Category: Your holiday

Discover Sennen

Sennen has it all. A cool, laid-back surf vibe meets traditional fisherman’s cottages and bobbing boats; dolphins dive in the rolling surf; cold pints and pub grub are served at 17th century pubs; and kids and hikers alike soak up the rays along the long stretch of coast.

We recently set off from Gwynver Beach House to explore the area, but you can park at any of the three village car parks (or Gwynver beach car park) if you’re visiting for the day.

See our Relive video from the day.

Let’s go…

Start at Gwynver

To begin your Sennen adventure, set out from Gwynver, a rugged sandy beach with dramatic panoramas from the cliffs above. If you’re staying at Gwynver Beach House, take the short walk from the bottom of your garden, or park up at Gwynver car park and take the steps down to the sand. Be sure to stop for photos at the top, though: this spot offers breathtaking views.

Gwynver beach

If you’re craving some peace and quiet, Gwynver beach is the spot for you. Whether you’re up for picnicking on the sand, catching some waves on your surfboard, or simply basking in the sun’s warmth, Gwynver offers the ideal setting to unwind and recharge. Flanked by sloping cliffs and rocky coastal path, this beach offers a sheltered sunbathing experience.

Coast path

Once you’ve cooled down in the blue waters, head out along the coast path, marked by nature trail signs, which winds around to Sennen Cove. This path is slightly rocky and rugged, with a bit of clambering involved, but its more than worth it for the views as you make your way around towards Sennen.

Dolphins are known to populate this spot, so keep your eyes peeled as you stroll.

Sennen Cove

You’ll arrive at Sennen Cove through the small sand dunes and sea grass. Here, you can stop for another beach nap or paddle, hire surf equipment and take to the waves, or tuck into some snacks and drinks on the sand. This cove is perfect for kids, with its small beach streams, plenty of wet sand for bucket and spade play, and gentle waves between the lifeguard flags, great for bodyboarding.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Sennen village

From the sand, you’re close to any kind of traditional beach food or drink you fancy. Walk just a few steps up to The Old Success Inn, a 17th century pub with a large beer garden overlooking the sea. Here, you can sip some local ales, tuck into a pub lunch, and dolphin watch under a parasol.

Head to the Round House & Capstan Gallery, a unique circular art gallery with lovely views through the crooked windows. Here you can pick up some local artwork to take home with you, or get inspired to do some painting of your own during your stay.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Sennen without enjoying some fish and chips. Tuck into the very best locally caught haddock, with lashings of salt and vinegar, either in one of the old-school seafront diners or taken away and enjoyed on the sand.

Day trips nearby

Sennen is in a prime position in West Cornwall, a short drive from some of Cornwall’s most famous attractions and some lesser-known beauties. If you’re staying here for longer, plan a day out and see what’s nearby.

Check out our other locations and other retreats across West Cornwall.

Land’s End

Just a pebble’s throw away from Sennen, Land’s End is an iconic landmark that marks the westernmost point of mainland England. Take a stroll along the cliffs and snap some photos at the famous signpost – it’s one for the Cornwall bucket list.

Minack Theatre and Porthcurno

Discover the magic of the Minack Theatre, an open-air amphitheatre perched on the cliffs overlooking Porthcurno beach. Starlit evenings are best spent watching a show here, snuggled under a blanket.

Porthcurno beach below is a dream on a summer’s day, with hues that echo the greens and blues of the Maldives.

Mousehole

A short drive from Sennen, Mousehole is probably the closest you’ll get to the fully traditional fishing village atmosphere. Cobbled streets conceal tiny art galleries, delis, a local post office and makeshift plant stalls. You may also be able to purchase the catch of the day from a fisherman if you time it right.

Retreats in Mousehole.

Explore more of West Cornwall & unlock the full guide to Porthleven’s sights and activities with our recommendations.

Penzance

This beachy art deco town is home to a colourful array of bars and restaurants, alongside a lido and geothermal pool for 1950s style bathing.

Visit Sennen and stay in one of our retreats nearby, with easy access to beach life.

