Explore Cornwall's Dog Friendly Days Out

Cornish Sea Sanctuary – Gweek

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary allows dogs on a lead. Set in the pretty village of Gweek, Cornwall in the picturesque Helford Estuary, the Gweek Seal Sanctuary is a great place to visit, giving the opportunity to see the seals and other animals up close.

Excellent for children with a quiz trail running through the sanctuary. The original purpose of the Seal Sanctuary was to rescue seals particularly those found in need around Cornwall.

They still do this and rescue, rehabilitate, and release many seals each year. Some seals can’t be released and stay on at the centre where they can be seen, as well as grey and common seals they also have Fur Seals, Californian & Patagonian Sea Lions plus otters, penguins,sheep, ponies and goats.

The Lizard Peninsula

The Lizard Peninsula Cornwall is a great place to visit and a fantastic area for a day out. There are lots of dog friendly things to do and dog friendly places to visit such as long cliff walks with magnificent views, a visit to Lizard Point and the excellent and very dog friendly cafe there, the pretty harbour village of Coverack with the dog friendly Coverack Beach.

Trelowarren Estate – a superb country estate with beautiful walks and for you, a look around the village of Lizard with shops selling products made from serpentine, a special rock the area is famous for. You can also visit the viewing point for RNAS Culdrose the Royal Naval Base and see what is flying.

St Mawes Castle

St Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses and the most elaborately decorated of them all. One of the chains of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, it guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary.

It is still bedecked with carved Latin inscriptions in praise of King’s Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. Easily falling to a landward attack by Civil War Parliamentarian forces in 1646, it remained neglected until partial re-arming during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Dogs welcome on leads.

Mount’s Bay – Penzance

Mount’s Bay Cornwall is a beautiful bay with magnificent views out to sea and of St Michael’s Mount.

This day follows Mount’s Bay from Marazion Cornwall to Mousehole, Cornwall passing through Penzance and Newlyn – allowing you to explore whilst at the same time giving your dog a good walk – an ideal day out with a dog in Cornwall.

Holywell Bay – Newquay

Holywell Bay is situated just 5 miles outside Newquay and is a glorious stretch of golden sands which is dog friendly all year and was voted 4th best view in England and No1 for the best beach in England by the National Trust.

Above the beach is the Pirans Inn Pub which is a very dog friendly pub for a drink or food or the Treguth a lovely thatched roof pub very quaint, good food and dog friendly.

Newlyn Art Gallery

See some of the art the Cornwall area is so famous for in one of these two beautiful galleries.

We are really pleased to see that the galleries have both recently made the decision to allow dogs and we really hope this works for them. With two venues they are able to offer a wide and varied programme across two sites, showcasing the very best of national and international contemporary art, as well as work by some of the best artists currently working in the region. Free admission.

Cornish Goldsmiths Teasure Park – Portreath

The treasure park is a free attraction in Cornwall which allows dogs. You pay for the activities you want to do. It has indoor areas so is good in the rain. The main focus is on a selection of impressive jewellery shops. Running alongside are a build your own bear place, craft shop where you can paint your own things, ‘panning for gold or semi precious stones, crazy golf, various other entertainment outlets and jewellery workshops.

There is also a restaurant with varied menu (dogs are allowed in) where you can enjoy meals, coffee, cakes and Sunday lunch. There is a large free car parks surrounded by grass areas for dogs to stretch their legs and have a comfort break before entering the main area but please make sure you clean up after your dog or else they will end up being banned.

Port Eliot House and Gardens

Dogs are very welcome to go around the gardens and grounds on a lead and on Wednesday afternoons may run free on the Park. The Long Gallery Tea Room also welcomes dogs and is open each day for lunch and afternoon tea.

Having gazed at the art and masterpieces, explore the beautiful grounds. Meander through the maze, stroll along the estuary and camellia garden. Seasonal opening times only so please check the website for details.

