Your Guide to St Ives with Dogs: Our Favourite Things to Do & See

Planning a doggy day out in St Ives? You’re barking up the right tree. This beautiful Cornish harbour town offers a bit of everything – incredible restaurants, unspoiled beaches, rugged coastline and cosy bays – and it’s every bit as good to explore with your dog by your side.

Here are all our favourite things to do with dogs in St Ives.

Key takeaways:

• St Ives has several dog-friendly beaches, but rules vary – some allow dogs all year, others only outside of peak season and set daytime hours.
• Bamaluz Beach is dog friendly all year round, with no restrictions at any time.
• Porthmeor and Porthminster beaches allow dogs outside of the main summer season, roughly mid-May to the end of September, 10am–6pm.
• Neighbouring Carbis Bay beach follows a similar seasonal pattern, so it’s not a free pass if St Ives beaches are restricted.
• Always double-check current signage on the day, as council byelaws and exact dates can shift from year to year.

Dog-friendly beaches in St Ives

Which beach in St Ives is dog friendly depends on the time of year, so it’s worth knowing your options before you set off with the lead in hand.

Dog friendly all year round:

• Bamaluz Beach – small, tucked between the harbour and Porthgwidden, with no restrictions at any time of year.
• Breakwater Beach – a hidden, sandy spot behind Smeaton’s Pier that only appears at low tide, but welcomes dogs whenever it’s accessible.

Seasonal restrictions apply (broadly mid-May to end of September, 10am–6pm):

• Porthmeor Beach – a Blue Flag beach by the Tate, popular with surfers.
• Porthminster Beach – a Blue Flag beach a short walk from the town centre, with views to Godrevy Lighthouse.
• Carbis Bay Beach – just over a mile away, following the same broad seasonal pattern.

Shorter summer-only restrictions:

• St Ives Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden Beach tend to have a narrower restricted window, often just the height of summer (roughly July and August), so they can be a good bet either side of that.

Outside of the restricted hours and months, dogs are welcome on all of the beaches above. Rules are set locally and can be updated, so it’s always worth glancing at the signage on the day rather than relying solely on any guide, including this one.

Walking with your dog around St Ives

If there’s one thing better than exploring St Ives, it’s doing it with your dog. Hit the sands of Bamaluz, head out along the South West Coast Path, explore ‘The Island’ (the grassy headland jutting out between Porthmeor Beach and the harbour), or stretch your legs around Trewyn Subtropical Gardens.

The coast path west from Porthmeor Beach car park (near the Tate) takes you past Man’s Head, Clodgy Point and Hellesveor Cliff. Expect dramatic, quieter scenery once you’re clear of the town. 

In the other direction, the walk from St Ives to Carbis Bay is an easy, well-trodden route with lovely bay views the whole way, and makes a natural link between the two beaches if you are torn between which one to visit.

For the uninitiated, the South West Coast Path is 630 miles of dedicated walkway starting at Somerset in the north, looping around Cornwall’s entire coastline before finishing up in South Devon.

The longest National Trail in Britain, it offers up an unparalleled array of incredible coastal landscapes – cliffs, beaches, dunes, geological wonders – and the sections of the SW Coast Path that pass through and nearby St Ives are no different.

If you and your pup are looking for some serious exercise and tackle the long route, Zennor’s dog-friendly local pub (The Tinners Arms) is ideal for some well-deserved homemade refreshment and sumptuous local ale. With a large beer garden, it’s one of Cornwall’s oldest pubs and has a grade II-listed building. The round trip takes around four hours, so prepare accordingly and bring plenty of water and snacks for everyone.

Hellesveor Cliff along the South West Coast Path.

Enjoy a homemade bite to eat or mouthwatering local ale at a dog-friendly pub

St Ives, like the rest of Cornwall caters extremely well for pets and their owners when it comes to places to eat and drink.

Whether you’re a local or visitor, The Castle Inn guarantees a warm welcome for yourself and your furry friend. In fact, they claim to offer ‘the best welcome in St Ives with dog biscuits, water and plenty of love’ — so your canine companion is bound to feel included!

Not only that, but they offer an incredible selection of Cornish gins and real ales, with an excellent Sunday roast and selection of pies. The Castle Inn’s Facebook page provides an up-to-date rundown of what’s happening, which often includes details of live entertainment and photos of owners enjoying a pint with their pups in tow.

For some cosy, inviting atmosphere, The Union Inn is more tucked away but offers a similarly superb selection of ales and food, with live music. If you’re in the mood for something a touch more fancy coupled with excellent panoramic views, check out Pedn-Olva. Sitting atop granite rocks above St Ives Bay, well-behaved pooches are welcomed.

