Most Cornish beaches welcome dogs all year. Only 48 of Cornwall’s beaches close to dogs at all, most of them only from 10am to 6pm in July and August, and one more asks for dogs on leads. This guide lists the best beaches you can use with your dog in every month, area by area, and every beach that has summer rules, so you know exactly where to go before you set off.
The rules below come from Cornwall Council’s official list, checked on 12 November 2026.
How Cornwall’s dog beach rules work
If a beach isn’t on Cornwall Council’s list, dogs can use it all year. The rules only apply between 10am and 6pm, so early-morning and evening walks are fine everywhere except three estuary sites.
| Rule | Dates | Hours | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| No dogs, summer holidays | 1 July to 31 August | 10am to 6pm | 34 |
| No dogs, longer season (the busiest beaches) | 15 May to 30 September | 10am to 6pm | 11 |
| Dogs on leads | 21 May to 30 September | 10am to 6pm | 1 (Summerleaze, Bude) |
| No dogs, all year (wildlife sites) | All year | All day | 3 (Carnsew Pool, Copperhouse Pool and Hayle Estuary) |
Privately owned beaches, such as Lusty Glaze in Newquay, can set their own rules, so we flag those where we know of them.
North Coast: beaches open to dogs all year
The North Coast has the biggest choice of year-round dog beaches in Cornwall, including the surf beaches around Newquay.
| Beach | Near | Why go with your dog | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandymouth | Bude | Wide sand at low tide below dramatic cliffs | North Coast |
| Northcott Mouth | Bude | Quiet rock pools and sand, a short walk from Sandymouth | North Coast |
| Trebarwith Strand | Tintagel | Golden sand that appears as the tide drops | North Coast |
| Daymer Bay | Rock | Sheltered estuary sand, a short ferry hop from Padstow | Padstow |
| Harlyn Bay | Padstow | A broad, gently shelving bay | Padstow |
| Constantine Bay | Padstow | Big dunes and rock pools at either end | Padstow |
| Mawgan Porth | Newquay | A sandy cove with a stream for paddling | Newquay |
| Watergate Bay | Newquay | Two miles of sand at low tide | Newquay |
| Fistral | Newquay | Cornwall’s famous surf beach | Newquay |
| Crantock | Newquay | Dunes, the Gannel estuary and a long sandy bay | Newquay |
| Holywell Bay | Newquay | Dunes and a stream down to the sea | Newquay |
| Perranporth | Perranporth | Three miles of sand when the tide is out | North Coast |
West Cornwall: beaches open to dogs all year
St Ives’ four main beaches and Carbis Bay all have summer rules, so in July and August head for Porthkidney Sands, just along the bay.
| Beach | Near | Why go with your dog | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porthkidney Sands | Lelant, St Ives | A huge, quiet beach on the Hayle estuary with views to Godrevy lighthouse | St Ives |
| Gwenver | Sennen | Sennen’s wilder neighbour, open to dogs when Sennen isn’t | West Cornwall |
| Priest’s Cove | Cape Cornwall | A rocky cove below Cape Cornwall, good for a sniff and a paddle | West Cornwall |
| Lamorna Cove | Mousehole | A sheltered granite cove on the coast path | West Cornwall |
The Lizard: beaches open to dogs all year
Most of the Lizard’s famous coves, including Kynance, Poldhu and Kennack Sands, close to dogs from 10am to 6pm in July and August. These stay open all year.
| Beach | Near | Why go with your dog | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loe Bar | Porthleven | A mile-long shingle bar between the sea and Cornwall’s largest natural lake | The Lizard |
| Porthleven East | Porthleven | The town beach east of the harbour (only Porthleven West has summer rules) | The Lizard |
| Coverack | Coverack | A sheltered fishing-village beach on the east side of the Lizard | The Lizard |
South Coast: beaches open to dogs all year
All five of Falmouth’s beaches have summer rules, so in summer head out to the Roseland or east towards Fowey and Looe.
| Beach | Near | Why go with your dog | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carne and Pendower | Veryan, Roseland | Two joined sandy beaches below the Nare | South Coast |
| Porthcurnick | Portscatho, Roseland | A quiet sandy cove just north of Portscatho | South Coast |
| Par Sands | Par | A big, flat sandy beach with dunes behind | South Coast |
| Polkerris | Fowey | A tiny harbour beach with a sheltered cove | South Coast |
| Hannafore | West Looe | Rock pools and views out to Looe Island | Looe |
| Talland Bay | Looe | A pretty cove on the coast path to Polperro | Looe |
| Whitsand Bay | Rame Peninsula | Miles of sand below the cliffs, reached by steep paths | South Coast |
East Looe’s main town beach is owned by the East Looe Town Trust and closed to dogs all year.
Every Cornish beach with summer dog rules
All restrictions run from 10am to 6pm unless marked otherwise. Outside those hours, and outside these dates, dogs are welcome.
| Beach | Area | When dogs can’t go |
|---|---|---|
| Crackington Haven | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Crooklets, Bude | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Summerleaze, Bude | North Coast | Leads only, 21 May to 30 Sep |
| Widemouth | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Polzeath | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Trevone | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| St George’s Well, Padstow | North Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Porth Beach, Newquay | North Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Porthtowan | North Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Chapel Porth, St Agnes | North Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Portreath, including the harbour | North Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Harveys Towans to Godrevy Point, Hayle | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Carbis Bay | West Cornwall | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Porthminster, St Ives | West Cornwall | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Porthmeor, St Ives | West Cornwall | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Porthgwidden, St Ives | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| St Ives Harbour Beach | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Sennen | West Cornwall | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Porthgwarra | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Porthcurno | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Mousehole to Skilly Beach | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Wherry Town to Battery Rocks, Penzance | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Longrock level crossing to Marazion | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Perranuthnoe | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Praa Sands | West Cornwall | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Carnsew Pool, Copperhouse Pool and Hayle Estuary | West Cornwall | All year, all day |
| Porthleven West | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Church Cove, Gunwalloe | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Poldhu, Mullion | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Polurrian Cove, Mullion | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Kynance Cove | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Housel Bay | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Cadgwith Cove | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Kennack Sands | The Lizard | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Maenporth, Falmouth | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Swanpool, Falmouth | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Gyllyngvase, Falmouth | South Coast | 15 May to 30 Sep |
| Tunnel Beach, Falmouth | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Castle Beach, Falmouth | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Summer’s Beach, St Mawes | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Tattam’s Beach, Portscatho | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Porthpean, St Austell | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Portmellon Cove, Mevagissey | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Readymoney Cove, Fowey | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Hoodny Beach and Portwrinkle Harbour | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
| Cawsand | South Coast | 1 Jul to 31 Aug |
Source: Cornwall Council, dogs on beaches, checked 12 November 2026.
Plan your dog-friendly break in Cornwall
Found your beach? Our dog-friendly Cornwall guide has places to stay in every corner of the county, from surf-side hotels in Newquay to cottages near the Roseland’s quiet beaches, plus where to eat out and what to do with your dog.