5 of the best year round dog-friendly beaches

Cornwall is replete with gorgeous sandy beaches and to choose a favourite is practically an impossible task.

When narrowed down to those that are dog-friendly all year round it’s hard to choose ‘5 of the best’, so for this issue we’ve adopted a ‘name out of a hat’ approach and settled on the following beaches, each of which is perfect for you and your pooch to enjoy a seaside stroll, whatever the time of year.

1 Polpeor Cove

Located at Britain’s most southerly point on the Lizard peninsula, Polpeor Cove is a small, south-facing beach located next to the old lifeboat station at Lizard Point. There is a fantastic walk along the coastal path above the beach which, when tied in with a trip down to the water’s edge and a stop off at Polpeor Café, makes for a fantastic dog’s day out.

2 Holywell Bay

This huge gold, sandy beach backed by sand dunes is typical of the north coast’s wide, open bays. You may recognise the beach and the backdrop of Gull Rock out to sea from Poldark, and your dog is sure to love having so much room to bound, sniff and roll. This is a great beach for dogs with lots of energy!

3 Mexico Towans
As you might have guessed, a trip to Mexico Towans could quite easily fool you into believing you’ve been teleported to the Americas, especially in the summer. The towans form part of a stunning, four-mile stretch of sand that begins at the mouth of the Hayle estuary and continues all the way to the iconic lighthouse at Godrevy. The beach here is set against the dramatic backdrop of towering sand dunes, and your dog will delight in running, sniffing, digging and paddling, all in equal measure.

4 FISTRAL

Long, sandy, west facing and backed by rocks and cliffs, Fistral is the perfect family beach, especially as furry, four-legged members are also welcome all year round! With amazing surf, restaurants all but on the beach, and facilities that include surf hire and lessons, Fistral is the perfect family playground if you’re exploring the coast with your dog.

5 Trebarwith Strand

Less than two miles south of Tintagel – famed for its association with the legend of King Arthur – Trebarwith Strand can be reached by walking along the coast path. A superb beach all round, it offers good bathing waters and surfing, with lots for your waggy-tailed friend to explore.