We have had a number of guests who have stayed with us recently and have brought along their beautiful dogs. They’ve also been asking us are there any dog friendly beaches near you? Can you recommend any?

Well, yes we can!  We are situated between two quiet fishing villages Kingsand and Cawsand on the peaceful Rame Peninsula.  The area is popular with dog owners because of its many beautiful walks and stunning scenery.  The locals are very welcoming to dogs – many of the pubs and restaurants provide water bowls and most of the beaches are dog friendly.  We have compiled a list of our closest dog friendly beaches.

Kingsand Beach – A Dog friendly beach all year round

Turn left out of the front door of Blue Monkey and walk to the end of the street to find Kingsand Beach. Kingsand and its neighbouring beach at Cawsand are sheltered, east-facing beaches, making them great locations for walks throughout the year.

Top Tip: Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round.  Top of the list of Dog Friendly Beaches!

Cawsand Bay – A Dog friendly beach with Great Views

Dogs are allowed off their leads on the beach from 30 September through to Easter Sunday. Lovely views of Plymouth Sound.

Top Tip: The beach is made of sand and shingle so may not be as kind to your dog’s feet as sand.

Whitsand Bay – A Dog friendly beach that is great for surfers too

Whitsand Bay is just around the Rame Peninsula, about ten minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey.  It’s popular with surfers and families and it is a very dog friendly beach.  You can walk along the beach for miles and dogs are allowed all year round.  Good for surfing, walking or running with beautiful scenery and plenty of space.  Access is steep and there are not many facilities apart from a small café at the top of the cliffs so bring your own supplies.

Top Tip: Access from the car park near Tregantle Fort.

Wilcove – A dog friendly beach close to a pub

Close to Whitsand Bay and the National Trust property at St Anthony, up a creek at the foot of the River Tamar, you will find Wilcove Beach.  Wilcove is a very dog friendly beach as dogs are allowed here all year round.

Top Tip:  Look out for the beautiful varied birdlife and relax at the Wilcove Inn.

Freathy Beach

A dog friendly beach ten minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey. Part of Whitsand Bay, this long beach has a wide expanse at low tide, making it the perfect place to stretch all of your legs whilst admiring the stunning views along the coast towards Polhawn Fort.

Sharrow Beach

Ten minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey and part of Whitsand Bay.  This small, sandy, dog friendly beach with rocky outcrops is a great place to play in the surf together.

Top Tip: More beach to wander along at low tide.

Tregantle Beach

Whitsand Bay, 11 minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey.  On the cliffs above you will find Tregantle Fort.  Tregantle is a dog friendly beach that welcomes dogs all year round.

Top Tip: Visit at low tide as this beach can get cut off.

Seaton Beach

25 minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey, located at the foot of the wooded Hessenford valley near Looe.  Sheltered by the high cliffs to the east, the water is safe for swimmers of all ages and dogs are welcome, as long as they are cleaned up after.

Top Tip: Family friendly with places to eat, parking and toilets

ABOUT BLUEMONKEY CORNWALL

We are a 5 star luxury holiday home in Cornwall situated between two quiet fishing villages Kingsand and Cawsand. We offer dog-friendly accommodation all year round.  If you’d like to stay with us you can check out our availability or contact the House Manager, Annabel Herbert on 07813 070 269.

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Penlee Point

Penlee Point is one of the most beautiful walks in the country. It lies on the South West Coast Path, and the views all around the headland are incredible. If you’re staying at Blue Monkey Cornwall, you’re just minutes away from this stunning coastal walk.

What Is Penlee Point?

Penn Legh is Cornish for stone-slab headland and the point is a coastal headland southeast of the village of Rame in Southeast Cornwall, UK. The point lies at the entrance to Plymouth Sound, with its imposing lighthouse commanding views across the water.

Penlee Point is part of a small Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the “Rame Head Heritage Coast” that also includes Cawsand Bay and the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park.

