Finding dog-friendly beaches while on holiday in North Cornwall is key to a happy hound and human – and not being stung with a hefty fine!
Not only does North Cornwall offer a number of dog friendly beaches, it also has a variety of dog-friendly attractions and places to eat and drink, making it a great holiday destination for the whole family.
Gwelmor holiday cottage at Widemouth Bay, near Bude, has a whole host of fantastic beaches right on its doorstep, helping to keep everyone happy and well exercised.
The nearest beach to us is, of course, is Widemouth Bay beach.
Out of season you can roam to your hearts content, but between May 21 and September 30 a seasonal dog ban kicks in. It is in place between 10am and 6pm, so you can still get your morning and evening dog walks in.
An alternative is to take the short stroll across the sand dunes, heading south from Widemouth Bay car park, to Black Rock beach which is dog-friendly all year round.
Both Widemouth and Black Rock beaches lie on the South West Coast Path and there's two great sections to walk; southwards to Crackington Haven, and northwards to Bude town centre and beyond.
Both beaches also have their own dog-friendly cafes to grab a quick coffee or bite to eat and also have toilet facilities.
Two of our all-time favourite dog-friendly beaches are Northcott Mouth, just 11 mins drive along the seafront north from Gwelmor, and Sandymouth, a further five mins drive north.
Both are National Trust beaches and dog friendly all year round. Sandymouth is two kilometres long and at low tide a great expanse of sand is exposed, whilst at high tide it is mostly shingle.
Sandymouth is a great place for a spot of body boarding and has toilet facilities and a café so you can make a day of it.
Heading south two miles from Gwelmor, you’ll find the quiet pebble beach of Millook which lies under the imposing Penalt Cliff. Low tide exposes a large area of rocks making it a good spot for rock pooling. Dogs are allowed all year but there is no lifeguard cover here.
Heading into Bude itself, just three minutes drive from Gwelmor, there are two beaches on the edge of the town centre, Summerleaze and Crooklets, but these have some seasonal restrictions.
Both family friendly, the two beaches are actually attached and you can walk between the two at low tide. With excellent facilities including surf schools, colourful beach huts to hire, shops, toilets and cafes, they can get a little crowded in the height of summer.
At Summerleaze beach, which is home to Bude’s Sea Pool, dogs must be kept on leads between 10am and 6pm from May 21 to September 30. Dogs are banned from Crooklets between those dates and times.
There are plenty of other dog-friendly beaches to explore both in north Cornwall and over the border into north Devon.
Just four minutes' walk from the beach at Widemouth Bay, Gwelmor is a luxurious self-catering holiday cottage which sleeps six (plus travel cot).
Our property welcomes three dogs and has a host of provisions to make their stay as relaxing as yours!
Gwelmor was named the South West’s Best Dog Friendly Business of the Year 2021/2022 and won Gold at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2021/2022.
A large map on display in Gwelmor shows all the dog-friendly beaches throughout Devon and Cornwall so you won’t be short of seaside locations to explore during your stay with us - Book your stay today!