Nearby Zennor is home to The Tinners Arms. As we mentioned earlier, it’s a 700-year-old pub whose grade II-listed building and large beer garden are totally dog friendly. Well worth the short trip outside St Ives, or an excellent pit stop if you’re talking the St Ives–Zennor walk with your furry pal.

Image credit: The Tinners Arms, Facebook.

Did you know? ‘The Island’

On the north end of St. Ives is The Island (TR26 1SZ), home to 13th-century St Nicholas Chapel. Though more of a peninsula than an island, this area features a nice, relaxing route on which you can walk your dog, with breathtaking sea views from nearly every part of the path.

Just a short walk from the main town centre of St Ives, it’s easily accessible and fairly flat, making for the perfect stroll for older dogs or families with children.

The Island has an interesting bit of history. A famous lookout in St Ives, it was originally called Pendinas, roughly translating to ‘fortified headland’. Whilst functioning as a chapel initially, by the 1800s it’s believed St Nicholas Chapel was used as a lookout post.

In the mid-1800s, a gun battery was installed on The Island to protect from French invasion. What’s now SurfHouse St Ives used to function as the barracks for the gunners. Around 1945, The Island became a coastguard lookout before being stood down in the 1990s.

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – as a jutting headland, it provides an excellent pitstop for migratory birds in autumn. Puffins and even seals have been spotted, too. On the first Saturday in August, The Island even comes alive with its own summer disco!

Don’t miss: St Ives’ hidden gardens

Don’t fancy going too far? For a low-key relaxing bit of light activity with Fido, the Trewyn Subtropical Gardens is nestled at the heart of St. Ives.

Named after sculptor Barbara Hepworth’s studio, Trewyn, it’s an immaculate little hidden gem located just off Bedford Road, up the hill by the Methodist church (TR26 1AG). Beware, it’s inconspicuous and easy to miss!

Whilst small, it offers a lovely, landscaped refuge from the crowds you’ll both enjoy. Dogs need to be on the leads, but they’re sure to be entertained by the sights, sounds and smells provided by a few leisurely laps of the garden.

Meanwhile, in the nearby town of Carbis Bay, the Chy-An-Gweal Gardens (TR26 2JN) are another fabulous spot for you and your furry friend to enjoy a nice stroll. Take in the beautiful and calming flower gardens and the stunning views of the Godrevy lighthouse.

Dog-friendly accommodation near St Ives

If you’re after dog-friendly accommodation in St Ives itself, options in the town centre tend to be limited and can book up fast. Our own Cornish Meadows Holiday Park, near Hayle, is about a 20-minute drive from St Ives and makes a relaxed, dog-friendly base for exploring the area.

It’s set in 16 acres of woodland, with dog-friendly holiday homes and safari tents, a doggy welcome pack on arrival and an on-site dog agility course and washing station for a rinse-off after a muddy walk or a beach day.

From there, other dog-friendly beaches like rugged Godrevy and Mexico Towans, and pet-friendly pubs including the Cornish Arms and Turnpike Inn, are all within easy reach too – not just St Ives itself.

FAQs: Dog friendly St Ives – all you need to know

What to do in St Ives with a dog? The main draws are the dog-friendly beaches (Bamaluz and Breakwater year-round, others seasonally), the coast path walks either side of town and a fantastic spread of dog-friendly cafés, pubs and restaurants around the harbour. Your pup will make friends in St Ives, for certain, in both human and doggy form.

Are dogs welcome in St Ives? Yes, St Ives is a well-established dog-friendly destination, with beaches, walks and plenty of places to eat and drink that welcome dogs. The main thing to plan around is the seasonal beach restrictions during the busier summer months.

Can dogs go on beaches in St Ives? Yes, though not on every beach at every time of year. Bamaluz and Breakwater Beach allow dogs all year round, while Porthmeor, Porthminster and Carbis Bay have seasonal restrictions, typically mid-May to the end of September during daytime hours.

Can dogs go on Carbis Bay beach? Yes, outside of the seasonal restriction period. Carbis Bay follows a similar pattern to St Ives’ main beaches, so it’s worth checking current dates before assuming it’s an easy alternative in peak season.

Which is better with dogs, St Ives or Carbis Bay? Both follow similar seasonal dog rules, so it often comes down to what you’re after. St Ives has more choice of dog-friendly cafés, pubs and walks right on your doorstep, while Carbis Bay tends to be quieter with a wider stretch of sand, and the two are an easy, well-signposted walk or short train ride apart.

Is the St Ives train dog friendly? Yes. GWR, which runs the St Ives Bay Line, allows up to two dogs per passenger free of charge, provided they’re kept on a lead (or in a carrier) and off the seats.

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