Dog Friendly Hayle and Gwithian

A relaxed bar and restaurant, Salt Kitchen Bar is a great spot for casual dining and drinks.

Decorated with a warm rustic feel, Salt Kitchen Bar features exposed brick, warm overhead lighting and a nautical-themed bar, but with a modern finish. Looking to experience some nightlife? Salt Kitchen Bar often hosts live music, quiz nights and evening events, perfect for those looking for an evening out for a few drinks as well as eating out. The menu consists of modern continental food such as gourmet burgers, fresh meat and fish dishes and light bites.

• Dog friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating
• Nearest parking – Foundry Square car park/Fore Street on-street parking

Visit their website for more information

A great place to stop after a walk on the Towans, The Bucket of Blood is a traditional Cornish pub named after an old well previously on the grounds in which the water was red as tainted with tin.

Inside the Bucket of Blood has an authentic feel of times gone by, with exposed wood beams and pine decor. Outside there is additional seating to enjoy a cold pint during warmer months. The menu consists of typical pub classics, alongside a selection of on-tap beer and ales, wines and spirits.

• Dog friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating
• On-site parking

A traditional Cornish pub that has been beautifully renovated whilst still keeping its charm, The Cornish Arms is a lovely spot for a pub meal or a few drinks in their beautiful beer garden.

Their menu consists of pub classics with a twist, made with fresh locally sourced and quality produce, as well as some Canadian snacks inspired by the landlord’s travels. The outdoor beer garden is thoughtfully landscaped with Cornish grasses and flowers, a covered area and an additional outdoor bar, serving some special Hayle-themed Artisan Cocktails. Alternatively, sit on the front patio and watch the world go by!

• Dog friendly – They serve a dog menu!
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating
• On-site parking

Visit their website for more information

The Red River Inn is a beautiful brick pub nestled in the village of Gwithian. Tucked away from the sea but with lovely scenic views of the Cornish countryside and a well-kept beer garden, you will not be disappointed.

Serving seasonal fish and fresh produce, their British cuisine menu features wonderfully coloured and presented dishes that are far from the standard pub classics, a real hidden gem! With wine pairings for each dish as well as an extensive cocktail and spirits selection, this is a great place to visit after a walk across Gwithian Towans!

• Dog friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating
• On-site parking

Visit their website for more information

Right above Gwithian beach, Sunset Surf is the perfect spot for those wishing to do a little surfing during their stay or to revitalise after a day on the beach!

With breathtaking views over Godrevy and beyond, Sunset Surf’s cosy cafe feel is not only great for the summer months but also perfect for wave-watching over a hot chocolate in the winter next to their woodburner. The menu is a typical cafe selection, with breakfast choices, sandwiches and cakes to choose from, however, this cafe also holds a licenced bar! So you can enjoy a cold drink on the sun terrace. Open daytime only.

• Dog friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Sea views
• Outside seating
• Nearest parking – Gwithian Towans car park

Visit their website for more information

As ‘field to plate’ as you can get, Trevaskis Farm restaurant is located within the farm grounds on which its produce is grown!

With scenic views of the Cornish Countryside, as well as access to the farmland, you can explore the grounds and visit the animals who are reared on-site, making Trevaskis Farm an experience beyond your meal. The restaurant itself is rustic and homely, with warm woods and pine. Outside you will find a large patio area with plenty of seating to enjoy during warmer days. Serving British classics using their home-reared meat and fresh produce, Trevaskis Farm also has an incredible dessert counter full of homemade cakes and desserts. Also neighbouring the restaurant is their own market shop, fishmonger and ‘pick your own’ areas, so why not pick up some groceries to take back to your holiday home and enjoy.

• Dog-friendly – Outside only
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating
• On-site parking

Visit their website for more information

Birdies Bistro has panoramic views of the Lelant Estuary from both inside the cafe and from its outdoor seating area, making this an ideal spot for avid bird watchers!

The light and airy interiors have a modern vintage feel with a nod to the seaside, with large glass windows to maximise views of the surrounding area. This family-run business is the dream of a couple with a history in high-profile kitchens, now producing English dishes with a twist using fresh seasonal produce. Birdies also have a licensed bar, so why not enjoy their famous bubble and squeak rendition with a glass of wine whilst taking in the dreamy views.

