Well, I can’t think of a better place to take a dog on a UK holiday than Padstow in North Cornwall! Possibly one of the most dog friendly areas in Cornwall. If you are in two minds about whether to bring your dog on holiday to Cornwall, or want to know what to expect when bringing your four legged friend with you, then read on. I’ll explain everything you need know, from what doggy equipment is provided to where is the best place to get doggy ice-cream in Padstow. Walks from the door? yes! And insight into where you can take your dog to eat out and dog friendly tourist attractions. And of course, we are a dog friendly holiday cottage (I felt like I didn’t need to say that bit – but just in case you were wondering).
Dog friendly Padstow
Firstly I’d like to say that Padstow is extremely dog friendly. You will see every breed in the town, from tiny Dachshunds to Great Danes, you’ll find that your doggy companion is welcome nearly everywhere. Most shops have dog water bowls outside and lots of the cafes or pubs allow dogs inside and definitely outside on their terraces. Padstow even has its own specialist “dog shop” called Slickers Doghouse packed full of interesting treats, collars, harnesses, toys and even dog buoyancy aids. The owners are very welcoming and happy to offer advice, and there are plenty of little treats for your dog too.
If you are looking to choose somewhere to visit where you know your dog will be welcome in Cornwall then you have found the right place.
Bringing a dog to Rock Cottage – What to expect
I have tried to make Rock Cottage the perfect balance of dog friendly but also a touch of comfort and luxury for the human guests. We very much welcome dogs (we have 2 ourselves) but we don’t compromise on cleanliness or nice furnishings. And by booking our dog friendly holiday cottage direct from the owner (us!), you avoid commission and booking fees. Win win.
The Cottage:
On the ground floor, all the flooring is hard (either Cornish slate or luxury vinyl planks) which makes washing a breeze. If you need it, you will find a dust pan and brush, a handheld Dyson and a mop & bucket. We all know that dogs love to find a muddy patch (or bog, my dog always find the bog) and love getting as sandy as possible. We are lucky to only be a short drive from multiple dog friendly beaches and dogs love to run on the sand and swim in the sea! We don’t have an outside tap at Rock Cottage but in the left-hand outhouse you will find a portable dog shower. You can fill this with lovely warm water from the kitchen tap and gently shower the excess dirt off your dog in the garden. Both my dogs love the shower! (I think its because it’s warm…!)
In the kitchen you will find a dog eating mat perfect for placing your own feeding and water bowls. I did consider providing bowls, but knowing that every dog prefers their own bowl and with the big variety of breed sizes, I ask guests to please bring their own dog bowls. I’ll post a doggy packing list below.
I always leave a Welcome Basket for the guests (tea, coffee, a sweet treat or two) and the four-legged friends don’t get left out either. A little bag of treats for the dog always goes down well. Home from home!
The kitchen and lounge are open plan with a wooden “baby” gate separating them. The gate provides a handy barrier for keeping most dogs in the kitchen when you need them to, my little Dachshund can sneak under though! The kitchen has an outside door into our garden which is enclosed and gated, perfect for night time ablutions. The garden is fully enclosed with fencing and gates on all sides (and is sufficient to keep our labrador and daschund in) but if you have any questions about the fences (do you have an escape artist?!) then please get in touch. Please do supervise your dog in the garden as I can’t promise it is dog proof.
Why not have a look at our website to check out our gallery of photos, more dog information and everything you need to know about booking a dog friendly holiday cottage? Click here
What to pack for a dog going on a dog friendly holiday to Padstow?
You will need:
- Your preferred collars, harness and leads (make sure you have your identity tags)
- A stash of dog poo bags for all those lovely walks
- A bed or crate
- A couple of towels for drying off sandy paws
- Feeding and water bowls
- Folding travel water bowl for use at the beach
- Toys to keep them occupied (whilst you enjoy a glass of wine in the evening)
- A few pounds to treat your dog to a doggy ice-cream in Padstow
- Your phone camera & charger to capture all those amazing photos on the beach
We provide:
- Dog feeding mat to put your bowls on
- Dog treats
- Dog shower
- A full size freezer (ideal for a raw food diet)
- A long lead for beach roaming if your dog needs to stay on the lead (stored in outhouse)
- A comfortable and warm home with gas central heating and log burner
- A unique location with plenty of walks from the door
Where can I walk my dog?
You can walk right out of the door of Rock Cottage! The cottage is nestled in the centre of Saint Issey village on a quiet side road, just a short drive (or long walk!) from Padstow on the North Coast of Cornwall. Rock Cottage enjoys the stunning Cornish countryside right on its doorstep and lots of the walks have panoramic views over the estuary. Why not explore the South West Coast Path and really take in the dramatic Cornish coast line? Or maybe wandering around tiny cornish villages is more your thing? You’ll find it all within easy reach of Rock Cottage.
We often take our dogs on a quick early morning stroll by turning left out of the front door. Walk around the road until you come to the play park, here you will find a green field perfect for a quick stretch of the doggy legs and lots of bushes for sniffing. If you cross the field then you will come out into another street, then past a dog poo bin at the bus stop (perfect) then home. This is a quick 15 minute walk just to get some fresh air.