New Experiences in Cornwall

A visit to the unique county of Cornwall is the perfect chance to pick-up a new skill, learn something new, or try something different. It might be an old favourite in a new location, or an untested activity you’ve always hankered after. Here’s a round-up of what to do in Cornwall this year and what your stay by the sea could offer this year…

Discover new skies

Cornwall offers dramatic landscapes for night time adventures. In December 2021, West Penwith was recognised as an International Dark Sky Park, joining Bodmin Moor with this designation and the Dark Sky Discovery Site at Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps where you can see the Milky Way pass overhead.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Image credit: Graham Gaunt Photowork

Spend time on ocean time

Why not take some time out from the normal rhythm of life to follow the beat of the tides? From expansive beaches of golden sand and rocky pools teeming with hidden life to high-adrenaline coasteering and water sports at high water. Then there’s reading the waves as they come and go, learning the natural signs of the sea so you can decide what best suits the day’s conditions, from heading in for a swim to grabbing the surfboard.

Go to the ceramic source

China clay is synonymous with St Austell and its surrounding villages; a rich heritage that’s embarking on an artisan revival. Operating out of St Austell’s newly relaunched Market House, along with a host of other makers, Flookan runs a four-week introduction to ceramics course, in the home of china clay, where you can learn a range of skills for working with clay. There’s also one-off workshops and taster sessions running through the year, with private bookings on request.

Image credit: Flookan 

Seek out supper from the sea

Foraging seaweed can be a sustainable, tasty, invigorating journey into a new cuisine. The Fat Hen offers a two-day course in identifying, gathering, preserving and cooking with 15 different seaweeds. You’ll also learn how seaweed can remineralise the body in baths and skincare products.

Find the vines

Cornwall’s relatively mild climate and long sunlight hours make it one of the finest regions for wine production in the UK. The Wild Wine School near Padstow has a commitment to sustainable viticulture, and deals in wine with distinctly untamed notes: its mission is to share wine knowledge and passion “in surroundings that enliven senses and expand minds, calling on nature to add a technicolour edge to your experience”. In its workshop on Organic and Biodynamic Viticulture, you’ll learn the basic concepts of organic and biodynamic viticulture, “from lunar cycles to the special alchemy of plants”, taste six sustainably produced wines, and have the chance to try making one of the Biodynamic preparations.

Fancy staying in Padstow? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Padstow.

Image Credit: Ingrid Pop

Ride the West Kernow Way

An 230km off-road route – funded by the European Regional Development Fund’s Experience project – exploring west Cornwall is now fully open. It takes in many of the highlights of the western half of the Cornish peninsula, including the Botallack tin mines, the Bronze Age monument Mên-an-Tol, Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and Lizard Point. Expect spectacular coastal scenery, hedgerows bursting with wildflowers and ancient tracks across isolated moorland.

Image credit: The West Kernow Way

Explore sea life

Graceful and silent, take to a kayak to explore aquatic habitats and the chance to share secluded coves with seals and cormorants.  Koru Kayaking offer North Coast kayaking around the caves and mining heritage of St Agnes, and the sheltered creeks and coves of the Helford River near Falmouth. For the more experienced, Sea Kayaking Cornwall run a week-long adventure island hopping by kayak around the Scilly Isles.

Image credit: Koru Kayaking

Apnea or freediving, descending under water on a single breath has a long history, with roots in yoga, meditation and breathing techniques. Explore the wilderness underwater with Aquacity, based in the sheltered Porthkerris Cove on the Lizard. Aquacity offer a half-day introduction to freediving from May. There’s also a more advanced course giving an entry-level qualification.

Image credit: Daan Verhoeven

Take the geothermal waters

Jubilee Pool, the striking Art Deco sea water pool on Penzance’s promenade now has its new geothermal pool up and running, heated to 30-35 degrees via its own 410m deep geothermal well. So the pool now offers Geo & Dine, where you can enjoy an evening dip under the moonlight in the steamy geothermal pool, followed by a specially selected, fresh locally-sourced three-course meal. Or try its Geo & Fizz sessions, where you can buy an alcoholic drink from the cafe and enjoy some bubbles in the water.

Find a discounted stay by the sea on our special offers page, and browse our various beach locations to explore a new place this year.

Beach safety in Cornwall this summer

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a trip to the seaside…

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

We hope you’re excited for your stay by the sea. While Cornwall is generally a safe place, each year there are accidents on our coastlines.

To ensure this doesn’t happen to you during your time with Beach Retreats, Newquay Activity Centre have produced some beach safety guidelines for you and your family to follow. Their instructors are fully trained lifeguards and work closely with the RNLI.

Save the image below to your phone and share with your loved ones ahead of your holiday to Cornwall.

Stay next to the sea with our other holiday lets in Perranporth!

