Heligan’s Got the Woof Factor
By Pentewan Sands on the June 15th, 2017 in
Heligan’s got the woof-factor
A holiday just wouldn’t be a holiday if you had to leave your four-legged members of the family at home. Long walks, fun on the beach, alfresco dining – Fido’s fave things to do are what camping is all about. Dogs are our best friend and we welcome them with open paws!
Follow our lead (ahem) to top doggie things to do at our dog-friendly campsite in Cornwall…
Sniff your way around the Lost Gardens of Heligan
If you’ve got a wet nose and waggy tail, the Lost Gardens of Heligan is a pretty exciting place to be. It’s right on our doorstep and is top dog when it comes to dog-friendly gardens in Cornwall. There’s miles of routes to explore, smells galore in the Victorian Productive Garden and ancient woodland paths that owners will love as much as pooches. The Heligan Tearoom and Stewardry are no-go zones for furry visitors but otherwise Heligan is the stuff that doggie dreams are made of!
Time for walkies
With 300 miles of gloriously dog-friendly South West Coast Path you’re never far from canine stomping ground in Cornwall but, lucky us, one of the most drool-worthy stretches is within stick throwing distance of us. The circular 6.2 mile walk from Mevagissey sweeps by the Lost Gardens of Heligan, takes in prehistoric tin mining works and, most importantly for doggie chums, passes Polstreath Beach which welcomes dogs year-round. There’s even pooch friendly refuel spots in Mevagissey (try the Fountain Inn or the Ship Inn).
For a gentler stroll head for the Clay Trails network and take your pick from the nine short trails that weave their way through mining heritage. Our favourite is the Pentewan Valley Trail which follows an old railway and links the coastal village of Pentewan with St Austell. While Pentewan Beach is off limits to dogs the woodland paths are perfect for walkies - they’re popular among cyclist too so we’d recommend keeping dogs on leads.
Drool-worthy places to eat and drink
Having a dog in tow doesn’t mean that it all has to be takeaway fish and chips and Cornish pasties (although we’d recommend those too!). Lots of our nearby pubs and cafes are just as dog-friendly as us. For traditional pub grub with a side order of doggie treats we love The Ship Inn in Pentewan and the Rashleigh Arms in Charlestown. For incredible Cornish seafood and an even more incredible view The Sharkfin in Mevagissey is a winner, while you can’t beat the Kings Head in the perfectly formed hamlet of Ruan Lanihorne for dog-friendly drinks.
Beach days for sandy paws and salty hair
Our quiet campsite in Cornwall enjoys a pick of dog-friendly beaches. Whether playing fetch, digging holes or a spot of doggie paddle gets tails wagging, our nearby beaches have got it covered. Mevagissey, Portmellon, Gorran Haven, Hemmick, Porthluney Cove and Portholland all get the woof seal of approval and welcome dogs year-round.
Explore the Eden Project’s outdoor garden
Is there anything that the Eden Project doesn’t get right? It seriously wows on every level and is more than worth barking about. Lead wearing canine chums are welcome to explore the mile upon mile of paths in the outdoor gardens and while the biomes and undercover areas are off limits, the paw-fect Visitor Centre and dog-friendly outdoor terrace of the bakery nicely top up Eden’s doggie credentials.
Visit our Ways to Stay pages for more information about our Dog Friendly Campsite in Cornwall.