🐾 Dog-Friendly Porthmeor Beach at a Glance
📍 Location: West of St Ives town centre, beside the Tate
🦮 Dog-Friendly: Seasonal daytime restrictions (dogs allowed early morning & evening in summer; all day off-season)
🚶 Walk Length: 0.5–2 miles including the coast path
🌿 Terrain: Wide sand, firmer low-tide sections, coastal path
👁️ Views: Open Atlantic, sweeping bay, dramatic sunsets
🅿️ Parking: Town centre car parks nearby
🚻 Facilities: Toilets, cafe, shops close by
📅 Best Time to Visit: Early mornings, evenings, spring and autumn for calmer walks
About
Porthmeor Beach is perfect for families, as the beach sits in the town of St Ives, overlooked by the Tate St Ives. Although the beach has seasonal restrictions, it is a good option for early-morning and evening walks, especially as you can get some good sunsets.
Dog Access and Rules
Porthmeor Beach has seasonal dog restrictions, prohibiting dogs from May 15th to September 30th between 10 am and 6 pm. Early mornings and evenings are usually fine, and outside these months, dogs are welcome all day.
Things To See & Do
The beach has good sand at the top, and then a slope at the high water mark takes you to a large expanse of flat sand. The beach is the only beach in St Ives that sits facing out into the Atlantic rather than inwards into the bay, which means you can get a lot more waves and surf.
As you are in the town itself, you have easy access to everything that it offers, including the all-year dog-friendly beaches of Bamaluz and Lambeth. Another good option is a walk around the headland, which has some great views back over the beach and the bay of St. Ives.
Porthmeor is a great evening option as you can grab a drink, dogs can run freely, and you can watch the spectacular sunsets.
Access and Facilities
Town centre car parks are a short walk away, including The Island and Smeaton’s Pier. Public toilets are available close to the beach, and a dog-friendly cafe sits just above the sand. St Ives offers plenty of dog-friendly pubs and takeaway spots nearby.
You have seasonal lifeguards and a Surf school located on the beach by the cafe.
Leave a Review.