You may see a flag with a red stripe on top and a yellow stripe underneath. There will be two of these red and yellow flags on the beach, and these mark out the area that it is safe to swim between. This area will be covered by lifeguards.

Mark Kelly is the Beach Lifeguard Trainer and Assessor at Newquay Activity Centre and says:

“The beaches are busy, and we’ve experienced a big swell recently that has already sadly caused fatalities and rescues. We urge surfers and swimmers to be aware, check the weather, tide and forecast.

For small children, there is also fun to be had in the rockpools and paddling in the shallows. We really hope that the RNLI are able to fully patrol the beaches soon, but we want people to understand how dangerous the sea can be and to stay safe at the beach”.

Discover more safety insights from the RNLI & stay safe at the beach with essential knowledge of natural signs at sea.

If you’d like to participate in a safe ocean activity this summer under the watchful eye of a trained lifeguard, or you would like to train as a lifeguard, please contact newquayactivitycentre.co.uk

Dine at your self-catered retreat with Lobster Box

Enjoy all the flavours of fine dining in the comfort of your retreat, without the hassle of food prep and cooking. Lobster Box does all the hard work for you and makes delicious dining easy. 

Lobster Box is a small local company set up by Cam, who chefs up delicious hand-prepared seafood meals.

Lobster Box has an ethos of small-batch, hand-flavoured, fresh, tasty and super easy-to-enjoy food. The unique selling point is that the food is already prepped, requiring minimal fuss. The fish is locally caught and Cam’s main supplier works out of Padstow.

Fancy staying in Padstow? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Padstow.

Cam’s Seafood Adventures started at the age of 19 on a Deep Sea Trawler in New Zealand. Having grown up in Cornwall as an avid waterman, Cam left his home turf to seek experiences and found himself working at sea. Being around the freshest fish caused him to develop a passion for cooking, and his chef style draws on inspiration from his travels. From curry making tips and secret ingredients used in Sri Lanka, to rustic Boat tucca in Australia, working as a head chef at multiple locations at home and abroad, Cam has a wealth of invaluable experience. In 2016 – 2019 he put his heart and soul into his own restaurant on the Isles of Scilly, somewhat closer to his home of Cornwall.

Lobster Box recipes follow this journey, reflecting Cam’s love of cooking seafood with spice and fruit. Boxes come either ready to eat or ready to finish off at home, with hand flavoured sides and sauces, making them ideal if you don’t want to cook or want to take something out to the beach with you for some sundowners. The ethos is minimum effort, without compromising on texture and flavour.

Cam says “I do believe that it is possible to eat fine seafood without compromising on flavour, as easily as possible, from anywhere.”

And that’s why we love Lobster Box. Fuss free, full flavour food, ready to eat wherever.

Order your Lobster Box to your self-catered retreat and enjoy the best of Cornish cuisine at your leisure.

Looking for a fantastic restaurant in Cornwall? Check out some of our favourite restaurants with stunning sea views.

Cam from Lobster Box is now also running Kooked, a holiday arrival ready meal service. Beach Retreats guests get exclusive Kooked delivery from Thursday – Sunday, and can pre-order a delicious, exclusive fish pie, alongside other tasty options, to be waiting for you in your retreat on your arrival day.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a swimming pool? Check out our cottages with a swimming pool for a relaxing getaway.

The Importance of Play

Fun, adventure and the childlike nature of play are all important to our wellbeing, allowing us to switch off from day-to-day responsibilities and embrace our inner child. We explore how you can incorporate play into your family holiday, and the benefits this can bring.

When you’re in need of a real break, (like so many of us are right now), holidaying with the kids can be tricky. Their constant energy and endless need to be entertained often means you don’t get much chance to truly relax, and you may find you aren’t quite as revitalized as you’d hoped after a family day on the beach.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

However, spending an uninterrupted week on holiday with your children is also an opportunity. A chance to switch off from day to day working life and responsibilities and get back in touch with your own childish side. Children are a great reminder of the importance of play, inviting you to become involved in games, adventure and exploration. Studies show that play for adults helps to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity. It can even improve memory and stimulate the growth of the cerebral cortex. Embrace a playful mindset and view your time away through younger, inquisitive eyes – it could bring a whole new lease of life to your beach days.

Here’s a few suggestions for how to dial up the play in each moment of your beach stay.

