The Tide Climbing Centre is by far one of my favourite dog friendly attractions in Cornwall. It’s a fantastic place to visit come rain or shine and is incredibly dog friendly too. Woody and Hen always enjoy the attention they receive from the team and other climbers when we visit! The Tide are passionate about improving accessibility to climbing in the south west, regardless of your experience. So whether you’re a seasoned boulderer or are keen to take your first steps into climbing, The Tide is definitely the place to visit!
DOGSCLOSURE: This is a paid partnership with The Tide Climbing Centre, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Tide Climbing Centre is located on the Barnfields Business Park in St Issey, between Padstow and Wadebridge. There are no direct public transport links to the area, so you’ll need to travel here by car. Fortunately once you arrive and start climbing, time flies – it’s easy to stick around for a few hours at a time!
The centre is pretty accessible too. The facilities are all on one level (apart from the bouldering area, which has impact matting for safety.) There’s astroturf throughout the centre, as well as a small bouldering igloo in the café area for infants to enjoy. When climbing in the climbing areas, you’ll need to make sure you’re in the correct footwear. Fortunately you can hire climbing shoes from reception when you visit, as well as liquid chalk, which will help improve your grip on the holds. If you’re visiting The Tide for the first time, you’ll need to complete their Waiver Form.
The centre is dog friendly in all non-climbing areas. This means your dogs can chill out in the café while you’re bouldering or using the ropes. There are plenty of points to secure them to, including sturdy table legs and metal pillars dotted throughout the centre. I like to make sure Woody and Hen are always wearing a harness when we visit the centre, just so they on’t hurt their necks when they inevitably get excited by all the fuss! The team are also on hand to provide water bowls and plenty of cuddles for your dogs when you arrive to ensure they have a fabulous time.
The Tide Climbing Centre has 6 crag dogs (dogs that go climbing) themselves, including Arnie who’s photographed below, Woody and Hen (of course), their working cocker spaniel friend Kia and the owners’ dogs chihuahua Benji and picardy spaniel Rocco. Kia is often found tucked up in her bed behind reception and all the centre dogs are super friendly.
I really enjoy climbing at The Tide Climbing Centre. Having both bouldering and rope climbing under one roof is pretty unique, particularly in Cornwall. The Tide welcomes climbers of all abilities and ensures there’s a project for everyone to send. As a relatively new climber, it’s great to have such a wide variety of problems to choose from. The routes are regularly reset, which means there’s always plenty of new climbs to try whenever you visit.
The climbing community at The Tide is incredibly supportive, everyone is so friendly! Whether you’re a monthly member or it’s your first visit, The Tide climbers and staff go above and beyond to ensure everybody feels welcome. It’s also a great place to visit if you’ve never climbed before. They offer a range of Instructor led sessions, including their popular Taster Sessions, with the aim of introducing you to climbing techniques and tricks to help you make the most of the facilities.
Nothing quite beats a good post-climb snack and The Tide’s pizzas are definitely a must have! The café serves a wide range of cakes, pasties, paninis an of course pizzas, with both vegan and gluten free options available. There’s also a climbing gear shop and yoga studio on site, with regular classes held during the week.
Have you visited The Tide Climbing Centre with your dog? What are your favourite dog friendly attractions in Cornwall?