For more exciting adventures you might need to consult the OS Map (you’ll find one in the drawer in the lounge). Behind the Ring O Bells pub there are multiple public foot paths which cross farm land and lead you down to the Camel Trail (or you can take a walk down the country lanes if you prefer). At the Camel Trail, your dog can swim in the tidal estuary! Dog heaven! There are lots of little beaches along the river, not the kind that you would pitch up with your bucket and spade but perfect for a dog swim. Old Town Cove is ideal for a dog swim at high tide too. The walk takes approximately 45 minutes each way.
If you want to stretch your legs even further then from the Camel Trail near Saint Issey (Old Town Cove) you can walk on to Padstow or to Wadebridge. This is quite a long walk and you may want to bring water with you for your dog. If you find the walk too long to do on the way home then you can easily catch the bus ( number 10) from Padstow back to the village. The bus allows dogs onboard and there are also dog friendly taxis available (telephone numbers are provided in our welcome pack).
Cornish dog friendly beaches
Lots of the beaches are dog friendly all year around and are only a short drive away. So if you are looking for a dog friendly holiday cottage near a beach, then bear us in mind! Some have seasonal restrictions or are closed to dogs during high season. Take a look at the attached link with info about all the dog friendly beaches, I really don’t think I can improve on the information they provide. From a personal point of view we enjoy Constantine, Harlyn Bay and Holywell (free National Trust member parking!) during the high season with our dogs. We also take our dogs to the other beaches in out of season for a change of scenery.
Don’t forget to take your travel water bowl and a supply of water if spending the day at the beach with your dog during the summer. Take care that your dog doesn’t over heat, try to provide some shade if you can or avoid the midday sun. If your dog is prone to sunburn (like my sister’s Dalmatian) then don’t forget the sun cream! If your dog struggles with recall, especially on a large Cornish beach, then feel free to borrow the long leash in the outhouse at the cottage. It gives your dog the freedom to explore without them getting lost.
Ice-cream for dogs! Where can I find this lovely treat?
Lots of places in Cornwall sell doggy ice-cream but a quick list for Padstow:
- Slickers Doghouse, specialist dog shop on the harbour in Padstow
- Harbour Ice-Creams, a human ice-cream shop in Padstow with a doggy selection
- Pads and Paws, specialist dog shop based at Trevisker Garden Centre (well worth a stop and free parking too).
What about days out with my dog? What dog friendly attractions are near Rock Cottage?
So if you have booked your perfect dog friendly holiday cottage in Cornwall, then your next question is going to be – “what else can we do?”. Cornwall is packed full of dog friendly days out even when it is raining and you are looking for things to do.
Let’s start with the Lobster Hatchery in Padstow. Located on the quay, the large hanger style building houses the Lobster Hatchery who are a marine conservation charity focused on the education, research and preservation of the European Lobster. The interesting tour includes seeing lobsters at all different stages of life including the maternity wing, as well as exhibits about the work they do in the wild. In 2021, Rock Cottage adopted a baby lobster and followed its progress until it was released near Newquay.
Can I really bring my dog into this indoor lobster exhibit? Yes, you can! Dogs on a lead are welcome and your admission ticket allows you entry for a whole year. Why adopt your own lobster and come back to follow its progress when it is released into the wild?
Botanical gardens – The Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan
About 30-40 minutes drive to the south of Rock Cottage are the famous gardens at the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Both welcome dogs on leads. At the Eden Project the dogs are not able to go inside the domes but there are extensive other gardens to explore and enjoy, making a great day out with your dog in Cornwall. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are particularly dog friendly with dogs welcomed in all areas, they even provide you with a map with dog waste bins clearly marked. The Lost Gardens of Heligan have miles of paths to explore, tropical gardens, kitchen gardens and more (there is also a large children’s play area). Both attractions will take a full day to do in depth.
Taking your dog to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
The Cornish Seal sanctuary is a lovely dog friendly day out in Cornwall, and not too far from Padstow – approximately 1 hour. It might sound like a lot but its well worth it and can be combined with a visit to the South of Cornwall to make the trip worthwhile.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary welcomes dogs in all areas apart from the Seal Hospital. Our two dogs loved their day out. The Seal Sanctuary even feature a “dog of the week” on their social media pages! We particularly loved the dog refreshment stops around the site, with water bowls, shade and a place to rest. They are so dog friendly they even provide free degradable dog poo bags and treats in the ticket office! We enjoyed meeting all the seals and listening the talks about their rehabilitation.
Other dog friendly attractions in Cornwall?
There are quite a few others too, but as we haven’t personally visited with our dogs, I haven’t included them here. The Lappa Steam railway is one we have heard of and will check out soon. Watch this space for more dog friendly days out in Cornwall! Because after all, if youare staying at a lovely dog friendly holiday cottage near Padstow then you want to be sure that you get to explore as much as possible! One thing is certain, you certainly won’t get bored in Cornwall – no matter what the weather.
So, will my dog love a holiday in Padstow at Rock Cottage?
With lots of walks on the beach, stunning cliff top walks on the South West Coast Path, in the countryside direct from the door and around the interesting fishing villages, your pooch will be having the time of their lives. Let’s not forget swimming in the sea and river. Cosy evenings in front of the log burner? Or sat out in the garden with a glass of wine? And best of all, you by their side all the time! With such a dog friendly county to explore you don’t need to leave your four legged friend behind.
Book your stay at Rock Cottage today at www.rockcottagepadstow.com and check out our availability here and our dog info here
Happy holidays!