Rise

Wake up with the peach tinted rays of the morning sun. Waking early aligns best with children’s’ natural body clocks and gives you a great start to the day, allowing you to make the most of the hours of beachside adventure which lie ahead. Over breakfast, let your children choose the task for the day (set a list for them to pick between if you think it’s too risky) then plan together. Make a scavenger hunt list of things to look out for, play hide and seek with the things you need to pack – if you make the getting ready as much of the day as the outing, you’ll enjoy yourselves from the very start.

Roam

Head out, little feet skipping along dusty paths lined with Cornish montbretia and sea pinks. This is the most exciting moment of the day- when the anticipation for seeing the sea takes over, and you are yet to spot the first glimmer of blue in the distance. Make it a challenge- the first to spot the beach, a surfer, a bird….

Discover our bespoke holiday cottages in Hayle, a short drive from St Ives and Pendeen.

Collect

The shoreline and surrounding coast are dotted with treasures- from seashells, flowers and mother of pearl to striped feathers, driftwood and smooth sea glass, start a hunt and see what you can find. Collect as many different things as you can, or pick one category and see how many different kinds of that thing you can find. There are hundreds of different patterned pebbles, types of shells, or varieties of seaweed you can gather and discover once you start to look. Through rockpooling secret ponds, scaling the shore or delving into the flora, collecting seaside treasures is a great way to while away the hours whilst finding keepsakes that hold the memory of these beach days. Whoever finds the best seashell wins!

Picnic

Make sure you’ve packed up plenty of fuel. Find a serene spot overlooking sea views and tuck in. Spread jam and dollop clotted cream on scones, the classic Cornish snack which kids love. Food is all part of the fun, so let the little ones get involved in assembling their snacks- don’t worry about the mess! For more food inspiration, have a look at our Cook and Carry blog with ideas on beach friendly meals that can be easily transported from pan to sand.

Navigate

Help keep the little ones engaged on the walk home by letting them navigate the route. Do they remember any particular landmarks passed on the way? Do they recognise the route they mapped out earlier? Are there any detours or artefacts they want to look at? You could even have a go at reading natural signs- look at where the sun is in the sky and track its movements or examine the sea and how the tide has changed throughout the day. This will engage the kids in the elemental forces at play by the coast, giving them a fuller understanding of what nature can teach us. Read our Natural Signs blog here.

Relax

Once you’ve returned to your retreat, the kids should be tired out. If they still want to play, suggest drawing, journaling or scrapbooking moments of the day, or set up a board game out on your balcony. Your beach retreat is equipped with all the entertainment you need for an evening in, so you can sit back, relax, and indulge in a well-deserved glass of wine.

Discover perfect large self-catering family holiday lets for summer, offering spacious accommodations and unforgettable experiences along the Cornish coast.

Dogs at sea

Some dogs prefer running through sand, others can’t wait to wade in for a swim and then there are some dogs that love spending time at sea aboard boat or board. We captured three dogs at sea on their preferred craft…

Find your dog friendly holiday.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

The ocean cleaner

Meet Rosie, a crew member at Clean Ocean Sailing. Rosie is happy to leap overboard to gather plastic waste floating out at sea or on the coastline. Her love for the water is such that she once did just that in the Bay of Biscay, fortunately returning to her vessel after an hour of searching.

When it comes to boats, she is as comfortable in the century-old Scandinavian rowing boat pictured here as aboard the main Clean Ocean Sailing vessel The Anette, collecting the plastic material that pollutes our seas or transporting that gathered and sorted waste to Exeter where it is processed and turned into new objects.

Support the work Rosie and her owners Monika and Steve are doing, and find out about volunteering opportunities at Clean Ocean Sailing.

The hardy seafarer

Few dogs have overcome and achieved as much at sea as Toobs. She not only swam to safety in a cave after being lost at sea (making local and national news headlines) but managed to swim the English Channel in 2020 over a number of swimming stints. Here she is aboard her sailing boat and home, moored in Falmouth, on which she is about to embark on an epic sailing tour with owner Wayne. And below Toobs is enjoying a regular dip in the water between harbour and mooring.

You can follow Toobs’ adventures at sea at the Team Toobs website and on Instagram.

The visiting paddleboarder

Not all seafaring dogs live on or even near the sea. Ted, who hails from Loughborough in the Midlands, recently visited Cornwall on holiday where he enjoyed several trips on the paddleboard with owner Amy. Not only does Ted frequent a paddleboard, he goes out kayaking and on land-based adventures in a bike carrier. When he’s looking less alert and his ears are back, Amy knows he’s really relaxing into the boarding.

