Remember when taking your dog on holiday meant going out of season, keeping them on short lead, walking through muddy fields while the rest of the family had fun running around on the beach, standing outside the pub, looking in and steaming up the window while everyone tucked into a feast and roared with laughter??
Well ok, maybe it wasn’t quite that bad, but it certainly used to be the case that a trip away often meant leaving your beloved pooch at home, relying on loved ones to look after them while you were away, or even leaving them at a kennel…and if you did bring them along, you were very limited to where you could take them and what you could do. Thankfully, this has changed, and forward-thinking holiday providers often actively promote dog owners to bring along their furry friends, after all they are a part of the family are they not? Increasing numbers of pubs and restaurants have relaxed their rules and are now more than happy to welcome dogs (and well-behaved owners), which we think is just fantastic!
Cornwall has always been a popular holiday destination for dog owners, with the obvious draw being the miles and miles of golden sand that, let’s face it, is essentially heaven for any dog! And a happy dog means a happy owner, who can resist a smile when they see the daft look on their furry face as they bomb about in the pointless pursuit of a disinterested looking seagull, or swim, impressively yet frantically, to retrieve a tennis ball from the surf? A dog is an integral part of a household, and it can really make a holiday complete to have them by your side during your adventures.
At Una St Ives, all of our holiday lodges are perfectly suited to accommodating your four-legged buddies, with lots of room inside and out and plenty of space to take them for walkies (sorry…the ‘w’ word…don’t want to get them too excited). There are gorgeous local beaches that allow dogs all year round, and several that have some restrictions, and many restaurants and pubs that welcome dogs. Below are a few suggested places to go with your beloved doggies, it’s not an exhaustive list but should be enough to make you paws for thought (sorry…)
Dog-friendly Restaurants
We advise pre-booking when you can, to avoid disappointment.
Lelant
(5-minute drive from Una St Ives/30 minute walk)
The Badger Inn – thebadgerinn.co.uk (Lovely old pub with garden, serving locally sourced food)
The Old Forge – theoldforgelelant.co.uk (A nice old pub with good food and lovely outdoor area)
St Ives
(15 minute drive from Una St Ives)
The Searoom – stivesliquor.co (Great tapas and cocktails – they even make their own gin!)
The Hub St Ives – hub-stives.co.uk (Lovely, modern restaurant & bar with brilliant burgers and cocktails)
Porthmeor Beach Cafe – Dogs allowed on the Terrace areas – porthmeor-beach.co.uk (Wonderful views of the famous and stunning Porthmeor Beach, great for breakfast. Book one of the outside pods if you can)
Porthminster Beach Cafe – porthminstercafe.co.uk (Dogs allowed on the Terrace. Legendary St Ives restaurant, situated right on the gorgeous, tropical looking Porthminster Beach – great seafood)
The Loft Restaurant – theloftrestaurantandterrace.co.uk (lovely restaurant with sun terrace. Located in the artists quarter of pretty St Ives town)
The Sloop – sloop-inn.co.uk (Very old pub, good pub food, can get very busy, but is a St Ives ‘must-do’)
The Beer and Bird – beerandbird.com (trendy but welcoming restaurant that describe themselves as ‘a family run business with a passion for three simple things: Craft Beer, Fried Chicken and Great Service!’)
Local Beaches
Dogs are allowed year round at:
Mexico Towans beach, Hayle
Porthkidney beach, Hayle
Dogs are restricted on beaches at the below times:
Carbis Bay – (15 May – 30 September, 10am – 6pm)
Hayle Estuary – (Dogs not allowed)
Porthgwidden, St Ives – (1 July – 31 August, 10am – 6pm)
Porthmeor & Porthminster, St Ives – (15 May – 30 September, 10am – 6pm)
St Ives Harbour Beach – (1 July – 31 August, 10am – 6pm)