5 Dog Friendly Locations in Cornwall

Cornwall is a fantastic holiday destination for both dog and owner with loads to see and do. So what are the places you can go to with your dog(s) so they don’t feel left out at home?

Lizard Peninsular

You could have a day or days out on the Lizard Peninsular. There is a lot to do but you can mix and match your visit to suit you. Two of the main options are:

1. If you would like a walk or food. First you head to Lizard Village Cornwall at the head of the Lizard Peninsula where there is free parking in the centre of Lizard village and then you take a walk along the coast path. When you arrive you will find a map just to the side of the toilets showing various walks from the village this means you can choose a route to suit how far you would like to walk.If you take a walk which passes the Lighthouse and Lizard point, then you can visit the Polpeor cafe at Lizard Point (Shut in winter) which serves gorgeous food, has amazing views over the cliffs and out to sea and is dog friendly inside and on the terrace. They serve hot meals, snacks and drinks. (one point to note is they do not have toilets – there are some in the National Trust Car Park about a 5 / 10 minute walk away) Keep dogs on a lead as you have to BEWARE WHEN WALKING ON THE COAST PATH OF ADDERS. On your return to the village there are two dog friendly pubs – The Top House is dog friendly in the bar area and the Witch Bowl has a dog friendly area inside and a large outside area. But if it is a nice day and don’t mind sitting outside there are many options, including The Old Forge which has a lovely tea garden and interesting little museum area showing the history of the Forge or The Snack Shack, or there is also an excellent fish and chip shop in the centre of the village and plenty of places to enjoy eating them.
2. You take the B3293 road towards Coverack. You will pass Trelowarren Estate (signed as a left turn not far after the right turning at the roundabout). You weave down a windy lane through acres of countryside and follow the road to a parking area this may have a charge depending on the time of year. This is a beautiful estate with lots of walking, a lovely plant shop which attracts lots of birds, two gallery shops displaying impressive local works at a variety of prices and both definitely worth a look (Dogs allowed in at discretion of the gallery) and a bistro / cafe. (dogs are not allowed inside but if it is nice weather there is a outside seating area where you can sit.) There are toilets by the courtyard.

From here return to the road to Coverack Cornwall. After the right turn to Coverack you quickly come to a left turn to Roskilly’s which is a farm complex with a tea garden and ice cream shop

Famous for a huge range of Cornish ice cream and fudge. The complex also has a craft, gift, furniture and stained glass shop and Inlight organic skin care factory and small outlet (their skin care is lovely) you can pop in an sample their products. Dogs are not allowed in the cafe/restaurant and ice cream shop but the courtyard is a nice place to sit, covered in parts and they are welcome here. After refreshments you can take a walk around the duck pond (a dogs favourite!) and explore the farm (obviously dogs may be restricted from areas of the farm close to animals).

Continue on to Coverack Cornwall, a picturesque harbour village with a dog friendly beach all year. Check the tide times before visiting and go when the tide is out, or half in or half out as when the tide is in it comes very close to the wall and there is very little beach left to go on. There is a place to hire Kayaks and have windsurf lessons.

 

Healey’s Cyder Farm

Healey’s is dog friendly and so if you are looking for dog friendly things to do in Cornwall then Healey’s is perfect as dogs on leads are welcome to visit the outside areas of the farm and are welcome in the courtyard of the restaurant and their are water bowls dotted about for their refreshment.

Healey’s Cyder Farm also has loads to do for the whole family from tractor rides, seeing and petting the animals to having a tour of the production factory and walking round the orchard.

After working up an appetite you can go to the restaurant to enjoy a home-cooked meal made with the freshest local produce using many original recipes and healey’s own products.

Healey’s Cyder Farm has free entry and parking so is a great place to visit whatever the weather. You can simply pop in to pick up supplies from their shop stocked well with Cornish goodies and enjoy the sampling bar, have a bite to eat or a quick coffee in their stylish restaurant with courtyard or, stay longer and relax over lunch and make a great day out of exploring all the farm has to offer (charges apply for tours, tractor rides and entrance to some areas).

 

Cornwall’s Regimental Museum

Recognised as probably the finest Military Museum in the South West of England Cornwall’s Regimental Museum is housed in the former headquarters of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry “The Keep” at Bodmin, a magnificent Grade II listed Victorian building constructed in 1857. The museum displays around 12,000 items to bring the stories of battles that have been fought weapons used and the personal lives of those involved back to life.

Cornwall’s Regimental Museum is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall, dogs that are well behaved and on leads are aloud in to enjoy the day. But they may be refused entry in very busy times, however you can contact the museum before going if you want to make a special trip with your dog this is avoid any disappointed dogs

 

Tanglewood Gardens

Tanglewood is a wild garden where you can go to run, walk or sit to enjoy the peacefulness, tranquility and wonderful wildlife. All efforts have been made to keep the garden natural with sympathetic planting of native trees and plants, mixed with some exotics. If you are looking for family friendly things to do in Cornwall then Tanglewood provides for a great day out. It is very family friendly and offers something for every generation, from tiny tots to grandparents and is also dog friendly. But is probably not for you if you like the more formal garden.

Tanglewood is a great place to visit in Cornwall at all different times of the year to enjoy the seasonal changes – it is a place shared equally between humans and wildlife.

Begin your walk through the woodland and then to the garden and ponds, which in springtime have lots of baby frogs. In the pond areas also look out for Kingfisher, Heron, Mallards, Canadian Geese, Moorhens and Coots. Also you may spot Dragonflies, Damselflies, Frogs, Toads, Newts and Lizards, amongst others.An amazing area for photographers will find no shortage of subjects.

In the woodland areas Jays, Buzzards, Rooks, Snipe, Owls and Woodpecker have all been spotted alongside the usual wild birds. The woodland is a great place to run and explore. The Gunnera provides a great place for a game of hide and seek.

Equally, for those who want to just spend time quietly absorbing the atmosphere and observing what is around you Tanglewood offers quiet areas where you can get away from it all.

As you explore the garden you will come across the famous Tanglewood chainsaw carvings dotted around the ponds. These are all carved from wood from wind-felled trees by the owner Tony. Most have a humorous slant and may raise a smile or a chuckle.

This is a dog friendly place where you can walk around with your four legged doggy friend on a lead

There are no refreshment facilities at Tanglewood as they pride themselves in being an excellent picnic garden. So please feel free to bring your own picnic or you can take your own disposable barbeque. Toilet facilities are available (albeit a compost toilet).

 

Launceston Castle

Launceston Castle dominates the surrounding landscape and is dog friendly. Set on a natural mound. Started soon after the Norman Conquest, the focus is an unusual keep consisting of a 13th century round tower built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, inside an earlier circular shell-keep. You can now reach the tower top via an internal staircase. The castle long remained a prison and George Fox, founder of the Quakers, suffered harsh confinement here in 1656. A display traces 1,000 years of history, with finds from site excavations. Dogs welcome on leads.

This is just one of many dog friendly castles in Cornwall. Some others include:

1. Restormel Castle
2. St Mawes Castle
3. Pendennis Castle
4. Tintagel Castle

These are just a few places you can take your dog round cornwall there are also many other walks, beaches, houses and pubs you can take your dogs for a great holiday or day out.