Want to explore Cornwall and stay in Fistral? Have a look at our luxury holiday cottages in Fistral.

Choose from retreats around the coast with enclosed outside spaces for four-legged friends to relax post swim and outdoor showers for rinsing off all that salty sea water. Whether sand runner or wave paddler, or both, bring your dog to beach.

Discover Cornwall’s finest dog-friendly beaches for your furry friend to roam and play.

EWWines for summer time

We caught up with our friends at EWWines, who’ve come up with a discounted case of wines to be delivered straight to your holiday home.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Summertime – the time to be active or kick back and relax. Cornish holidays are all about long coastal walks, sunset drinks, surfing and time outside in the fresh sea air reconnecting with friends and family.

To help with the excitement, we believe a new approach to wine is needed to accommodate your summer palate and seasonal food.

We’re excited to introduce our coastal wine cases for Beach Retreats customers to enjoy whilst on holiday.  These cases are wines with a coastal influence, handpicked from around the world of wine. The coastal factor in wine terms often brings cooling influences to vineyards, which slows ripening significantly and helps to preserve natural acidity for you to enjoy in your luxury coastal retreat.  Choose Red, White or Mixed (3 White and 3 Red). Three fantastic opportunities to taste some of our hand selected range with fantastic savings for you, couriered to your door to start your holiday right!  Browse our coastal cases here.

At checkout, use code BEACH22 to receive an exclusive 10% off these cases as a thank you. This enables our Coastal Cases to be couriered to your holiday property for £70.95, or utilise our click and collect service from our Indian Queens store for free, making your case just £63.

The Wines

Our first suggestion has got to be THE wine of the summer. Tiny, tiny production so grab yours whilst you can!  We’re excited to introduce Lost in a Field “Frolic” Pet-Nat by Tim Wildman MW and winemaker Daniel Ham (Offbeat Wines). It’s summer in a glass.

What is a Pet-Nat?  Short for pétillant naturel, this is an old method in which at its simplest the fermentation is interrupted and the wine is bottled and sealed which traps carbon dioxide as the fermentation resumes (hopefully). The wines are therefore mostly unfiltered with visible sediment and often lower alcohol and pressure than for example a traditional method sparkling wine such as Champagne are to be expected.

Frolic is an excellent addition to any mixed case and a welcome addition to a beach gathering or party.  This wine has a fantastic story and has firmly shined the spotlight on “British Heritage Vines” and celebrates small scale hobby vineyards at the same time, creating a community project, the Lost Vineyard Preservation Society.  Check out Jancis Robinson’s recent article whilst sipping a glass of Frolic in the sunshine!

Another of our favourite tipples is Bosue Vineyard Rose 2019.  Paul the winemaker was recently in-store for a free tasting session, so we took the opportunity to ask a couple of questions because they too do things a little differently. We discovered that their tiny 550 bottle production of this wine is 100% Regent, a modern hybridised variety mentioned above with no reserve wine. Paul riddles and disgorges by hand in small batches. Riddling and disgorging started in April 2022.  This means there is almost two years on the lees, more than double the requirement for wine labelled “Quality Sparkling Wine” in England which adds a subtle character to the wine of toast and pastry. Rhubarb, cranberry, redcurrants and tart raspberry on the nose with a delicate rose and leafy character and the toasty layers too. The acidity is high and the red fruits are crunchy and bright, almost like biting into a crisp pink lady apple.  Super refreshing on a summer’s day with a little sweetness on the finish.

We also have an incredible range of spirits, with something for every occasion from premium Mezcal, Rum, Whisky and much more. However, a gin that we could not recommend highly enough is the Loveday Golden Hour Gin.  This is a pink gin like no other, delicious, fresh, bitter-sweet, and a little floral. Our perfect serve would be over ice, with a premium tonic of your choice and a slice of grapefruit whilst watching the sunset.

Another gin which screams of summer to us is the Wrecking Coast Clotted Cream Gin. It’s made with 100% Cornish strawberries freshly pressed from the renowned strawberry fields of Boddington’s Berries, with no added sugars, flavourings or sweeteners. Our Perfect serve: pour over plenty of ice and top with either an elderflower tonic or lemonade, garnish with fresh sliced strawberries and allow the flavours to combine so you can enjoy the taste of summer in your glass!

