Which Cornwall Beaches Allow Dogs on Boxing Day: The Full List

Short answer: All of them. Cornwall's seasonal dog restrictions run from Easter or May to the end of September at the latest; from October to Easter every beach is open to dogs all day. A handful of nature reserves ask for leads. Pick by walk, not by rule: Hayle Towans, Perranporth, Watergate Bay, Praa Sands and Par are the big ones.

This is one of our town-by-town winter guides — the full county picture is in Christmas and New Year in Cornwall 2026.

The rule

Cornwall's seasonal dog bans are summer things — most run from Easter or 1 May to 30 September, some only July and August, all of them daytime only. None of them applies in December. On Boxing Day, every beach in Cornwall is open to dogs all day. Where you'll still see signs is a few nature reserves and dune systems that ask for leads to protect ground-nesting birds, and Marazion Marsh and similar RSPB sites.

The best Boxing Day dog beaches

North coast

• Hayle Towans — three miles of sand from Hayle to Godrevy, dogs off lead the whole way, parking at Gwithian or Mexico Towans.
• Perranporth Beach — enormous at low tide; the Boxing Day swim is at 10:30 so go after, or watch it. The swim guide.
• Watergate Bay Beach — two miles, big car park, café.
• Summerleaze Beach Bude and Crooklets — with the Christmas Day dip the day before. Bude at Christmas.
• Polzeath Beach — flat, wide, the Rock side has cafés open.

South coast

• Praa Sands Beach — a mile of sand, café usually open.
• Par Beach — flat, sheltered, easy parking, dogs everywhere.
• Marazion Beach — two miles with the Mount in view, and the causeway if the tide's right.
• Gyllyngvase Beach — small, but the café's open and Falmouth's Boxing Day swim is there.
• Pentewan Beach — often overlooked, big at low tide.

What still applies

• Leads on dune reserves — Penhale, Upton Towans, parts of the Towans — for the birds.
• Leads near the festive swims until the charge is over; a hundred people running into the sea is irresistible.
• Winter seas: rips are stronger, tides bigger, and a dog in the water on a big day is a real risk. Ball on the sand, not in the surf.

Warm up

Every town guide has its dog-friendly pubs. The ones we'd pick on Boxing Day: the Bay View at Widemouth, the Watering Hole at Perranporth, the Gylly Beach Café, and Jordan's at Long Rock for Marazion.