Visiting Sandymouth with your dog

Visitors walking with their dogs at Sandymouth, Cornwall — Visitors walking with their dogs at Sandymouth | © National Trust Images/Ben Selway

Under control dogs are welcome at Sandymouth, including on the beach. Here’s some information to help you plan a visit here with your four-legged friend, including the Canine Code which all dog owners are asked to follow to ensure everyone has an enjoyable day.

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to find out how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your four-legged friend arrive. To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

Sandymouth is a two pawprint rated place.

These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere. If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go at Sandymouth?

There are currently no restrictions on taking your dog on Sandymouth beach and there are plenty of footpaths to explore with your furry friend.

Safety note

If you’re venturing along the coastal paths, please watch out for cliff edges and grazing livestock, and keep your dog under close control at all times.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is:

Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

A visitor walking their dog on the grassy cliff top at Sandymouth, with a distant view of the sandy beach and the sea beyond — Dog walking on the cliffs at Sandymouth | © National Trust Images / Ben Selway

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.