• Dog-friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Sea views
• Outside seating
• Parking – On-site

Visit their website by clicking on their name above or call them on 01736 759307

Aiming for simple dining using high-quality ingredients, The Old Forge offers a warm and relaxed dining experience with some great flavours.

With a charming rustic interior featuring exposed brick, dark wooden beams and plenty of ambience, The Old Forge is a lovely spot for dinner with friends and family where you can experience some great local food as well as a shop from their deli! Full of locally sourced produce as well as some of their own homemade starter sauces.

• Dog-friendly
• Children’s menu
• Vegetarian options
• Vegan options
• Local produce
• Outside seating – covered with heaters
• Parking – a few spaces on-site

Visit their website by clicking on their name above or call them on 01736 753696

A stupendous beach which is vast when the tide is out!

On a decent day, it’s a feast for the eyes with all the amazing colours and clean clear water with St.Ives, Carbis Bay and Godrevy on the horizon. The beach is dog-friendly but sadly with some restrictions in July and August where dogs are allowed on the beach before 10 am or after 6 pm. RNLI Lifeguards patrol the beach between Easter to September and there is a wonderful cafe called The Cove Cafe if you walk between The Bluff part of the beach and Mexico Towans Beach. For refreshments, you can also access The Bluff Inn and Lula Shack from the beach. There are no public loos on the beach. The best place to park is on North Quay and walk through the Towans or via Lula Shack (be careful with any steep sandy dunes!) or at Harvey’s Towans car park which is accessed off North Quay and via a bump, uneven track so not great for sports cars with hard suspension!

• Sandy beach
• RNLI lifeguards between Easter and end of September
• Seasonal dog ban
• Parking at Harvey’s Towans and North Quay
• Beach Cafe – The Cove Cafe

Mexico Towans Beach is the long (very long!) stretch of sandy beach that sits between Hayle Towans Beach and Gwithian Beach. It’s dog-friendly all year round!

The best way to drive there is through Hayle and head in the direction of  Gwithian then follow signs to Sandy Acres and Mexico Towans. If you zoom in on the Google map, you will see how easy it is to get to. From Sandy Acres, walk down onto the beach, turn right, and walk towards Gwithian Beach (which is essentially a continuation of the beach you are on) where, during July and August in the daytime, you would need to get off the beach at low tide just below the RNLI Lifeguard hut. You can walk back through the Towans but, a word of warning, it’s easy to get lost in the Towans, there are seasonal snakes (adders) and there are copious rabbit holes! If you wanted to park in the large car park at Gwithian, you can get onto the beach during the seasonal restriction by timing it with the low tide and making sure you turn left past the rocks on the beach (be sure to be back before the tide comes in if you want to avoid the Towans!).

RNLI Lifeguards patrol Mexico Towans between mid-May and late September. There are no dog poo bins along the stretch of beach or freshwater stations so do make sure you take water with you and you’ll need to carry your poo bags until you reach either end of this dog-friendly beach. You will find refreshments and public loos at Cove Cafe at the very end of the beach without seasonal restrictions at the Hayle estuary end of the beach or come off at Gwithian and visit Sunset Surf for some light refreshments.

• Sandy beach
• Dog-friendly all year round
• RNLI Lifeguards May to September
• No public loos on beach
• Nearest parking either at Sandy Acres or Gwithian

Gwithian Beach is close to Godrevy Point, St Gothian Sands reserve, National Trust Godrevy and lots of parking.

There is a great selection of cafes to choose from near Gwithian Beach; Sunset Surf, Jampot Cafe, Hungry Horsebox Co., The Rockpool and Godrevy Cafe so you are spoilt for choice when it comes to refreshments! This stretch of the beach is dog-friendly bar a seasonal restriction of dogs not allowed on the beach between 10 am and 6 pm during July and August. There is a lovely nature reserve behind the beach however where your dog can run safely and, by walking through the Towans, you can reach public loos and access Mexico Towans beach just below the RNLI Lifeguard hut (at low tide). There is a surf school nearby called Shore Surf School and also Gwithian Academy of Surfing so a great spot to take to the water and learn some new tricks!