Penlee Point Walk: Distance, Time & Difficulty

Key Stats:

• Distance: 6-9.7 km (4-6 miles) depending on route
• Time: 1.5 to 3.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Elevation gain: 150-235 meters
• Route type: Circular walk on the South West Coast Path

The walk is easily achievable for families and casual walkers, though some sections involve steady climbing. The terrain is mostly on established paths, with a few steep areas. There are no major obstacles, though the path can be muddy in places, particularly near woodland sections.

How to get to Penlee Point from Blue Monkey

If you’re staying at Blue Monkey in Cawsand, getting to Penlee Point is straightforward: turn right out of Blue Monkey and keep walking – the road will take you all the way to Penlee Point. It’s a scenic walk through the village, taking approximately 20-30 minutes on foot before you reach the coastal path.

Alternatively, there’s a Penlee Point car park if you prefer to drive (PL101LN).

What To See At Penlee Point

Queen Adelaide’s Grotto

Above the point and little below the stunning Coastal Path is Queen Adelaide’s Grotto, built in 1827/1828 to commemorate the visit of King William IV and Queen Adelaide to Mount Edgcumbe.  Penlee Battery is the former site of a fort, and is now a nature reserve.

Penlee Battery Nature Reserve

A gun battery was constructed on Penlee Point in the late 1880s and used throughout both World Wars. It was initially armed with two 6-inch guns and a massive 13.5-inch gun, which weighed 67 tons and took eighty horses two weeks to haul it up a specially constructed flight of steps. On its first firing, the recoil from the gun split its concrete bed. The battery was decommissioned in the 1950s, and the buildings associated with it were demolished, but there are still enough remains to appreciate the scale of the defences. Wait around until low tide to see a private, hidden beach revealed.  This is also where nature lovers can see the Green Darner Dragonfly, first seen in Britain here.

Rame Head

Penlee Point is part of a small Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the “Rame Head Heritage Coast” that also includes Cawsand Bay and the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. 

Penlee Point Walk Tips

What To Bring

• Good walking boots (the path can be muddy)
• Waterproof jacket (weather changes quickly on the coast)
• Plenty of water and snacks
• Sun cream and hat (exposed headland with no shade)
• Camera for the views

Best Time To Visit

Spring (April-May): Wildflowers in bloom, milder weather, fewer crowds

Summer (June-August): Warmest weather, longest daylight, best for swimming at hidden beach, but busiest with visitors

Autumn (September-October): Blackberries, butterflies, and beautiful golden light; generally quieter than summer

Winter (November-March): Dramatic coastal views, fewer visitors, but shorter daylight and potentially muddy paths

Important: Stock Up Before You Go

Make sure you stock up with plenty to eat before you go. There are no facilities at Penlee Point itself, so pack a picnic lunch and snacks. You can grab supplies in Cawsand village beforehand.

Where To Eat In Cawsand

Try some of the great places to eat in Cawsand before or after your walk:

• The Bay Bar and Restaurant – Located on Cawsand Beach with sea views
• The Old Bakery – Traditional village spot

You can check what’s open here.

Where to stay: Blue Monkey Cornwall

Penlee Point is one of the most accessible coastal walks from Blue Monkey Cornwall, our luxury 5-bed self-catering holiday cottage in Cawsand. You can literally turn right out of the cottage and walk straight to Penlee Point – no car needed.

Blue Monkey is perfectly positioned as your base for exploring the Rame Peninsula, with easy access to:

• Penlee Point and Rame Head walks
• Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
• Three sandy beaches (Cawsand, Kingsand, The Cleave)
• Whitsand Bay (just a short drive)
• Village restaurants and shops

Book Your Penlee Point Adventure

Ready to explore one of Cornwall’s most beautiful walks? Blue Monkey Cornwall is your perfect base.

Contact us to book:

Call: 07845 468 487
Email: enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com

The post Penlee Point and the Rame Peninsula first appeared on Blue Monkey Cornwall..

