Constantine Bay is a beautiful sandy beach near Padstow on the Trevose Head Heritage Coast. It’s a popular place for surfing and is dog and family friendly year round. RNLI Lifeguards patrol the beach at weekends in April but provide a full daily service between May and September each year.
It’s rare to find a dog friendly beach with so much sand. Woody loves playing fetch at Constantine Bay and there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy. Low tide does expose more sinking sand, which is fun to run across but you do have to be careful. Or simply stick to the drier sand at the top of the beach.
The RNLI patrols Constantine Bay throughout the high season. Again, not many dog friendly beaches boast daily lifeguard cover. This service helps make Constantine Bay safe for all the family, the lifeguards are incredibly professional but also friendly and approachable when they’re not attending a shout.
Constantine Bay is a popular spot for surfing, which means the waves aren’t always safe for swimming. Thankfully the RNLI monitor the waves and outline designated swimming areas using red and yellow flags. It’s important to adhere to these set spaces, because riptides aren’t a stranger to this beach. If in doubt, be sure to ask one of the lifeguards where to swim and ensure children are accompanied by a responsible adult near the water.
There are plenty of rock pools to explore at low tide as well as neighbouring Booby’s Bay, which is also dog friendly. The walk between Trevose Head and Constantine Bay is great for wearing out excited paws and takes around 20 minutes. There are some steep cliff drops along the way, so I keep Woody on the lead until we’ve passed them. There’s free parking for National Trust members at Trevose Head, otherwise it costs a few pounds for the day.
Woody loves paddling in the rock pools and chasing his ball here. The beach is secluded and away from any roads, so it’s really reassuring to know I can let Woody off his lead and that he’s unlikely to get himself in trouble. As I mentioned, there are some steep cliffs on the walk to the beach. However, once we’ve arrived at the wooden steps, which take us to the beach, Woody is off lead and free.
Padstow is a short 15 minute drive from the beach. It’s well signposted and there’s plenty of parking in the town. Padstow is a beautiful harbour town and working fishing port at the head of the Camel river. A popular place to sample some of the county’s best eateries, including Rick Stein’s restaurants and plenty of local seafood. Of course, Paws in Padstow is close by too, situated in the heart of Trevisker Garden Centre.
There are plenty of stunning coastal walks near Constantine Bay, including Bedruthan Steps, which is a short drive away. There’s a stunning circular walk to Porthcothan beach if you’re looking for a weekend walk. Alternatively, the Camel Trail runs through Padstow all the way to Bodmin. It’s well maintained and perfect for cycling. You can hire bicycles and even dog trailers if you fancy tackling this 18 mile adventure! The route is also dog friendly by foot, just be aware that bicycles may be flying by, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Have you visited Constantine Bay? Where’s your favourite sandy dog friendly beach in Cornwall?
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