Dog walks in north Cornwall

From woodland footpaths to riverside trails and sandy beaches, there’s plenty of variety in Cornwall for places to walk your dog. These are our favourite places to go for a dog walk in north Cornwall, taking you somewhere different every day of your Cornish holiday.

Tintagel King Arthur walk

The five mile dog-friendly circular walk around Tintagel encompasses the church, cliffs outside the village and then runs parallel to the coast before heading down to Trebarwith Stand and returning to Tintagel via the coast path. Throughout the walk you’ll pass lots of historical sites including quarries and, of course, Tintagel Castle.

Respryn Bridge

This relatively short circular walk of about a mile long starting from Respryn car park, and takes in some fantastic riverside and woodland scenery on the National Trust’s Lanhydrock estate. The route is completely dog friendly, and you can ever stop off at Lanhydrock’s tea room for some light refreshments.

Cardinham Woods

You’ll find four well-marked walking trails at Cardinham Woods, located on the outskirts of Bodmin. They range from 1.5 miles to 4 miles long, so there is something for everyone no matter your ability. Dogs are welcome all year round, and there is a fabulous cafe and picnic area to stop off for a rest once you’ve completed your dog walk.

The Camel Trail

The famous flat trail running from Wenfordbridge and Padstow is primarily known and used as a cycle route, but is also a popular walking destination for dog owners. In the height of the summer we would recommend heading to the Bodmin and Wenfordbridge leg of the path which can be slightly quieter, as the Wadebridge to Padstow route can get extremely busy and we wouldn’t want any of our four-legged friends to become distressed by the number of bicycles.

Crooklets Beach

At low tide Crooklets Beach on the north side of Bude is a canine dream. Adventurous dogs will love scrambling over the rocks and dipping their inquisitive noses into rock pools, whilst energetic types can perfect their jumping, running and fetching skills on the wide expanse of golden sand. It’s also home to the Bude Surf Life Saving Club for equally active owners, and has bucket loads of facilities with a play area, skate park, beach café, amusements and pubs all close by. Dogs are welcome on this beach except between Easter Sunday and 30 September when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

Porth Beach

Another great beach for getting paws sandy and tails wagging is Porth on the outskirts of Newquay. With endless flat yellow sand it offers the perfect playground for chasing seagulls, catching balls and jumping puddles. For dog owners, a walk around Porth Island, which can be reached via a foot bridge to the east of the beach, offers a lesson in local history with its impressive prehistoric defensive earthworks and the remains of a settlement. Dogs are welcome on this beach except between 1 May to 30 September when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

To see our extensive collection of dog-friendly holiday cottages in Cornwall, click here.