Three miles of sand stretch from Rame Head in the East to Portwrinkle in the West.  These are the beautiful beaches of Whitsand Bay with glistening white sand, rock pools and waves.  Great for paddle boarding, surfing, ideal for an early morning jog, peaceful to picnic on and exciting to explore.

Rame Peninsula’s beaches are bordered by high cliffs steeped in history and drama.  Whitsand Bay is overlooked by the ruins of a 14^th century chapel dedicated to St Michael at the pinnacle of the peninsula.

In 1874 a hermit called Lugger dug himself out a cave at Sharrow Point and inscribed secret verses on the ceiling to keep himself entertained.  It is also popular with divers: in 1914 a submarine sank it Whitsand Bay and in 2004 it was joined by HMS Scylla to provide an artificial underwater reef.

Defenders of the Realm!  Rame Peninsula’s beaches have played their part.  In 1859 the Polhawn Battery was built to shore up our shores as Plymouth was considered to be a weak point in our defences.  Polhawn Battery and Polhawn Fort now play a different role in our culture as their beautiful views have transformed the fort into a popular wedding venue.

Whitsand Bay is one of the many beautiful beaches close to Blue Monkey Cornwall.  Follow my blog to learn more.

Top Tips: Whitsand Bay is dog friendly and has 3 coastguards on duty between May and September.  Beware the strong currents and steep descent down rocky paths to the beach.

Useful Links:

Where to Eat

Surfing and Coasteering

Weddings

The post Rame Peninsula’s Hidden Beaches first appeared on Blue Monkey Cornwall..

“KAYAKING is one of the biggest rushes you can have on the water, letting you play in lakes, river rapids, waterfalls and even the sea. It’s also a great way to get up close to nature and check out the world around you from a brand new point of view, paddling silently through remote areas that most people will never get to visit.

Kayaking in Cornwall should be on every adventurer’s bucket list. It’s one of the UK’s most beautiful counties, known for its craggy rugged coastline, crystal clear blue water and plenty of awesome wildlife to see. Dolphins and seals are commonly spotted all over Cornwall.

If you are a beginner kayaker, there are plenty of spots to visit. From the calm, placid waters of the south to the windswept north coast, you won’t struggle to find some of the best places to go kayaking in the UK.”

(Kayak blogger Mpora)

Cawsand Beach

Two minutes walk from Blue Monkey is Cawsand beach where Mat will give Kayak lessons to absolute beginners and you can also book him to guide you around the coast.

Top Tip: Kayaking will exhaust your children – ensuring parents of a good night’s rest!!!

Portwrinkle

For the more adventurous, this Cornish Angler likes to fish from his Kayak! He recommends Portwrinkle, a former fishing village and harbour at the centre of Whitsand Bay. You can kayak close in or explore the reefs further out. Launch your kayak from within the tiny harbour, or Hoodny Cove to the west of it or Finnygook Beach to the East when there is low swell. Beware the strong tides that can flow across Whitsand Bay on Spring Tides.

Top Tip: Many species of fish can be caught from your kayak including Makerel, Plaice and Bass when in season.

Millbrook

The River Tamar marks the border between Devon and Cornwall with green rolling hills on either side. Start your paddle at Cotehele Quay, part of a National Trust property and head up past the Cotehele estate, Danesfield House and underneath the famous Calstock viaduct. You’ll pass Okel Tor Quay and Gawton Quay which were once key parts of the copper mining industry. Keep your eyes peeled for deer, kingfishers and peregrine falcons.

Top Tip: Blue Monkey has 2 Kayaks for our guests to use, free of charge. We provide life jackets and ask that you take full responsibility for your party’s safety whilst using the kayaks.

Thanks to Mpora where you will find many other articles on Kayaking in Cornwall.

The post KAYAKING IN CORNWALL. first appeared on Blue Monkey Cornwall..