A family holiday needs to cater for the whole family – and for many of our visitors that includes a four-legged friend. The good news is that Cornwall is full of great dog-friendly things to see and do. Here are some of our favourites.
Sand between your paws
There are so many incredible beaches to choose from in Cornwall, but always check if dogs are welcome, as some beaches have dog bans during the busier months.
We’re lucky to have Crantock Beach right on our doorstep. It’s cared for by the National Trust and was voted the Best British Beach by BBC Coast in 2013. Dogs are welcome on the beach all year round. The huge stretch of sand and dunes are a perfect place for dogs to play.
Holywell Beach is also dog-friendly all year round and is very close to Crantock Bay. This stunning beach was used as a location for filming of the BBC’s Poldark series.
Mawgan Porth beach is halfway between Newquay and Padstow. Surrounded by stunning cliffs, dogs are welcome all year round.
Days out with doggies
Cornwall’s iconic Eden Project was voted the world’s best location for walking dogs in 2018. Dogs are welcome in all outdoor areas, so you will have miles of beautiful gardens to explore. However, please bear in mind that dogs are not allowed into the biomes. You can find out more about Eden’s dog-friendly facilities here.
Lappa Valley is a big hit with families, thanks to its steam trains, paddle boats and play parks. And the good news is that dogs are welcome too. Located in the countryside just outside Newquay, Lappa Valley is just a short drive from Crantock Bay.
Dogs are also welcome on boat trips run by Newquay Sea Safari and Fishing and the captain even keeps dog biscuits onboard. Explore the North Cornwall coast and see Newquay from the sea. The boat trips include cruises to hidden coves and secret beaches to meet wildlife up close in their natural environment.
Paws for a pint – dog friendly pubs and restaurants
Our very own C-Bay Bar and Bistro welcomes dogs and their owners for coffee, food and drinks throughout the day. With comfy seating and an unsurpassed view of the coastline, it’s the perfect place to relax after a run on the beach below.
Beach bars don’t come much better than the Watering Hole, which is right in the middle of Perranporth Beach – a nine-mile drive from Crantock Bay. Walk your dog on the miles of golden sands of Perranporth then pop into the Watering Hole for a tasty lunch.
The Hawkins Arms in Probus, near Truro, has been voted Cornwall’s best pub on TripAdvisor. Visitors praise its great food and warm welcome – which extends to dogs too!
Dogs are welcome at the courtyard tables at Rick Stein’s Café in Padstow. A great place for coffee, lunch, or an evening meal, where freshly caught fish is sure to be on the menu.
Woodland walks
Cardinham Woods has miles of paths to explore with your dog – and after you’ve stretched your legs, you can enjoy a delicious Cornish cream tea at the Woods café (jam first of course!)
Idless Woods near Truro is another great place to walk. There are a variety of different paths to explore, including a circular path, or you can head straight up the hill from the car park to walk along the peak of the woodland.
Spring is a beautiful time of year in Cornwall, with flowers blooming, temperatures rising and the beaches still quiet, it’s the ideal time to get out and explore some of the fantastic walks around Cornwall.
Here are five great routes that are within 30 minutes of us here at Crantock Bay Apartments.
Starting at Crantock Beach this circular route will take you along the coast path to Penpol Creek, passing through fields and woodland along the way, before you make your way down to the sand, following the estuary bed and onto the footpath that will lead you back around to Crantock.
A beautiful walk that enjoys plenty of stunning views, it is essential that you time your outing with low tide. Around 4.5 miles in length it is only around a six-minute drive from Crantock Bay.
Photo by Tom Tolkien
This walk begins at the car park in West Pentire and heads north towards the coast, starting a circular path that will take you past Porth Joke, an Iron Age fort, Holywell Beach and more – enjoying spectacular scenery as you go.
Offering fantastic displays of poppies and other wild meadow flowers during the summer, as well as magnificent coastal views, this route is well worth exploring. Around 6 miles in length, the starting point is only around a two-minute walk away from us.
Photo by Nilfanion
A beautiful cliff top walk, this route provides a great opportunity to see some of the mining relics in the area, as well as the remnants of an old airfield that was used during the war. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a look at the cliffs below Droskyn too, which were once famous for smugglers.
Around 3.6 miles in length and around a twenty-minute drive from Crantock Bay, the path is generally flat with one steep valley climb to tackle along the way.
The perfect choice for those wishing to see the iconic stacks – known to many as the legendary rocks that the giant Bedruthan used as stepping stones – highlights of this walk include the spectacular coastal scenery, the beaches of Pentire Steps and Bedruthan, as well as the many wildflower varieties that can be enjoyed during spring and early summer.
A 4.5 mile circular route that begins and ends in the Pentire Farm car park, it is around a thirty minute drive from Crantock Bay.
Photo by Robert Pittman
Moving in from the coast, around a twenty five minute drive inland will take you to Goss Moor and its circular trail. 7 miles in length, the mostly flat path winds its way around the moor, providing the perfect track for walkers, runners, cyclists and riders to enjoy the area safely. The largest surviving remnant of the mid-Cornwall moors, Goss Moor is a beautiful place to explore.
Easter arrives late this year with Good Friday falling on 19 April. Being a moveable celebration, the date changes each year – and it all depends on the moon. Easter Sunday is calculated as the one which follows the full moon that falls after the first day of spring. This means that it could be any time between 22 March and 25 April.
Whatever the date, Easter is a great time to visit Cornwall. The county springs back into life after winter, with longer days and warmer weather – perfect for exploring.
Crantock Bay Apartments are a great base for an Easter break. Located right on the coast, with easy access to Crantock Beach and an ever-changing view out to sea. There are great on-site facilities too, including a spa, indoor swimming pool, tennis court (with an incredible view) and a newly extended café/bar/bistro.
There are lots of things to see and do over Easter near us – here are just some of our favourites:
Follow the clues around the garden at Trerice and finish your adventure with a chocolate treat at the end. National Trust properties throughout the county are hosting self-guided nature-themed Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts for children. The money raised will help the National Trust’s conservation work.
Enjoy an Easter-themed afternoon tea at Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm. After exploring, tuck into sweet and savoury treats inspired by the animals on the farm. Healeys delicious homemade scones also feature and are served with lashings of Cornish clotted cream and their own jam. Parking and entry to the farm is free all year round.
Join Rogue Theatre deep in the woods of Tehidy this Easter for a trail like no other – let your imagination lead you into nature’s dream and discover the wild new world of spring. Lose yourselves in the wild wood and find yourselves in even wilder tales, collect the clues and follow the Hare to the Woodland King. He’ll be waiting with more stories and a chocolate treat for everyone!
Head to the Eden Project for a fun-packed day out at their farm-themed Easter event, which includes a giant scramble course and special chocolate treats. Join the Eden Farmers to help round up their animals and learn what makes crops grow. Collect stamps to fill up your card and eggschange them for cracking prizes!
Hunt for bats, meet creepy crawlies, reptiles and owls at Bodmin Jail on their Easter Sunday family fun day. The day includes a guided tour of the jail, face painting and an egg hunt too – so those who’d prefer less of a fright will also be catered for.
Whatever you decide to see and do, we’re sure that a stay at Crantock Bay Apartments will be eggscellent!