RNLI Lifeguards patrol the beach between mid-May and late September.

• Sandy beach
• Public loos
• Cafes nearby
• Seasonal dog restrictions
• Nearest parking Godrevy National Trust, Gwithian and Rockpool Cafe

Godrevy is at the far north-eastern end of 3 miles of golden sand stretching from Hayle.

It is owned by the National Trust, it takes the brunt of the Atlantic swell and is one of the more exposed beaches of the North coast. That doesn’t mean it’s not a sun trap between rocky areas on the beach so pack your buckets and spades on sunny summer days and enjoy a day of rock-pooling and people watching whilst being super close to refreshments and loos too!

The sandy cove at Godrevy connects to Gwithian beach at low tide to create an impressive stretch of sand. Remember to check the time of high water. as hundreds of metres of sand all but disappear at high tide so don’t get caught out. The beach ends at a low rocky headland and the famous Godrevy lighthouse on an island just off the coast. Godrevy Cafe, hidden amongst the dunes next to the car park sells yummy drinks and snacks for most dietary requirements.

Godrevy is owned and looked after by the National Trust and conserves areas like this, thanks to their members, volunteers and donors. Car park free to National Trust members.  RNLI Lifeguards patrol from mid-May to late September. Dogs are very welcome on this beach except during July and August (10 am – 6 pm) when a seasonal dog restriction is enforced.

• Sandy beach
• Plenty of rock pools
• Great for snorkelling
• RNLI Lifeguards May to September
• Seasonal dog ban
• Parking at National Trust car park nearby

4km of unadulterated bliss! This beach stretches as far as the eye can see (which is St Ives to the west and Godrevy to the east).

Even at high tide, there is still ample beach to have lots of fun on. This has to be the best dog-friendly beach all year round in west Cornwall.

There is limited free parking at St Uny Church in Lelant and access to the beach is following a footpath that cuts through the West Cornwall Golf course. You can also park on lanes nearby or pay via Just Park or with coins at Dynamite Quay (the tide needs to be out/ half out to access the beach from this car park).

RNLI lifeguards ensure your safety between July to September – click here to see more information.

There are no public loos at Porthkidney Beach or cafes for refreshments but you may find ice cream, pancake or coffee vendors near St Uny Church on various days throughout the year.

In summary, Porthkidney Beach offers:

• Sandy beach
• No Public loos
• No Cafes and restaurants
• Lifeguarded between July to September
• Dog-friendly all year round

A veterinary surgery in Carbis Bay, visit their website or call them on 01736 796088 (St Ives) or 01736 755555 (Hayle)

A local veterinary surgery in St Ives, visit their website or call them on 01736 798333

A local veterinary surgery in Hayle. Visit their website or call them on 01736 754111

Penmellyn Vets is a veterinary surgery based in Pool, visit their website or call them on 01209 613405

Land’s End Landmark is a day out for all the family! Arrive at the most westerly point in the UK and be blown away by the Area of Outstanding Natural beauty surrounding Land’s End.

There is plenty to do at Land’s End but our favourite thing to do there is walking the beautifully maintained and manicured paths suitable for all and taking in the epic scenery most particularly Longship’s Lighthouse. It can be a family day out with attractions such as Arthur’s Quest, Aardman Presents: A Grand Experience, Jolly Roger 4D Film or visit the furry animals at their 200-year-old restored farm with resident artists and silversmiths and of course THE signpost; a legendary Cornish icon.

There is a cafe, restaurant and ice-cream parlour as well as shops to buy lots of things you thought you wouldn’t need!

Dogs are welcome on leads and why not take a stroll from Land’s End to Sennen which is a short, yet beautiful walk.

