Miles of golden sands, the UK’s only bar on the beach and homemade dog friendly ice cream – these are just some of the reasons you should put Perranporth on your to-visit list.
The Cornish seaside village, just eight miles from Newquay, is a cute and quaint dog-friendly spot where you can easily spend a whole day.
When we visit, we park on the field off Station Road, which is around £7 for the whole day – cash or card. Get there early to bag a decent space before heading over to the beach!
Here are five things to do in Perranporth with dogs, and why we return year after year!
Perranporth Beach
Three miles of sandy beach with waves perfect for surfing, body boarding and paddling. The beach is very accessible and flat, so ideal for dogs, with a stream of water running close to the shops, and sand dunes around the edge of the bay.
Dogs have to be kept on leads between July and August, from 9am to 5pm, which suits us just fine because it makes for a much more relaxed experience for The Scamps.
When the tide is out, the sea can feel like a fair walk away, but it’s well worth it for the sea breeze and a splash about to cool down. If you’ve got a nervous dog, we recommend walking behind The Watering Hole towards the lifeguard hut where it’s much quieter, and you don’t have to duck and dive between windbreakers.
We like to pitch up a beach tent close to the shops and The Watering Hole and can easily spend half the day just lazing around, hitting up the pop-up bars and kiosks on the beach to refuel.
The Watering Hole
The UKs only bar that’s actually on the beach, The Watering Hole is the perfect place to grab a pint and some pub grub. The laidback boozer is very friendly, allowing dogs both inside and outside the venue.
There are dozens of picnic benches dotted outside the pub, with plenty of indoor seating to shelter from the sun too. Dine in, or takeaway, either way, the food is awesome, with a selection of St Austell brewery beers on tap. And if you stay the evening, you’ll catch a stunning sunset over the sea.
The Watering Hole love dogs so much, they even have an Instagram highlight dedicated to their canine customers!
Throughout Autumn, The Watering Hole is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Pavilion Ice
On a hot day, a dog ice cream is a must, and Pavilion Ice has become a firm favourite with four-legged visitors of the village.
There are around 25 different flavours of human gelato in the parlour, as well as three fab flavours for dogs: fillet steak, chicken livers and roast pork. But you’ll have to be quick – when we went at 2pm, they’d sold out of all three flavours!
Denise Burrell and her son Matt created the dog friendly ice creams to be gentle on tummies, using yoghurt and gourmet meats, which they use in their next-door restaurant The Boatshed.
Perranporth Village
There are dozens of little seaside shops to visit in Perranporth, most of which are dog friendly – but just ask to check! Perranporth is a great place to pick up gifts for loved ones back home, or treat yourself to a new accessory.
Most of the popular shops are on St Pirans Road and Beach Road. What’s really helpful is that you can do a circular loop of the town and beach, with access to the beach at various points along St Pirans Road. We find the most accessible route to be by the beach apartments near to the Co-op.
Perran Pooch Wear
From treats and toys, Perran Pooch Wear has everything your dog might need for a trip to the beach, including a lifeguard hoody!
The store opened in 2009, and has grown into bigger premises throughout the years before setting in the St Pirans Road unit.
The shop stocks a range of brands, from Pedigree to Barking Bakery, who sell dog friendly ‘woofins’ and popcorn. Ideal for the beach, they also stock a selection of cooling products and toys to keep them entertained in the beach tent.
Phoebe and Frank love a trip to Perranporth just as much as us humans – will you be visiting this seaside village on your next staycation?
