer dog bans
  4. Partial restrictions and special cases
  5. National Trust beaches
  6. Keeping your dog safe on the beach
  7. Planning a dog-friendly beach day
  8. FAQ
  9. References and resources

How Cornwall’s dog rules work

Dog restrictions on Cornish beaches are set by Cornwall Council’s Dogs on Beaches order, a Public Spaces Protection Order. The current order came into force on 13 April 2026 and runs for three years. On a listed beach, during the restricted hours and dates, dogs aren’t allowed at all, on a lead or off. Outside those times they’re welcome. There are three levels:

RestrictionDatesHoursExamples
Most restricted beaches1 July – 31 August10am – 6pmPorthcurno, Kynance Cove, Chapel Porth, Praa Sands, Maenporth
Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches15 May – 30 September10am – 6pmPolzeath, Porthmeor, Porthminster, Sennen, Gyllyngvase, Widemouth
Hayle Estuary, Carnsew Pool and Copperhouse PoolAll year24 hoursProtected for wading birds
Source: Cornwall Council Dogs on Beaches order 2026. Beach signs have the final say.
  • Fines: breaking the order can mean a £100 fixed penalty, or a fine of up to £1,000 if it goes to court.
  • Exemptions: assistance dogs and working dogs are exempt.
  • Fouling: picking up is required everywhere in Cornwall, all year, and not noticing your dog fouled is no excuse.
  • Leads on request: a council officer can ask you to put your dog on a lead anywhere.
  • Maps: the council publishes a map of every restricted beach on its dogs on beaches page, showing exactly which stretch of sand is covered.

Some beaches are privately owned and set their own rules. Pentewan Sands, for example, doesn’t allow dogs anywhere on the beach. Where a beach isn’t in the council’s order, there’s no council restriction, but check the signs for a landowner’s rules.

Dog-friendly beaches, all year round

None of these beaches is in the council’s order, so there’s no council restriction on dogs, and the National Trust and private owners confirm the same where they own the beach. They’re ideal for a summer holiday with a dog.

North coast

  • Watergate Bay: two miles of sand near Newquay. The owners say dogs are welcome on the beach at any time of year.
  • Fistral: Newquay’s famous surf beach isn’t in the council order.
  • Crantock: National Trust, with no dog restrictions on the beach. Adders live in the dunes, so keep an eye on your dog in the long grass.
  • Holywell Bay: National Trust, with no restrictions on the beach. Dogs must be on leads on the Kelseys and Cubert Common from March to September, for ground-nesting birds and lambs.
  • Perranporth: three miles of sand, not in the council order.
  • Harlyn, Constantine and Daymer Bay: three of the best beaches around Padstow, none of them in the order.
  • Sandymouth: National Trust, north of Bude, with no restrictions.

South coast

  • Par Sands: a huge, flat, dune-backed beach near St Austell, not in the order.
  • Polkerris: a small, sheltered cove round the headland from Par.
  • Carne and Pendower: National Trust, on the Roseland. Dogs are welcome all year, and the Trust asks for a short lead.
  • Seaton and Millendreath: near Looe, neither in the order.
  • Whitsand Bay: miles of sand below the cliffs of the Rame Peninsula. The paths down are steep, so it’s better for fit dogs and owners.

Beaches with summer dog bans

These beaches ban dogs between 10am and 6pm during their restricted season. Before 10am and after 6pm, and outside the season, dogs are allowed.

Banned 15 May to 30 September, 10am–6pm

Polzeath, Trevone, Porthtowan, Porthmeor and Porthminster (St Ives), Carbis Bay, Sennen, Gyllyngvase (Falmouth), Crooklets and Widemouth (Bude), and Crackington Haven.

Banned 1 July to 31 August, 10am–6pm

Porthcurno, Porthgwarra, Porthgwidden and St Ives Harbour Beach, Chapel Porth, Kynance Cove, Praa Sands, Perranuthnoe, Maenporth, Swanpool, Castle Beach and Tunnel Beach (Falmouth), Porth (Newquay), Portreath, Poldhu, Polurrian, Church Cove (Gunwalloe), Kennack Sands, Cadgwith, Housel Bay, Readymoney Cove (Fowey), Porthpean, Portmellon, Cawsand, St George’s Well (Padstow), Summer’s Beach (St Mawes), Tattam’s Beach (Portscatho), the shore from Mousehole to Skilly, and parts of the Penzance to Marazion shoreline.

