Summer beach dog bans now in force across Cornwall

Restrictions are starting at coves from Cadgwith to Cawsand from Friday 1st July

Author: Local Democracy Reporter Richard WhitehousePublished 1st Jul 2022
Last updated 1st Jul 2022

Just like their human carers, dogs like few things more than feeling the sand beneath their feet in the summer and having a splash at the edge of the shore. However, whilst dogs are welcome on many beaches in Cornwall there are some restrictions, many which start this week.

Whether you want to just take your four-legged friend for a stroll or let them chase after a ball on your favourite beach it's important to note when you are not allowed to take them.

Cornwall Council has a number of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place which put restrictions on when dogs can go on beaches.

The majority of these start today (July 1st) and then run until the end of August and the restrictions are in force from 10am to 6pm every day.

The penalty for breaching a PSPO can be a maximum of £1,000 although, in most cases, the council will use its discretion to issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 to anyone who commits an offence.

Beach dog bans in Cornwall in July and August

Here is the list of beaches where restrictions run from July 1st to August 31st from 10am to 6pm:

Cadgwith Cove

Castle Beach, Falmouth

Cawsand Beach

Chapel Porth Beach, St Agnes

Church Cove, Gunwalloe

Harveys Towans to Godrevy Point, Hayle

Housel Bay

Kennack Sands Beach

Kynance Cove

Maenporth Beach, Falmouth

Mousehole Beach to Skilly Beach

Wherry Town to Battery Rocks

Long Rock level crossing to Marazion

Perranuthnoe

Poldhu Beach, Mullion

Polurrian Cove Beach, Mullion

Porthcurno Beach

Porthgwarra Beach, St Levan

Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives

Porthleven West

Porthpean Beach, St Austell

Portmellon Cove, Mevagissey

Portreath Beach, including the harbour

Praa Sands

Readmoney Cove, Fowey

St George’s Well, Padstow

St Ives Harbour Beach

Summer’s Beach, St Mawes

Swanpool Beach, Falmouth

Tattam’s Beach, Portscatho

Tunnel Beach, Falmouth

For beaches with Blue Flag status, restrictions come into force in May and run until the end of September. These restrictions again operate from 10am to 6pm each day.

Beaches with longer restrictions for dogs

The following beaches all have the longer period of restrictions for dogs:

Carbis Bay Beach, Carbis Bay

Crackington Haven

Crooklets Beach, Bude

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

Polzeath Beach

Porth Beach

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

Porthminster Beach, St Ives

Porthtowan Beach

Sennen Beach

Trevone Beach, Padstow

Widemouth Beach, Bude

Year-round dog bans in Cornwall

Lastly, there are some beaches which have all year round bans for dogs which are also 24hrs. Those are:

Carnsew Pool

Copperhouse Pool

Hayle Estuary

Please note that these restrictions only apply to those beaches which are covered by Cornwall Council's PSPOs.

Private beaches may also have their own restrictions in place which are not covered by these orders.

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