on 31/10/2022
To celebrate autumn being in full bloom we’ve decided to put together a finite list of the most relaxing walks in Cornwall for you and your four-legged companions. Whether you are looking for relaxation, historic landmarks, off-leash dog walks, seaside trails or cliff edge views this list should have you covered.
Furthermore, as this is the 'most relaxing' list, we have stuck to including walks that are generally of the easy, short and accessible variety.
Now let’s get into the list…
(Photo Credit: @chris.cowley on Instagram)
Inarguably the quietest walk on this list. Walking through the fishing village and beach of Porthallow allows plenty of opportunity for you and your pooch to enjoy pretty views on the edge of the world almost entirely undisturbed.
It is because of this peacefulness as well as the white cottages painting a picture of a Cornish Santorini, that we have given it a spot in our ranks.
It is also a lot less windy and cliffy than some of the more high octane options on this list. Sitting on the South Coast of Cornwall, this beach offers gentler waves and quieter weather… perfect for some TLC.
Our first recommendation for a place to stay is possibly our most luxurious… with The Valley Cottages offering an incredible kitchen for self-catering, a balcony, a restaurant on site and access to multiple private swimming pools and hot tubs. The Valley offer a selection of Dog-Friendly packages and are located centrally between all of the listed walks. This cottage specifically sleeps a family of four with two bathrooms.
(Photo Credit: @Wheresem on Instagram)
Visiting the Lizard with man’s best friend on a gentle day at the seafront is beautiful, unique and serene enough to have you coming back to Cornwall every Spring for the rest of your life. The trail stretches out through beautiful scenes to Britain’s most southern point and does so relatively gently. All while having the views for you and scents for your companion to make sure you’re never not present.
Despite being one of the true wonders of mainland Britain, Kynance Cove and The Lizard, falls to fourth in our list because it can become quite bustling at different times of year and the length of the walk stretches a little further than some of our smaller four legged companions might want it to.
Irrespective of this popularity and distance, no list of Cornish activities would be complete without The Lizard. And if you can catch it on a quiet day, we suspect no walk in the UK is quite as centring and relaxing.
Our recommended stay is this brand new dog friendly property with a view of St. Michaels Mount. It is perfect for a family get together, surrounded by walking opportunity and just a short drive from one of Cornwall’s best walks and views (with another one just out the window).
(Photo Credit: @em.on.the.coast on Instagram)
At third in our list we have Holywell Bay. Holywell is perhaps the walk which most accurately surmises Cornwall and this list. More of a wander, the picturesque beach forms a trunk for wonderful round paths to root themselves in. You could visit 10 times and walk a different line in each one. Not just because your pup will be all over the place enjoying the fields, flowers, sand and waterfront but because every walk to, from and round Holywell has a different must-experience charm.
Our top recommendations are the circular walk from Holywell to Crantock (returning via the poppy fields of West Pentire) and the round trip from The Bay to Kelsey Head and Polly Joke.
Not only are these the two most approachable walks in iwalkcornwall’s guide to Holywell Bay but they are also two of the most densely packed with picturesque scenery.
Our nearby recommended stay is just a short drive south in Perranporth, where you can enjoy the scenery with a partner in this romantic cottage getaway for two, with personal parking and a traditional log fire for the evenings.
(Photo Credit: @bordercolloki on Instagram)
Our silver medallist is the passionately dog appropriate Cardinham Woods, just outside of Bodmin. In keeping with the themes of doggy exploration, beautiful views and trail diversity, Cardinham Woods has absolutely no dog restrictions, 4 different trail paths and stunning viewpoints on each one.
It’s a relatively tame walk. Additionally, there is the lovely and welcoming Woods Café which is happy to host you and your pups if you fancy a break.
Cardinham Woods moves up to second in our list this time of year because of how the forest changes in autumn. In rays of auburn, orange and gold, forests this rich and beautiful are a perfect way to escape from everyday life with your dog. Trails like these are some of the very few things about summer being over we can actually be happy about and so we cannot leave it out of our rankings.
In terms of where to stay, we implore you to check out the unique coastal Appletree House. It’s a well sized family villa with large living areas and four beds. The dog friendly home also boasts a stellar St. Austell location – just a stones throw from the harbour.
(Photo Credit: @my_life_in_cornwall on Instagram)
Now this one could have been slightly swayed by our Game of Thrones fantasies, but there are few views in Britain more Targaryen than standing on the edge of this cliff face, above the clouds, and wishing you had a dragon.
In all seriousness, this path is right up there in terms of uniqueness, natural beauty and walking ease. You will have the most relaxing walk of your life here as long as you don’t mind wind or heights.
We recommend staying in this beautiful three bedroom home between St Agnes and Perranporth to get easy access to this trail and everything else Cornwall has to offer.
And that's our list! Comment to let us know what your favourite relaxing walk in Cornwall is and tag us on Instagram at @select_cornwall if you do decide to give any of these wanders a try.