Our Wine Emotion machines have been repaired and reloaded with 16 wines, with summer in mind. We’ve wines from the Loire, Greece, Italy and Chile, just another reason to come in-store and taste with our in house WSET Certified Educator, for free. Why not discover something new, or revisit an old friend?

Tasting Sessions

In August we continue our Free Producer Tasting series with a Cornish brand in-store most Fridays or Saturdays!

Sat 6th Aug, Rosemullion Distillery – Andy, 10:30am to 5pm

Fri 12th Aug, Wrecking Coast – Avian, 12:30 to 5pm

Sat 20th Aug, Curio Spirits 12:30pm to 5pm

Summer Dish Ideas

Here’s a few of our favourite summer dish ideas with a wine suggestion or two from our hand selected, extensive range;

Barbecued Lamb, new potato salad, garden greens. We recommend shoving garlic cloves and rosemary into incisions across your joint, rubbing in olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper before BBQing at approx. 180 in a roasting pan with a generous glug of red wine until the meat is at 60 degrees, and rest for 15 mins. Pair with something that starts with fruit and finishes with pepper, such as cooler climate Syrah. Or, for something with bolder fruits and a fresh herbaceous lift to finish choose from Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet style Zinfandel. If the sun is shining, a quality Provence should also not be overlooked. The Garriques or dried herbs and red fruits will complement the lamb very well indeed. AIX Provence Rose from Maison Saint AIX would be a fantastic pairing. It’s tasty, generous and elegant too. Your only problem is you might need a larger format (We stock 3L Double Magnum bottles too!) because it’s a perfect wine to drink all day long!

Try a Tabouli packed with garden peas, summer chard or spinach, courgette, cucumber, dill, parsley and a touch of goat’s cheese crumbled on top. Our perfect wine suggestion would be the new in Cote Mas Sauvignon Blanc Vermentino 2020 to complement the dish perfectly. With unique aromas of flowers, peach and pear, it’s generous on the palate, just like the sunshine that blesses it’s vineyards! The rich flavours pair perfectly with the earthy quinoa and floral, citrus and herbal notes perfect with the summer vegetables and the bright acidity from the Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the goat’s cheese. This pairing is so delicious it’ll keep you reaching for your glass!

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Browse our beach locations to find your perfect retreat and favourite beach to sip your wine on, and keep an eye on our special offers page for the latest discounts.

Discover the essence of Cornish cosiness with Klys Drinks, embodying the warmth and comfort of home in every sip.

Dog friendly attractions in Cornwall

Bringing your dog to the coast is great for all sorts of reasons, the obvious one being the beach – a pup paradise. However, there’s plenty more for you and your four-legged friend to see and do when staying by the sea. When you stay in one of our paw-friendly holiday lets, you can explore all sorts of dog-friendly attractions in Cornwall. From the Eden Project to National Trust gardens, here are some of our favourites.

Thinking about bringing your dog on holiday? Check out our dog-friendly holiday properties.

Trelissick, Feock

Home to extensive woodland and park trails nudging the River Fal, Trelissick is high on the list of great days out with dogs. With mile-upon-mile of rolling green, woodland trails and a sheltered beach for splashing around, there are plenty of walks to choose from – with a map in the car park so you can choose your terrain and how far you want to roam. Refuel with coffee and cake in the dog-friendly courtyard café, and have a nose in the arts and craft gallery. If you’re feeling energetic and want to explore further, hop on the King Harry Ferry and float over the Roseland Peninsula.

Check out what Falmouth has to offer by staying in one of our bespoke retreats in Falmouth.

Image credit: National Trust

Eden Project, St Austell

Since Cornwall’s biggest visitor attraction opened its doors to dogs, they can join you on adventures along miles of pathways around the tiered gardens, admire the iconic biomes (from the outside) and join you for treats in the undercover eating area. There are a few ground rules to follow – you will need to keep your dog on a lead, and with you, during your visit (you can’t just tether them to a tree and head inside the biomes). However, if you want to take your dog back to your vehicle for part of your visit, there are car parking spaces with a shelter for dogs, one with a water tap.

Image credit: Matt Jessop via Visit Cornwall

Trebah Garden, Helford Passage

Bound beneath canopies of sub-tropical foliage that tumble to the edge of the Helford Estuary, where there’s a divine sandy beach perfect for picnics, stone skimming and throwing sticks out into the calm waters for dogs to retrieve. Families with dogs will love this natural playground, and back at the top of the valley (through the bamboo jungle and the giant Gunnera passage), the Planters Café and picnic area welcomes dogs. There’s water bowls and complimentary poop bags too.

