Dog-friendly Cornwall Year-round dog-friendly beaches

5 OF THE BEST DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES FOR FAMILIES

Many beaches in Cornwall are subject to a dog ban from 10am to 6pm throughout July and August. Here are five beaches which allow dogs all year round, and are family-friendly to boot. Find more at www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

Loe Beach near Feock This is a lovely sandy beach on the upper reaches of the Fal estuary, near Truro (not to be confused with Loe Bar, near Porthleven). There’s a café and a car park, and good, level access. It is dog-friendly all year and you can enjoy watersports including SUP, kayaking and sailing.

Perranporth This ever-popular sandy beach on the north coast allows dogs to run free off lead on Perran Sands to the north. Families will love it for the lovely soft sand and space, as well as nearby shops, cafés and The Watering Hole – the famed pub on the beach. There are dog-friendly ice creams on offer at several cafés, and there is even a doggy shower available alongside the human facilities. This beach is also really accessible, with fairly level access and car parks close by. Watergate Bay, Newquay This is our pick for several reasons. It’s wide, flat and sandy, with summer lifeguard cover and great facilities: toilets, cafés, shops, watersport lessons and hire. Look out for fabulous dog-friendly restaurants such as Wax and The Beach Hut, and coffee and snack vans, as well as magnificent coastal walks which are fairly easy. Park either right by the beach (with good level access) or on the hill above by the Hang Out Café, where there’s an easy stroll down the coast path to the beach.

Holywell Bay Distinctive for the twin peaks of Gull Rock just offshore, Holywell Bay will be familiar to Poldark fans as a key filming location for the BBC TV series. It is backed by beautiful, soft, sandy dunes with car park access right by the beach, and a couple of dog-friendly village pubs. Holywell gets its name from an ancient well tucked away in the dunes. A beautiful beach for a dog- and familyfriendly day out.

Carne beach, Roseland Peninsula On the southern shores of the beautiful Roseland Peninsula, Carne is sheltered by Nare Head and has National Trust parking and fairly easy access to the beach. The beach itself is sandy and popular with families, and is overlooked by the dog-friendly Nare Head Hotel, which comes highly recommended for cream teas and snacks. l

For more dog-friendly beaches, a list of beaches which have dog bans, and to order a printed guide with maps, visit www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

© Mike Newman See page 20

16 CAMEL CREEK FAMILY THEME PARK 18 MORVOREN POETRY 20 PASSPORT TO THE PATH 22 IMS PRUSSIA COVE 24 HELLYS INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 26 NEWQUAY ORCHARD AT 7 28 SUMMER READING RECOMMENDATIONS 30 BEAVERING AWAY 32 LONG WAY BACK 35 MY COAST - A BEACH SAFETY APP 36 SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IDEAS 38 GARDENS COTTAGE, ST BLAZEY