When we first booked St Ives’ for our May half-term adventure this year, the first question we were asked was if we knew that there were restrictions in place for dogs. The honest answer was no, in a panic I jumped onto the Council website. The answer wasn’t quite as bad as I anticipated but it does mean you have to consider where you are staying, and how you will manage a big chunk of your day when the restrictions are in place. The simple answer is yes, dogs are welcome. There are restrictions but you should still consider St Ives’ as a dog-friendly part of the Cornish coast.

 

It is safe to say that on almost every beach in St Ives, Cornwall your four-legged friend is most welcome to join you for beach fun and splashing in the sea. We certainly didn’t feel that restrictions hindered our fun, we adapted and it worked for us. You must follow the guidelines as enforcement officers are patrolling, and make the most of the time without restrictions or consider visiting outside these periods which would roughly be pre-May and post-September.

 

Since Cornwall has hundreds of sandy beaches, dubbed the Cornish Riviera we expected the May half-term to be one of the busiest seasons, it didn’t feel like that. Which surprised us, given how small St Ives is. In part that was because we left the bay a couple of days to explore but also because there are so many beaches in St Ives to explore that we found it was only ever the Harbour that feels congested mid-afternoon. If like us, you are prepared to be up and out super early, I can say that most places were not nearly as busy as I had expected pre-11 am. Our favourite times were the mornings pre-10 am exploring with Bob and post-6 pm when the traffic reduces.

 

 

Can dogs go on beaches in St Ives during the May half-term?

 

 

Porthmeor Beach

Our favorite beach, not only for the view and white sand but also for the beach cafes and surfing. The restions are; between October 1st and May 14th, you can enjoy your time on Porthmeor Beach without restriction. From May 15th to September 30th, you will need to have a visit before 10 am or after 6 pm. That said, dogs are welcome on the decking below Porthmeor Beach Cafe and at West. Therefore you can still enjoy the beach during the day-times.

 

Bamaluz Beach

A lovely find, it is a small rocky and sandy cove with access via steps. You are free to visit Bamaluz Beach any time of the day for as long as you want all year round. Something to be aware of is that it is tidal and the beach disappears at high tide. We enjoyed it most in the morning as with it being small it was very popular with young families.

 

Porthgwidden Beach

 Between September 1st and June 30th you can enjoy Porthgwidden Beach all day long. It was busy with families during the daytime however we didn’t feel that was a problem. It has a cafe and facilities, as well as feeling a little out of the way of the larger more popular beaches. It was good fun at night. From July 1st to August 31st, you will need to give this one a miss between 10 am and 6 pm.

 

Harbour Beach

A joy to explore all day long, however grabbing a coffee from one of the harbour cafes and sitting overlooking the boats is a fond memory. Between September 1st and June 30th, you can enjoy any amount of time on Harbour Beach. From July 1st to August 31st, you will need to give this one a miss unless visiting before 10 am or after 6 pm. When the tide is high, there is just a smidgeon of beach left near the arches. When the tide is out, there is a huge amount of space for your furry legged friend.

 

Porthminster Beach

We enjoyed walking over to this beach around 7 am. The views looking back across the harbour were spectacular. It was the most peaceful beach we walked on in the mornings. Between October 1st and May 14th you can enjoy your time on Porthminster Beach restriction-free. From May 15th to September 30th, you will need to have a leg stretch between 10 am and 6 pm. The restaurant is dog friendly as is the beach cafe just off the beach, again you can still enjoy this beach even with the restrictions.

 

 

Carbis Bay

Technically this beach isn’t in St Ives, but stay with me. It’s a short walk, just a mile out of St Ives which offers breathtaking views and should be included here. Tucked away in its own corner of St Ives Bay it is a must-visit. We enjoyed walking over to this beach around 10 am, we didn’t realise about the restrictions which meant we couldn’t enjoy the beach however whilst the boys enjoyed the beach we grabbed a coffee from the deli and sat on the promenade. Between October 1st and May 14th, you can enjoy your time on Carbis Bay restriction-free. From May 15th to September 30th, keep-in-mind the times of 10 am and 6 pm when dogs are not allowed. For the most part, the restaurants are dog-friendly, again you can still enjoy this beach even with the restrictions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can dogs go on beaches in St Ives during the May half-term?

 

And that’s our answer to; can dogs go on beaches in St Ives during the May half-term! You can see a few clips from our trip over on Instagram for more recommendations. There were other beaches we visited that were marked as specifically being for dogs, these included Lusty Glaze and Fistral Beach. Next time we plan to take a walk along one of the coastal paths, take the train to Lelant and possibly a boat trip! There is so much to do beyond visiting the beach that I really believe the restrictions don’t have to hinder your fun in St Ives.

If we have inspired you to visit Cornwall, you can read more about our trips to Cornwall here. If you are visiting St Ives and wondering where to eat and drink, fear not because here are our 8 places to eat in St Ives, tried and tested in 2024.