Train to St Ives

Dogs are welcome on one of the UK’s most scenic train journeys from St Erth to St Ives. During the short journey you won’t be able to peel your eyes from the panoramic seascapes, so make sure you seat yourself on the right hand side of the train on the way out to get the best views. Once you’ve done a twirl of St Ives and had a pasty and ice cream by the harbour, you can follow the South West Coast Path an easy mile back to Carbis Bay, before hopping back onboard the train to your starting point. Or, if you and your pup have the stamina, head west from St Ives and hike the six miles to Zennor, looking out for the legendary mermaid and finishing with a well-deserved pint in the Tinner’s Arms.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek

If you don’t mind keeping your dog on a lead, a day out at the Sea Life Trust’s seal sanctuary is a fascinating day out for families and wildlife lovers. Enjoy pretty walks along the Helford Estuary, pause for picnics with a view, and get up close to all sorts of animals including seals, otters, sea lions, penguins, ponies, goats and sheep. The main purpose of the sanctuary is to rehabilitate seals rescued around the Cornish coastline, and you can witness rescued seal pups dipping and diving their way to recovery, as well as learn what to do if you find a seal stranded on the beach.

Wheal Martyn Museum and Country Park, St Austell

The UK’s only China Clay museum isn’t only home to hands-on exhibits and audio-visual displays delving into Cornwall’s fascinating history. It’s also home to 26 acres of dog-friendly country park, with woodland walks, nature trails and Cornwall’s largest working waterwheel. Once the dog’s been walked and the kids have run off steam on the commando-style assault course, relax for a taste of the county’s local produce served in the Victorian remains of china clay setting tank.

Image credit: Wheal Martyn

Tintagel Castle, Tintagel

Bring your imagination and your dog (on a lead) across the new footbridge to the 13th century ruins of Tintagel Castle, perched on a wave-lashed granite promontory on Cornwall’s north coast. Once you’ve come face-to-face with a bronze sculpture inspired by the legend of King Arthur, it’s impossible not to get swept away by local myths that link Tintagel to his birth. Back on the beach you can hear your echo in Merlin’s Cave and tuck into locally sourced food and drink at the beach café, before following the footpath back to the Arthurian-themed village. If you want to stretch your legs further, strike out along the coast path to the rugged Trebarwith Strand beach.

If you need any more temptation to bring your pup to Cornwall, read our top dog-friendly restaurants.

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10 reasons to stay in Hayle

Ever considered holidaying in Hayle? This estuary town sits on a dramatic stretch of the west Cornwall coast, between St Ives and Gwithian, and is home to Cornwall’s longest beach, Gwithian Towans, which stretches three miles from Hayle to Godrevy head.

Despite its natural beauty, Hayle is often the lesser spoken-about destination compared to the nearby holiday hotspots of St Ives and Mousehole. We’ve come up with 10 reasons why you should pick Hayle for your next trip to Cornwall.

Visiting Cornwall for a romantic adventure? Check out our romantic cottages.

Away from the crowds

Hayle is just outside of the bustling streets of St Ives, and you’ll find quieter beaches and plenty of untouched nature to explore. Due to the size of its sandy beach, you’ll always have space to yourself, even on the busiest of summer days.

The train into St Ives

If you do fancy an excursion out of town, the five minute train ride from Hayle to St Ives is one of the most scenic in the UK. Be sure to grab a window seat on the right hand side, as you’ll pass the tropical waters of Carbis Bay and will have panoramic views of St Ives ahead of you, spanning all the way back towards Godrevy in the distance.

Thinking about staying in St Ives? Have a look at our luxury St Ives holiday properties.

Godrevy lighthouse

Further along the three mile stretch of beach, you’ll come across Godrevy, where you can see the iconic lighthouse standing proud on the skyline. This very lighthouse inspired Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse, and is a must see on your visit to Hayle.

The best sunsets

As Hayle is on the north west coast of Cornwall, the sun sets directly above its horizon, meaning fiery red sunset skies. Head out along the coast path towards Godrevy, where you can see it set behind the lighthouse, causing the iconic white building to glow gold.

Seal spotting

Walk past Godrevy lighthouse and over the National Trust owned headland and you’ll come to the inaccessible Mutton Cove, home to a Grey seal colony. Because it can’t be reached by humans, it’s a perfect place for them to gather and bask, while interested wildlife spotters can peer down unobtrusively from above.