Partial restrictions and special cases

  • Summerleaze, Bude: this one isn’t a ban. Dogs must be on a lead from 10am to 6pm, 21 May to 30 September.
  • Hayle Towans to Godrevy: the restriction (1 July to 31 August, 10am–6pm) covers the southern end near Hayle and the stretch from Gwithian north to Godrevy Point. The dunes and sand in between, around Upton Towans, aren’t restricted. Check the council map before you go.
  • Porthleven: only the beach west of the pier is restricted in July and August. Porthleven Sands, running east towards Loe Bar, isn’t.
  • Penzance: parts of the shore are restricted in July and August, but the long stretch of Eastern Green between Penzance and Long Rock isn’t.
  • Polzeath and Pentireglaze: the National Trust notes that the council’s 15 May to 30 September restriction covers both beaches.
  • Bedruthan Steps: there’s currently no access to the beach after a cliff fall. The clifftop at Carnewas is still a fine walk, and dogs are welcome in the tea-room garden.
  • Pentewan Sands: privately owned, and no dogs at any time.

National Trust beaches

The National Trust owns or looks after a lot of Cornwall’s coast, and it publishes a dog guide for each of its sites. The ones people ask about most:

  • Kynance Cove: the beach follows the council’s 1 July to 31 August restriction. The clifftop paths are open to dogs all year, and dogs are welcome at the café.
  • Chapel Porth and Godrevy: dogs are welcome around the site, but the beaches are restricted in July and August, 10am–6pm. The Trust asks for a short lead. The car parks have little shade, so never leave a dog in the car.
  • Crantock, Holywell and Sandymouth: no restrictions on the beach.
  • Pentire: the council restriction applies at Polzeath and Pentireglaze Haven, 15 May to 30 September. Dogs are welcome in the Pentyr Café courtyard and barn.

Keeping your dog safe on the beach

  • Never go into the sea after your dog. The RNLI’s advice is clear: if your dog gets into trouble in the water or stuck in mud, don’t go in after it. Move to somewhere it can get out safely and call it; most dogs make it out by themselves. If you’re worried, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
  • Leads near cliffs. Cornwall’s coast path runs along high, crumbling edges. Keep your dog on a lead near the drop and near fast-flowing rivers.
  • Watch the tide. Being cut off by the tide is one of the commonest reasons lifeboats are called out. Check the tide times before you walk round a headland.
  • Give wildlife space. Keep dogs on a lead and at least 100 metres from seals, and away from ground-nesting birds from March to the end of July. Our guide to seeing seals covers the watching code.
  • Livestock on the cliffs. Keep dogs on a lead near sheep. If cattle come at you, let go of the lead: your dog can outrun them, and so can you.
  • Adders and ticks. Both live in the dunes and long grass. If your dog is bitten, see a vet straight away, and check for ticks after a walk.
  • Leave dead things alone. Keep dogs away from dead or stranded sea life. Report dead animals to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s strandings hotline (0345 201 2626) and live strandings to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (01825 765546).
  • Palm oil lumps. Lumps of palm oil have washed up on Cornish beaches, and they can make dogs seriously ill if eaten. If your dog finds something waxy or strange on the strandline, take it away.
  • Heat and water. Take fresh water; seawater makes dogs sick. On a hot day, go early or late, when the sand is cooler and the restricted beaches are open anyway.

Planning a dog-friendly beach day

In summer, the simplest rule is to go early or late. Every restricted beach is open to dogs before 10am and after 6pm, and those are the best hours on a Cornish beach anyway. From September onwards the beaches empty out, the long restricted-season beaches open up at the end of the month, and October to May is dog season on almost the whole coast. Our October weather guide covers what to expect.

For more ideas, see our guides to family-friendly beaches, woodland walks for rainy days, and where to stay. Plenty of cottages and campsites welcome dogs, but book them early for the summer.

FAQ

Q: Are dogs allowed on beaches in Cornwall?
A: Yes, on most of them for most of the year. Cornwall Council bans dogs on listed beaches only from 10am to 6pm, usually in July and August, or from 15 May to 30 September on the busiest Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches. Many beaches have no restrictions at all.

Q: When does the dog ban start in Cornwall?
A: On most restricted beaches, 1 July, running to 31 August. On Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches such as Polzeath, Porthmeor, Sennen and Gyllyngvase, 15 May to 30 September. The ban applies from 10am to 6pm only.

Q: Which Cornish beaches allow dogs all year?
A: Beaches with no council restriction include Watergate Bay, Fistral, Crantock, Holywell Bay, Perranporth, Harlyn, Constantine, Daymer Bay, Sandymouth, Par Sands, Polkerris, Carne and Pendower, Seaton and Whitsand Bay. Check the signs for any landowner rules.

Q: Can I take my dog to Porthcurno beach?
A: Not between 10am and 6pm from 1 July to 31 August. Outside those hours, and for the rest of the year, dogs are allowed.

Q: Are Harlyn Bay and Holywell Bay dog friendly?
A: Yes. Neither is covered by the council’s dog order. At Holywell, the National Trust asks for dogs on leads on the Kelseys and Cubert Common from March to September.

Q: What is the fine for taking a dog on a banned beach in Cornwall?
A: A £100 fixed penalty notice, or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted. Assistance dogs and working dogs are exempt.

References and resources