Cornwall, on the whole, is extremely dog friendly, and no where more so than Padstow. Nearly every beach welcomes dogs with only very limited restrictions during peak months. Some of the beaches have restrictions on dogs between 10am & 6pm, or operate a “lead only” policy. BUT as we move into October even those restrictions are removed.
The only beaches to have a year round dog ban are:
From 1st October
Let the dogs out! Dogs are allowed to run free on the beaches – hurray. The temporary and seasonal dog restrictions are removed from 30th September so embrace long walks with your furry friends! Obviously you always have to have your dog under control and good recall would be a sensible precaution – have you seen how big the Cornish beaches are?! My dog Monty absolutely adores stretching his legs and running on the beach, swimming in the sea, dipping his nose into rock pools and making lots of doggy friends.
This website has a plethora of information on dog friendly beaches including the individual rules applying to the each beach.
Sometimes, there are so many dogs on the beach that it seems like a dog party. Waggy tails galore. And the varieties of dogs are endless (and amazing). If you enjoy a bit of dog spotting then you can’t go wrong with pulling up a folding camping chair or picnic blanket and just sitting back and watching the dogs run past. I would describe myself as a lifelong dog fan but still I see breeds that I’ve never seen before. Glorious.
Sandy paws
No dog makes it home without at least some sand on their paws. Or in most cases, a complete coat full of the stuff.
At Rock Cottage, I have provided the next best thing to a hose (sadly we don’t have an outside tap) – a portable doggy shower. If you have never used one before then I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy they are to use and how effective. Leave your doggy friend in the garden (don’t forget to shut the gate onto the road) and find the doggy shower unit in the left hand outhouse. It can be filled with water from the kitchen tap. I suggest using slightly warm water to truly pamper your pooch and keep them comfortable. At the end of the hose is a small shower head, pump the handle to put the water under pressure then squeeze the handle and the water will come out of the shower head just like a human shower. Hose the dog off outside and let the water run away (down the drain). A quick rub dry and your dog will be ready to be let into the Cottage. Perfect! Why not light the log burner and cosy up together.
