The Best Dog Walks in West Cornwall
Are you heading down to Cornwall on holiday with your dog? West Cornwall is the perfect destination for dog-friendly holidays, not least for its fantastic choice of walks. Wherever you stay in West Cornwall, you and your pup will soon discover our excellent walking routes, some even from your holiday cottage doorstep.
Here are a few of our personal favourite dog walks – as approved by our own dogs, naturally.
A Coastal Walk – Lelant to Porthkidney
If your dog could choose a beach, they would choose Porthkidney. It’s a huge sweep of sand that is simply made for scampers, and we have never met a dog who does not love it here! It’s pretty good for owners too, with its views across Hayle Estuary and over to St Ives. Park by the church in Lelant village and follow the footpath down to the sands.
West Cornwall has a great choice of coves and beaches for salt-scented walks. Read our guide to Cornwall’s beautiful dog-friendly beaches for other lovely seaside suggestions, and we also recommend bookmarking Cornwall Council’s guide to dogs on beaches for specific seasonal restrictions. Download a tide times app so you won’t get cut off (stretches of Porthkidney disappear at low water).
Steeple Woods – St Ives
Are you staying in Carbis Bay or St Ives? These lovely woods are your best option for an inland dog walk, reached easily from a footpath next to the Cornish Arms. The 40-acre nature reserve is the perfect place for pups and kids to run off some steam!
Most walkers take the path through the trees towards Knill’s Monument, where there are spectacular views over St Ives Bay. Pack a picnic and a handful of doggie treats and take a break to admire the beautiful surroundings.
Plan your visit to Steeple Woods.
Trevaylor Woods – Penzance
Just outside Penzance, these woods are a popular place for local dog walkers. Shady Trevaylor Woods is especially lovely on a hot day and the cooling stream is a real plus point (pack towels…).
There is no car parking at Trevaylor, which is possibly why it is rarely busy. Take the Newmill road from Gulval just east of Penzance and find a safe roadside spot near Trevaylor Manor Care Home (postcode TR20 8UR). Some sections of the paths are always muddy, even in the summer, so bring along your wellies.
Bartinney Nature Reserve
Head for the wilds of the west and one of Cornwall’s most beautiful nature reserves. Bartinney is the site of an Iron Age hill fort with sweeping views across the Atlantic and the Penwith countryside. Ponies and cows graze their way around the ancient field settlements and it is an important site for ground-nesting birds, so please keep your dog on the lead.
On a clear day, the views are unbeatable and your pup will be rewarded by a wealth of smells on the breeze. Pay a visit to dog-friendly Moomaid in St Just before heading home.
Find out more about Bartinney Nature Reserve, including directions and parking.
Marazion to Long Rock and Penzance
If you and your pooch prefer a gentler walk, the wide foot and cycle path between Marazion and Penzance is one of the most easy-going stretches of the South West Coast Path. Park in the Station car park in Marazion, get a takeout coffee from Jordan’s and set out to enjoy the breathtaking views of Mount’s Bay.
If your dog fancies a paddle or a run on the sand, the path passes through Long Rock Beach, which is dog-friendly all year. Turn back here (it is one mile each way), or carry on to Penzance for a longer walk. It’s about two miles in each direction if you follow the whole route from Marazion to Penzance.
Book your Dog-Friendly Holiday in Cornwall
West Cornwall is a superb destination for a dog-friendly holiday and you can find out more about other facilities in our guide to staying in Cornwall with your dog.
Explore our collection of luxury dog-friendly cottages in Cornwall to find your pawfect place to stay.