Food and drink

Hayle is home to an array of delectable eats, from its iconic Philps pasties which are famous around Cornwall to fine dining with a sea view in many waterfront restaurants. Check out our guide to eating out in Hayle for more recommendations.

Nature and sand dunes

Beyond its sandy shores lies a fascinating natural landscape to explore. Look around Upton Towans nature reserve that leads onto a mass of sand dunes which border the beach. Or take a walk or cycle along the RSPB reserve, passing the estuary, tidal pools and marsh in and around the town.

Bird watching

The estuary is a great spot for wildlife, as it attracts various flocks of birds throughout the seasons. Spend a day around the wetlands area and you may catch a rare sighting. The nearby Saltings nature reserve is also a prime place for murmurations in the shoulder months.

Coastal walks

From Hayle you also have easy access to the South West Coast Path, where you can get to St Ives on foot. The walk is just over six miles, but the coastal views along the way and the promise of a seafood lunch in St Ives will keep you going.

Interested in finding the best walks in Cornwall? Check out our blog on our favourite autumnal walks.

Watersports

Gwithian is a great spot for budding surfers to pros, with its wide shoreline and consistent swell. The area is also famous for windsurfing. There is a selection of surf and watersports schools dotted along the coast, meaning you can hire equipment and head out on a lesson if you don’t feel confident in the water.

Find out more about Hayle here, and take a look at our retreats in Hayle for your next trip below.

Eating out in Hayle

Hayle is a treat for the eyes, with its landscape of photo‑worthy vistas, riverfront wildlife, three‑mile long beach and yawning estuary.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Yet beyond the glorious scenery is a generous handful of beachfront takeaways, laid back cafes and fine dining restaurants where you can tuck into freshly caught seafood, pub classics and everything in between. Here are some of our favourites….

Hungry Horsebox Co.

Converted from an old horse trailer, this café on wheels is parked down at Gwithian Beach and open daily to serve delicious al fresco meals and snacks, ready to be devoured right there amongst the elements. Forget the Cornish pasty‑ how about sampling the rich spices of their famous red lentil dahl with coconut, spinach and sweet potato? Or, tuck into their mouth‑watering whipped lemon and tahini hummus, with toasted flat breads and truffle oil. A taste sensation served with a view.

Sunset Surf Café/ Bar

Looking for some post‑surf grub to re fuel you for the rest of the day? Look no further than Sunset Surf Café, cooking up filling breakfasts, heart‑warming lunches and refreshing drinks that really hit the spot. This café overlooks the sand dunes of Gwithian beach that lead down onto the huge expanse of sand below, the perfect scenery to accompany your meal.

Philps Famous Pasties

A trip to Cornwall wouldn’t be complete without a proper Cornish pasty – it’s a holiday essential. Years of expertise in the pasty trade makes Philps the best in their business, and they cook up fresh batches of the stuffed, flaky pastries daily at their riverside takeaway. You can never go wrong with a classic steak or cheese and onion, but they offer a range of options to satisfy all pasty‑lovers’ appetites!

Sanders Fish and Chips

Another Cornish classic is the fish and chips. Light, flaky cod coated in crispy batter, served with a generous handful of chips and adorned with plenty of salt, vinegar and mushy peas. Can it get any better? Sanders know how to do fish and chips right, and have them ready to eat in or takeaway, allowing you to tuck in in front of the sunset.

Rockpool Beach Café

Just moments from the sea at the lighthouse end of the beach sits The Rockpool Beach Café. Its laid‑back atmosphere and sand dune surroundings makes this boho café a go to lunch spot, serving up fresh seafood, pizzas and beach bites that you can eat in or take to the beach. They also have a sandy back garden, and host live music and open‑air cinema events throughout the year.

Salt Kitchen and Bar

A social hub in the centre of Hayle, Salt is the place to go after a day on the beach. Rock up with sandy toes straight from the sea into this laid back, friendly diner, where you can tuck into modern continental food with a Cornish twist. Sample monkfish and tiger prawn skewers, an antipasti sharing platter or simply a cold beer as you soak up the beach life aura.

Discover our bespoke holiday cottages in Hayle, a short drive from St Ives and Pendeen.

New to the area? Check out our blog on 10 reasons to stay in Hayle to find out more, or browse our Hayle retreats below.

Explore other fantastic places to eat in Cornwall, such as all the great restaurants in St Ives.