Eden Project – St Austell

The Eden Project is one of the UK’s top gardens and eco tourist attractions. They can provide a fun family day out for the whole family, including the dog! The Eden Project is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall. You can visit their beautiful gardens, with miles of outdoor pathways and good dog walks for your dog to enjoy. There are also dedicated dog friendly facilities, including waste bins, water for dogs, and an undercover dining area where dogs are welcome.

Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Biomes or in other undercover areas, apart from the Visitor Centre. For more info see their website

Healey’s Cornish Cider Farm – Penhallow

Healey’s Cornish Cyder farm allow dogs at the Cyder Farm providing they are kept on leads but they are not allowed in the jam kitchen or the Restaurant.

The Cyder Farm is home to Cornish Rattler and the Cornish Scrumpy Co Ltd. Offers free entry, free parking, free tasting, chance to ‘watch us work’, farm animals and tractor rides.

Trelissick Park – Feock

Trelissick Park is a beautiful place to walk with a dog and there are marked circular walks, from about 2 to 5 miles, with beautiful views. There is a map near to the parking area and so you can decide which walk or walks to take. There is a gallery exhibiting local arts and crafts in which well behaved clean dogs are sometimes allowed at their discretion and a cafe which does not allow dogs inside but has outside seating. Free entrance for National Trust members, otherwise you pay to park.

From here you could venture across on the King Harry passenger and car ferry (which runs regularly in the day 7 days a week) to the Roseland Peninsula.

Lappa Valley Steam Railway – Newquay

Lappa Valley Steam Railway welcomes well behaved dogs on leads throughout the site including the cafe and trains (charges may apply).

Set in the Lappa Valley this looks a fun place to visit. There are three separate miniature railways, protected areas where wildlife thrives, boating lake, maze, crazy golf, play areas, woodland walks and nature trials and 9 hole golf course.

Pendennis Castle – Falmouth

Pendennis Castle , Falmouth, is one of the finest of the mighty fortresses built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion and is a dog friendly attraction in Cornwall. The castle has seen action in many conflicts and was one of the last royalist strongholds to fall during the English Civil War.

You can witness a Tudor gun deck in action here and see how the Guardhouse was equipped during the First World War. This award-winning visitor attraction in the south west also boasts an exciting interactive exhibition where you can experience the sights and sounds of battle and relive an enemy attack on a Second World War observation post. Dogs welcome on leads.

Wheal Martyn Museum and Country Park – St Austell

It is The UK’s only China Clay Museum. You can find out more about Cornwall’s rich China Clay heritage in the indoor interactive visitor, explore the 26 acre Country Park with woodland walks, nature trials, children’s play area and adventure course.

See a modern China Clay pit at work with monitor jets and giant machinery. They also have Cornwall’s largest working water wheel and good access to Clay Trails cycle route.

Tintagel Castle

For a magical day out, visit Tintagel Castle. Set high on the rugged North Cornwall coast, Tintagel Castle offers dramatic views, fascinating ruins and beach cafe making it a perfect day trip, ideal for those on holiday in Cornwall. Tintagel Castle is steeped in legend and mystery; said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, you can still visit the nearby Merlin’s Cave.

The castle also features in the tale of Tristan and Isolde. With a history stretching as far back as the Romans, Tintagel Castle is one of the most iconic visitor attractions in the south west. Dogs welcome on leads.

Chysauster Ancient Village

This Iron Age settlement was originally occupied almost 2,000 years ago. The village consisted of stone-walled homesteads known as ‘courtyard houses’, found only on the Land’s End peninsula and the Isles of Scilly.

The houses line a ‘village street’, and each had an open central courtyard surrounded by a number of thatched rooms. There are also the remains of an enigmatic ‘fogou’ underground passage. Dogs are welcome on leads.

Launceston Castle

Set on a large natural mound, Launceston Castle dominates the surrounding landscape and is dog friendly. 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. The tower top is now reached 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.