Dog-Friendly Cornwall: Winter Walks

3 WINTER WALKS WITH BEACH CAFES

Words by Victoria Carpenter

Winter is the time when dog owners can enjoy walks on most of Cornwall’s beaches, often with huge expanses of sand all to themselves. To help make the most of our beautiful coastline at this time of year, and to celebrate all those cafés which stay open all year round, here are some walks to try. Find more at www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

GUNWALLOE via Poldhu 1.5 miles, 40 mins With its 15th century church tucked right at the edge of the beach, Church Cove at Gunwalloe is a really lovely place for a bracing winter walk. This one is easy but beautiful. Leave the A3083 Helston-Lizard road to reach the village of Gunwalloe and head on past The Halzephron Inn (gorgeous food and super dog-friendly!) to arrive at the National Trust Car park at Church Cove. Park here and take a short stroll past Dollar Cove - which gets its name from silver dollars washed ashore from a famous treasure wreck, and is dog-friendly all year round. Next you will come to St Winwaloe Church, famous from a scene in the recent Poldark BBC series. Continue from the car park along the path behind the beach and follow the coast path up over the golf course with the sea to your right. After a short distance, you’ll come to another car park up on the headland with views over Mount's Bay and it’s a short walk down the road to Poldhu Beach from here, and along the back of the beach to the lovely Poldhu Beach Café, where you can stop awhile before retracing your steps. No matter how hard the winter storms are blowing, Poldhu Beach Café is open 363 days each year (closed Christmas Day and Flora Day), offering a rather legendary selection of hot chocolates as well as snacks such as burgers, breakfast in a box and cakes. There is an annual Boxing Day swim for charity.

WIDEMOUTH BAY via Bude 6 miles, 3 hours Starting at the right hand side of Widemouth Bay as you face the sea, head over the footbridge and follow the path past Salthouse Cottage until you reach the circle of stones on the headland known as Lower Longbeak. From here, turn right and follow the coast path north towards Bude. At a fork in the path, take the left towards Higher Longbeak headland. Continue on the coast path past Philip’s Point nature reserve. From here, follow the coast path through kissing gates and field gates and you will pass Compass Point, where there is a stone watchtower. Continue down some steps and you will soon come to Summerleaze beach in Bude. Turn inland and follow the path alongside Bude Canal, until you come to some steps signposted left which will lead you towards the road and the bridge at the Falcon Hotel. From here, follow the canal to Helebridge until you reach a fork and a footbridge. The path here is signposted to Widemouth Bay. Continue past the lake and turn right until you come to the public footpath. Turn left to follow this path which takes you through kissing gates and fields. Eventually the path will bring you back to Marine Drive and Salthouse Cottage where you bear left back to Widemouth Bay.

The Widemouth Bay café sells hot and cold drinks and has a really great menu, from coffee and cake to burgers and fish and chips. It is situated right on the beach and open year round. www.widemouthbaycafe.co.uk

Porth to Watergate Bay 4 miles, 2 hours From Porth beach, head up the coast path from the right of the beach (as you face the sea) and bear left on the road until you come to a gateway onto a gravel path. Continue past an information board at Trevelgue Head and follow the coast path to Whipsiderry beach. Cross the beach and climb the steps back onto the coast path. Here you will pass RAF St Mawgan on your right, and eventually come to a mound which is a Bronze Age barrow. From here follow the coast path through a gap in the hedge and the route will take you down to Watergate Bay. The Beach Hut here and Wax are dog-friendly when open. To complete the walk head back up the path behind the car park signposted to Porth and retrace your path.

The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay may be closed for the season, but it has opened a winter pop-up, No.1 Cubs, offering coffee, drinks and food all year round. l For more dog friendly adventures visit www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk