Dog-friendly beaches in Padstow

While Padstow itself is more known for its harbour than beaches, the good news for dogs and their prospective owners, is there are plenty of dog friendly beaches near Padstow. Many of Padstow’s dog-friendly beaches can be reached via South West Coast Path, and furry friends are welcomed along the whole stretch (that’s a mega 640 miles), providing they are always kept in sight; away from cliff edges, and on use a lead around sheep, cows and horses.

During the summer months many beaches in Cornwall, and a few around Padstow, have restrictions, the good news is that you’ll find that many of these dog restrictions are seasonal, usually just covering the peak season, and often only during the day.

Many dog-friendly beaches near Padstow can be reached from neighbouring beaches, however be sure to check tide times, as you won’t want to get stranded with your four-legged friend.

To help you spend more time on the beach, and less time searching the web for dog-friendly beaches, we’ve put together some of our favourite dog-friendly beaches near Padstow, here.

St George’s Cove

St George’s Cove is Padstow’s nearest beach, just over half a mile from the harbour with views to Rock and Daymer Bay, while it may be the closest there is a dog restriction in place for the height of summer, meaning dogs are banned from St Georges Cove from 1st July to 31st August (10am-6pm). A 15 minute walk along the pretty South West Coast Path, outside of the dog-restricted times, dog lovers and their owners will appreciate this sandy inlet facing out into the Camel Estuary.

On a full low tide, we recommend walking along the sand to neighbouring Harbour Cove and Hawkers Cove, which four-legged friends will enjoy.

Harbour Cove

For Padstow’s closest dog-friendly beach with no restrictions, Harbour Cove is less than two miles away via the coast path. Dog-friendly all year round, the sand is golden, the waters fairly shallow – if your dog likes a paddle – and, it has a secluded feel away from popular Padstow. Although it’s worth remembering that it’s not lifeguarded.

Backed by grassy dunes, it’s the perfect playground for canine companions.

View across Hawkers Cove, North Cornwall with Stepper Point in the backgrounded golden sands. shutterstock©Triple H Images

Hawkers Cove

A dog-friendly beach near Padstow, Hawkers Cove is a little further along the coast path, yet only two miles from Padstow harbour. when walking the coast path. You’ll want to keep an eye on tide times and arrive at low tide, where Hawkers Cove boasts an expanse of sand stretching almost 1.5 miles from the old lifeboat station, joining up with neighbouring Harbour Cove. A dog walking paradise!

Trevone Bay North Cornwall England UK near Padstow and Newquay and on the South West Coast Path in spring with blue sky and sea. Shutterstock ©Charlesy

Trevone Bay

A trip to Padstow’s closest Blue Flag beach (approximately two miles) is always worthwhile, although for dog owners there is unfortunately a dog ban in place between 15th May and 30 September (10am-6pm), so while it’s highly regarded it isn’t as welcoming of our four-legged friends as those without restrictions. However, for an early morning or evening dog walk, or if you’re visiting Padstow out of season, then Trevone Bay won’t disappoint.

The main beach is more of a sandy inlet that’s deeper than it is wide. To either side there are plenty of this expanse of rock pools for dogs to explore.

Surfers beach Treyarnon Bay Cornwall England UK north coast between Newquay and Padstow on a sunny blue sky day. Shutterstock ©Charlesy

 Treyarnon Bay

Treyarnon Bay is a dog-friendly beach near Padstow, around four miles away. With an expanse of soft sands and low waters dogs will love it here, so it’s a good jobs it welcomes dogs all year round. It is a short walk around the point from Constantine Bay to the north, if you want to try another dog-friendly beach in the area.   

 North-west facing, Treyarnon Bay is surrounded by low cliffs and backed by sand dunes, meaning there’s plenty for dogs to discover. 

Harlyn Bay

Just under three miles west of Padstow is dog-friendly beach Harlyn Bay. At low tide it’s a wide stretch of sand – with a few pebbles in the mix too – backed by dunes. Four legged friends will enjoy cooling off in the rockpools, while families will appreciate the reassurance of the lifeguard service between April and September. Dog-friendly all-year round, there’s a large car park with easy access to the beach (although it can be busy during peak times), plus public toilets.

Constantine Island in Constantine Bay near Trevose Head ©National Trust Images Sue Brackenbury

Constantine Bay

Three miles west of Padstow is the wonderful Constantine Bay. Constantine is a dog-friendly beach all year round, and at low tide when it connects to Booby’s Bay there’s an expanse of sand to explore, while at high tide it quickly changes to a shelving beach.

Constantine Bay is backed by a cluster of grassy sand dunes. The sand at Constantine is soft underfoot and pale in colour, shimmering from the sun. A popular choice for families and dog-walkers alike thanks to its wide bay, there are numerous rock pools to be discovered, and is also lifeguarded during the summer.

Trevose Head from Mother Ivey's Bay ©National Trust Images Sue Brackenbury

Mother Ivey’s Bay

Another dog-friendly beach near Padstow is Mother Ivey’s Bay. Four miles west of Padstow, this beach is protected from the wind by the rocks and tucked behind Trevose Head. A sheltered beach, it’s a soft and sandy bay and much quieter than its neighbours Harlyn and Constantine Bay and the best bit… is dog-friendly all-year round!

Access is somewhat remote, but you can reach Mother Ivey’s Bay via the coast path from Harlyn Bay – which naturally is steep in places, taking around 20-minutes on foot/and paws. While this beach boasts golden sand and at low tide there are several little coves to discover – but be mindful of when the tide comes in as you can get cut off and there’s no lifeguard service here.

Constantine Island in the mid ground taken from Trevose Head across Constantine Bay with Booby's Bay in the foreground ©National Trust Images Sue Brackenbury

Booby’s Bay

Booby’s Bay, is a beautiful dog-friendly beach near Padstow just four miles away. It’s worth noting that it’s completely covered at high tide but accessible at low, and just a short walk from the National Trust car park. The cliffs at Booby’s Bay are very steep, so if you take on a cliffside jaunt, please keep your dog on a lead, rest assured the views are very much worth for the walk. It is a rather rocky beach in places, but there is plenty of golden sand to enjoy.

Rock Beach

Not far from the fishing town is Rock, which offers a dog-friendly beach near Padstow. Avoid using the car at all and hop on the ferry service between Padstow and Rock.

Also known as Brea Beach, dog-friendly Rock Beach is a glorious white sandy stretch, framed by dunes, with lovely long or short dog walks depending on tides. Early mornings are especially fabulous along the Camel Estuary, but it is dog-friendly all year round, and about as flat as a beach can get. During low tide, Rock Beach links to Daymer Bay, providing you and your dog with a long stretch of sand and dunes, ideal for a game of fetch, or hide and seek

There are no strong waves or tides here, so it is perfect for children and dogs to romp around and play on the warm sand. In winter, it is even better as you will often find the expansive beach here pretty empty.

Daymer Bay

By road dog-friendly beach Daymer Bay is about 15 miles away from Padstow, however by using the Padstow to Rock ferry service, you and your dog can be in Rock in less than 10 minutes. It’s then a 1.5 miles coast path walk to Daymer Bay. It’s recommended to keep your dog on a lead when walking the coast path.

Once you arrive at this splendid bay, beach lovers will appreciate the long stretch of golden sand at low tide, backed by suntrap dunes and scenic views across the Camel Estuary. You’ll will find a few rockpools along the northern edge, close to the car park, where your dog may want to cool off. As it is slightly off the beaten track, Daymer Bay Beach has a more secluded feel to it than many local beaches.

If you’d rather drive straight to Daymer Bay, there is parking, via narrow roads, but if you’d an energetic dog then the walk from Rock and back will ensure everyone has got their steps in for the day.