Top dog walking routes in Cornwall

Owning a dog can make planning a holiday difficult, particularly if you want your pet to go with you. Choose a break in self-catering accommodation in Cornwall and having a furry friend accompany you should not be a problem.

There are plenty of high-quality dog friendly cottages available and, while there are some beaches that have animal bans, there are also lots of stretches of sand where dogs are allowed to run about. There is wide open countryside to explore and, as the county has a network of traffic-free paths, plenty of excellent places to take your pet for long walks.

Penzance to Marazion

This 2.1-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path covers gentle terrain and will provide you with superb views of the Lizard and St Michael's Mount. The route follows the line of the sea wall, but you can take a small diversion on to Long Rock Beach to enjoy a paddle. Dogs are welcome on the sand, as they are in Penzance's Dolphin Inn and Marazion's Kings Arms, so you can stop for lunch or a drink at either end of the walk.

Cubert

The coastline south of Newquay is rich in flora and fauna, which means there is lots to see on this 4.5-mile circular walk. The grassland sections have a variety of colourful wildflowers, while you may also spot partridges, fulmars, buntings and buzzards. The huge golden sand beach and dunes at Holywell Bay are dog friendly all year round, while the cliff tops are great places from where to see grey seals, porpoises and basking sharks in the water below.

Mevagissey Harbour

The traditional fishing village of Mevagissey is surrounded by beautiful countryside and you will enjoy great views of it during this 6.2-mile circular walk. The route includes two wooded valleys and skirts round the edge of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, before arriving back on the coast at Pentewan. You will then follow the cliff path back round to your starting point, stopping to let your dog run about on Polstreath Beach and for a drink in the Fountain Inn.

Clay Trails

These five traffic-free trails wind their way through the beautiful countryside around St Austell, taking in sights linked to Cornwall's clay mining industry. As you explore the greenery, you will see clay tips, pits and ponds, together with wild deer grazing. The shortest of the tree-lined trails runs for 1.75 miles from St Austell to Wheal Martyn, while the longest connects Wheal Martyn to the Eden Project, with the 5-mile path carving a route through some rugged countryside.

The Great Flat Lode Trail

Cornwall once had a thriving metal mining industry and many of the locations that were important to it now make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to explore the area and its industrial heritage is on foot, and it is simple to do that because a number of the rail lines that ran to the mines have been converted into the Mineral Tramway Trails for use by walkers, cyclist and horse riders.

The Great Flat Lode Trail is a 7.5-mile circular route around Carn Brea, just outside Redruth, which was once home to one of the county's most productive tin mines. It will take you through heathland and farmland, and past the remains of a number of mining buildings.