Riverside Retreat is our dog friendly luxury holiday home in South West Cornwall. The property is in a great location if you want to bring up to three well behaved dogs with you. The great benefit of our location is that both north and south coasts of west Cornwall are easily accessible so there are some fantastic walks for you to enjoy.

The first and most popular walk in our region is the South West Coast Path, this is a 630 mile stretch of a continuous path from Minehead in North Somerset to Poole in Dorset and covers some of the most stunning scenery that the south west has to offer. The coastal path is dog friendly, there are areas where you should always have your dog on a lead though as the path can run through open land where stock roam freely.  The path does cross beaches where dogs are not permitted but you are permitted if you are walking the path and your dog is on a lead.

The South West Coast Path often follows the cliffs with steep drops and you will pass other walkers on a regular basis so it is advised that dogs are always on a lead to protect your dog, yourself, other walkers, wildlife and livestock. The walk changes in nature within short distances and varies from steep ascents and descents over hills to flat walks over fields that form the edge of the path. The scenery throughout is often stunning, the walk is described as the UK’s best walking route by several specialist magazines and it is one that you must enjoy on your stay!

The beach at Marazion is dog friendly outside of the main summer season and is dog friendly all year round on the beach from the east of the causeway that goes to St Michaels Mount. This is one of Cornwall’s finest views, a stunning location and a reasonably easy walk that is around 3 miles long, depending on your starting point. The walk is also fairly flat as well and incorporates a range of scenery from walking through the dunes to strolling over the cliff tops to walking through the pretty streets of Marazion and Perranuthnoe. At either end of the walk and as you go through Marazion, there are a selection of places to stop and have a drink or something to eat. This is perfect for dogs that like a walk that isn’t too long or taxing.

If you prefer a walk along a tarmac footpath that is fairly flat, the walk from Penzance to Marazion is great. This essentially follows the sea wall for the majority of the journey and runs alongside the railway line for its entirety. The path is great if you love the sea views, want to enjoy the fresh air but avoid getting sand on your toes. It is ideal if you are looking for a shorter and flatter walk as you can pick up the path at several accessible points where there is plenty of parking nearby, perfect for those that are looking for something that isn’t too strenuous.

Porthkidney Sands is a dog friendly beach all year round, there is a big tidal reach so that at low tide, the beach is very expansive and dogs can run off the lead. You can always start by taking the train to Lelant and walk back towards Carbis Bay or just park at Carbis bay and head east to access the beach. Porthkidney Sands is huge when the tide is out so if you have a dog that loves the beach and sea, this is the perfect walk for you. You can also enjoy refreshments and the stunning scenery of Carbis Bay at the end of your walk! It is also a family friendly beach with an RNLI Lifeguard service during the main school holidays and there is so much sand, you can easily find your own space.

Porthkidney Sands is on the north coast of West Cornwall, easy to access from Riverside Retreat and definitely worth a day out if your dog loves the beach.  Access to the beach is probably best through the golf course that overlooks the beach.

If you want to get away from the crowds and have your own spot of heaven, Prussia Cove is perfect. Directly south from Riverside Retreat, there is a small car park a short walk from the beach. There are several other coves nearby that are all dog friendly all year round and you can view nearby Cornwall dog friendly holiday parks here. The walk along the coastal path in this area is undulating, stunning and the coves are beautiful in the summer, stormy and windswept in the winter. Note that all of the coves are covered at high tide, it is best to time your walk with low tides to get the most from the beaches.

Infamous as the haunts of smugglers and pirates, this stretch of coastline is one of the most beautiful on the south coast stretch of the South west Coast Path and it is easy to see why. The seas are crystal clear on a calm and sunny day, inviting for dogs and families alike. If you want to get your dog down to a beach with the family, enjoy swimming and rock pooling on a hot summers day, this is a great walk for you!