Visit their website for more information on attractions available

Everyone loves ice cream, particularly made in Cornwall! Visit Roskilly’s, an organic dairy farm in St Keverne, take a tour and meet the lovely cows who make the delicious creamy ice cream that we all devour

Stroll around the meadows, meet the farm animals (goats, pigs, calves, turkeys, geese, chickens to name a few) which can all be fed by hand from the Croust House and relax at the tranquil ponds with a cone in hand! Visit their shop and buy tasty chutneys, jams, hampers, mustards, ice cream and fudge. A wonderful day out for all the family, including your four-legged friend as dogs are very welcome on a lead around the farm and also in the courtyard of Croust House restaurant.

Visit their website for more information or call them on 01326 280479

Discover a museum experience at PK Porthcurno that explores the amazing story of our connected world, and how a tranquil valley in Cornwall became host to the past, present and future of worldwide communications.

From the discovery of electricity and Morse code to fibre optics and future technology, this award-winning museum mixes the beauty of science with extraordinary histories and tales of human efforts and aspirations from around the globe to Cornwall where the story of communications began.

Take the family around the interactive museum and chart the story of communications and where it all began. Listen to the staff demonstrations and see some of the museum’s original working equipment in action. Regular events take place for families visiting so keep an eye on their website to see what is up and coming. Dogs are welcome (on a short lead) to the museum all year round (apart from in the bunkers) and also in Cafe PK.

To read about our experience at PK Porthcurno, check out our ‘A Rainy Day In Cornwall‘ blog.

Visit their website for more information or call 01736 810966

Artwork and sculptures adorn the tropical gardens of Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens just outside of Marazion which means every sense is affected when visiting. Discover inspirational works of art in Cornwall within the exotic and sub-tropical gardens with outstanding views across to St Michael’s Mount.

Dramatic landscapes and planting provide the canvas for contemplative but inspirational artworks. Over twenty artists, including five members of the Royal Academy of Arts have been involved with Tremenheere Garden to create permanent works of art in Cornwall harmonising beautifully with the setting. The many acres of the garden also provide a forum for transitory art in all its forms.

Dogs are welcome on the lead and the footpath through the garden is well-laid but can be uneven in places with steps to viewing platforms. There is a succulents nursery on-site as well as a cafe serving delicious food served using local ingredients and recipes. Mooch in their shop for some Cornish gifts to take home or visit the art gallery with its plentiful natural light show casing amazing pieces of art.

Visit their website for more information

Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm is a day out for all the family and dogs are welcome on leads.

Love Cyders & Spirits? Then take the experience to a new level by joining a guided tour and understanding what it takes to make such delicious drinks!  Take an amble through the orchards on a Vintage Tractor Ride. Learn the art of combining and blending botanicals to make Gin and become an honouree Cornish Cydermaster and much more! Children can get to meet the farm animals and make new friends plus there are refreshments for all at The Old Bottlery Restaurant, the Farm Shop or the Rattler Bar.

Visit their website for more information or call them on 01872 573356

Discover the UK’s only China Clay Museum, set in a 26 acre Country Park with woodland walks and access to the Clay Trails for walking and cycling.

Whether you want to find out more about Cornwall’s billion-pound China Clay mining industry, explore the Victorian clay works, visit the interactive discovery centre, stroll through the nature trails and woodland walks or give the kids a chance to let off steam in acres of historic grounds, Wheal Martyn is truly unique and has something for everyone, even the dog! You’ll also see Cornwall’s largest working waterwheel and at ‘Pit View’ be amazed by the spectacular modern working China Clay pit with giant machines in action.

What’s on offer at Wheal Martyn:
• Indoor interactive displays telling the story of the men, women and children who lived, worked and played in the shadow of the china clay tips
• Cornwall’s largest working water wheel
• Fully preserved Victorian china clay works, machinery and equipment exhibitions
• Vintage commercial vehicles and locomotive
• Children’s woodland play area
• Acres of nature trails and woodland walks teeming with wild flowers, birds and aquatic life
• Visitor platform overlooking a working China Clay Pit
• Licensed cafe with outside terrace offering the best Cornish food and drink
• Gift shop selling a unique range of quality gifts and souvenirs

Wheal Martyn provides a superb combination of interest, education and fun for people of all ages.

Opening hours: 10.00am-4.00pm (winter) and 10.00am-5.00pm (summer)

Visit their website for more information or call them on 01726 850362