All About Cornwall

A day on the Lizard Peninsula – the Lizard Peninsula Cornwall is a great place to visit and a good place for a day out with a dog in Cornwall.  There are lots of dog friendly things to do and dog friendly places to visit such as long cliff walks with magnificent views, a visit to Lizard Point and the excellent and very dog friendly cafe there, the pretty harbour village of Coverack with the dog friendly Coverack Beach, Trelowarren Estate - a fantastic country estate with beautiful walks and for you a look around the village of Lizard, famous for serpentine and the shops there and you can also visit the viewing point for RNAS Culdrose the Royal Naval Base and see what is flying today. Read More about a dog friendly day on the Lizard Peninsula......

Mount’s Bay Cornwall is a beautiful bay with magnificent views out to sea and of St Michael’s Mount.  This day follows Mount’s Bay from Marazion Cornwall to Mousehole Cornwall passing through Penzance and Newlyn -  allowing you to explore whilst at the same time giving your dog a good walk – an ideal day out with a dog in Cornwall.  Dog friendly places to eat and drink are recommended along the way.  You can walk the whole way or split the day between driving and walking or catch a bus, making a day which suits you (and your dog). More information about dog friendly walk at Mount's Bay Cornwall...

Out of the main summer holiday season (when it is very busy) Newquay can be a great place to visit with a dog. Most of the Newquay beaches are dog friendly all year round giving your dog chance to have a good run and play and there are some cliff paths with stunning views (please keep dogs on leads by cliff edges as every year dogs in Cornwall fall to their deaths over cliffs) for enjoyable walks.

The walk described here takes you right around Newquay taking in beaches and cliff views. You can follow all the walk or just parts of it depending on how far you would like to walk.

We do not have many indoor places to recommend to eat yet with a dog in the Newquay area and so if you come across somewhere you can recommend please let us know so we can share this with others. A walk around Newquay Cornwall.

Gratefully recommended to us by Henry one of our doggy viewers this could be a whole day or couple of hours. Holywell Bay is situated just 5 miles outside Newquay and is a glorious stretch of golden sands which is dog friendly all year and was voted 4th best view in England and No1 for the best beach in England by the National Trust. Above the beach is the Pirans Inn Pub which is a very dog friendly pub for a drink or food. The Pirans Inn is open Monday to Saturday 11am to closing time, Sundays 11am to 10pm.  Lunch served 12 noon until 2.30pm and dinner 5.30pm until 9pm. Closed from 1st November to 1st March each year. View their web-site for more information www.piransinn.co.uk.

Trelissick Park is a beautiful place to walk with a dog in Cornwall and there are marked circular walks, from about 2 to 5 miles, with beautiful views.  There is a map near to the parking area and so you can decide which walk or walks to take.  Dogs are not allowed into the official National Trust Gardens.   There is a gallery exhibiting local arts and crafts in which well behaved clean dogs are sometimes allowed at their discretion and a cafe which does not allow dogs inside but has outside seating (although which in my opinion is very over priced and not good value).  Free entrance for National Trust members, otherwise you pay to park.

From here you could venture across on the King Harry passenger and car ferry (which runs regularly in the day 7 days a week) to the Roseland Peninsula and explore here.....

www.nationaltrust.org .uk/ trelissick-garden/
Tel: 01872 862090

Lappa Valley Steam Railway  is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall and welcomes well behaved dogs on leads throughout the site including the cafe and trains (charges may apply).

Set in the Lappa Valley this looks a fun place to visit and is on Millie’s to do list. There are three separate miniature railways, protected areas where wildlife thrives, boating lake, maze, crazy golf, play areas, woodland walks and nature trials and 9 hole golf course.

Lappa Valley Steam Railway, St. Newlyn East,
Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5LX Tel: 01872 510317
www.lappavalley.co.uk

Gweek seal sanctuary is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall and allows dogs on a lead.   Set in the pretty village of Gweek Cornwall in the picturesque Helford Estuary, the Gweek Seal Sanctuary is a great place to visit, giving the opportunity to see the seals and other animals up close.  Excellent for children with a quiz trail running through the sanctuary. The original purpose of the Seal Sanctuary was to rescue seals particularly those found in need around Cornwall. They still do this and rescue, rehabilitation, and release many seals each year.  Some seals can’t be released and stay on at the centre where they can be seen as well as grey and common seals they also have Fur Seals, Californian & Patagonian Sea Lions as well as otters, penguins, sheep, ponies and goats. 

The National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek,  Helston, Cornwall TR12 6UG
Tel: 0871 423 2110
www.sealsanctuary. co.uk/corn1.html

Trebah Gardens could make a great day out with a dog in Cornwall, especially for garden lovers.  They are a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall allowing dogs on leads throughout the gardens. The fantastic gardens are rated among the 80 finest gardens in the world and present a sub-tropical paradise with a stunning coastal backdrop. They even have their own secluded beach on the Helford River with views out to the Cornish sea.  In Spring you can see Rhododendrons, Magnolias and Camellias, Summer Giant Gunnera, Autumn Hydrangea Valley and in Winter spectacular trees. 

Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5JZ
Tel: 01326 252200
www.trebahgarden.co.uk

Healey’s Cornish Cyder farm is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall, sounds fun and is definitely on our to do list!  They allow dogs at the Cyder Farm providing they are kept on leads but they are not allowed in the jam kitchen or the Restaurant.

The Cyder Farm is home to Cornish Rattler and the Cornish Scrumpy Co Ltd. Offers free entry, free parking, free tasting, chance to  ‘watch us work’ and farm animals and tractor rides.

Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9LW
Tel: 01872 573356
www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk

Holywell Bay Fun Park - we have never visited but this looks a good place to visit if you have children with you.  Holywell Bay Fun Park is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall and dogs are allowed all over the park, although they are not currently allowed inside the Diner but there is seating outside. As far as I know they are allowed in Woody's (a cafe) inside and out.  You pay for the things you want to do as you go along entry and parking is free.  They have F1 Go Karts & 2 Seater Star Cars,Thunder Racing, 18 hole Pitch & Putt, shooting range, sand and digger pits, bouncy castles,  panning for gold to name a few things.

Holywell Bay Fun Park, Holywell Bay, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5PW
Tel: 01637 830095
www.holywellfunpark.co.uk

Carnglaze Caverns is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall and dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and ancient woodland  at Carnglaze all year round.   Dogs are not allowed underground in the caverns and but can be tied up in a non-public area, where they have access to drinking water. Carnglaze is set amongst the wooded hillside and has a collection of limited edition bronze faeries, mushrooms & dragons.   There is a woodland path to a panoramic view of St Neot village. In spring the woodlands have a spectacular carpet of 3 acres of bluebells and other seasonal wild flowers.

Carnglaze Caverns, St Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6HQ
Tel: 01579 320251 www.carnglaze.com

Wheal Martyn Museum  is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall and could make a different day out with your dog.  It is The UK's only China Clay Museum.  You can find out more about Cornwall’s rich China Clay heritage in the indoor interactive visitor, explore the 26 acre Country Park with woodland walks, nature trials,  children’s play area and adventure course.  See a modern China Clay pit at work with monitor jets and giant machinery.  They also have Cornwall’s largest working water wheel and good access to  Clay Trails cycle route.  This could be a good day out with your dog in Cornwall.

Wheal Martyn, Carthew, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 8XG
Tel 01726 850362
www.wheal-martyn.com

For a magical day out in Cornwall which is dog friendly, visit Tintagel Castle. Set high on the rugged North Cornwall coast, Tintagel Castle offers dramatic views, fascinating ruins and beach cafe making it a perfect day trip, ideal for those on holiday in Cornwall or even Dorset and Dartmoor. Tintagel Castle is steeped in legend and mystery; said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, you can still visit the nearby Merlin's Cave. The castle also features in the tale of Tristan and Isolde. With a history stretching as far back as the Romans, Tintagel Castle is one of the most iconic visitor attractions in the south west. Dogs welcome on leads.

Tintagel Castle, Castle Road, Tintagel, North Cornwall, PL34 0HE  Tel: 01840 770328 www.english-heritage.org.uk/tintagel 

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, is one of the finest of the mighty fortresses built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion and is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall. The castle has seen action in many conflicts and was one of the last royalist strongholds to fall during the English Civil War.You can witness a Tudor gun deck in action here and see how the Guardhouse was equipped during the First World War. This award-winning visitor attraction in the south west also boasts an exciting interactive exhibition where you can experience the sights and sounds of battle and relive an enemy attack on a Second World War observation post. Dogs welcome on leads.

Pendennis Castle, Castle Road, Falmouth, West Cornwall, TR11 4LP  Tel: 01326 316594 www.english-heritage.org.uk/pendennis

This Iron Age settlement was originally occupied almost 2,000 years ago. The village consisted of stone-walled homesteads known as 'courtyard houses', found only on the Land's End peninsula and the Isles of Scilly. The houses line a 'village street', and each had an open central courtyard surrounded by a number of thatched rooms. There are also the remains of an enigmatic 'fogou' underground passage. Dogs are welcome on leads.

Chysauster Ancient Village, Newmill, Penzance, West Cornwall, TR20 8XA   Tel: 01736 757934 www.english-heritage.org.uk/chysauster

Set on a large natural mound, Launceston Castle dominates the surrounding landscape and is dog friendly. Started soon after the Norman Conquest, the focus is an unusual keep consisting of a 13th century round tower built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, inside an earlier circular shell-keep. The tower top is now reached via an internal staircase. The castle long remained a prison and George Fox, founder of the Quakers, suffered harsh confinement here in 1656. A display traces 1,000 years of history, with finds from site excavations. Dogs welcome on leads.

Launceston Castle, Castle Lodge, Launceston, North Cornwall, PL15 7DR  Tel: 01566 772365 www.english-heritage.org.uk/launceston

The great 13th century circular shell-keep of Restormel still encloses the principal rooms of the castle in remarkably good condition. It stands on an earlier Norman mound surrounded by a deep dry ditch, atop a high spur beside the River Fowey. Twice visited by the Black Prince, it finally saw action during the Civil War in 1644. It commands fantastic views and is a favourite picnic spot. When you visit keep an eye out for 'Tetraphasis Obscurus', the 'Black Pheasant' that prowls the castle grounds. Dogs welcome on leads.

Restormel Castle, Restormel Road, Lostwithiel, South Cornwall, PL22 0EE   Tel: 01208 872687 www.english-heritage.org.uk/restormel

St Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all. One of the chain of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, it guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary. It is still bedecked with carved Latin inscriptions in praise of King's Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. Easily falling to a landward attack by Civil War Parliamentarian forces in 1646, it remained neglected until partial re-arming during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dogs welcome on leads.

St Mawes Castle, Castle Drive, St Mawes, West Cornwall TR2 5DE   Tel: 01326 270526   www.english-heritage.org.uk/stmawes

Carboots – in the summer months – Carboots can be something different to do and a chance to pick up a bargain or holiday souvenir.  Cornwall has a number of carboots, mainly in the summer months and dogs are allowed to a lot of them.  Check with the organiser before you go for an up to date answer on if their carboot is dog friendly.