First dog beach bans of the year come into force across Cornwall

The rules come into effect for Blue Flag Status beaches from today (May 15th)

Author: Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 15th May 2022
Last updated 16th May 2022

Many dogs love nothing more than running along a sandy beach, chasing a ball or having a quick, refreshing dip in the sea. And whilst their owners also like to take a stroll along the shore whilst exercising their four-legged friends they can’t all year round.

And, as we move into summer the restrictions on when you can take your furry friends to the coast start to kick in, with some dog beach bans beginning next week.

Cornwall Council has a number of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place around the coast which set limits on when dogs can go onto beaches. The vast majority of these operate from the beginning of July to the end of August.

But for beaches in Cornwall which have Blue Flag status those restrictions have to operate from May 15th to September 30th in order to retain that accolade.

So, here is the list of beaches where dog bans come into force from May 15. All operate from 10am to 6pm each day.

Carbis Bay Beach, Carbis Bay

Crackington Haven

Crooklets Beach, Bude

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

Polzeath Beach

Porth Beach

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

Porthminster Beach, St Ives

Porthtowan Beach

Sennen Beach

Trevone Beach, Padstow

Widemouth Beach, Bude

The penalty for breaching the PSPO could be a maximum of £1,000 although the council can, at its discretion, issue a fixed penalty notice for £100 to anyone who commits the offence.

Most other beaches covered by the PSPOs operate their restrictions from July 1 to August 31, again from 10am to 6pm. Those beaches are:

Cadgwith Cove

Castle Beach, Falmouth

Cawsand Beach

Chapel Porth Beach, St Agnes

Church Cove, Gunwalloe

Harveys Towans to Godrevy Point, Hayle

Housel Bay

Kennack Sands Beach

Kynance Cove

Maenporth Beach, Falmouth

Mousehole Beach to Skilly Beach

Wherry Town to Battery Rocks

Long Rock level crossing to Marazion

Perranuthnoe

Poldhu Beach, Mullion

Polurrian Cove Beach, Mullion

Porthcurno Beach

Porthgwarra Beach, St Levan

Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives

Porthleven West

Porthpean Beach, St Austell

Portmellon Cove, Mevagissey

Portreath Beach, including the harbour

Praa Sands

Readmoney Cove, Fowey

St George’s Well, Padstow

St Ives Harbour Beach

Summer’s Beach, St Mawes

Swanpool Beach, Falmouth

Tattam’s Beach, Portscatho

Tunnel Beach, Falmouth

And, lastly, there are some beaches which have all year round bans for dogs which are also 24 hours. Those are:

Carnsew Pool

Copperhouse Pool

Hayle Estuary

Please note that these restrictions only apply to those beaches which are covered by Cornwall Council’s PSPOs. Private beaches may also have their own restrictions in place which are not covered by these orders.

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