Our favourite local dog walks

There’s a simple joy in striding out across the countryside with your trusty companion at your heels. Here, you can spend almost every day this way: with footpaths, coastal paths and gardens in almost every direction, there are plenty of walks to choose from. Pack snacks, pull on your boots, and explore Cornwall together on foot.

In this post, we’ve gathered a selection of our favourite local walks.

From the Meudon garden, you can head straight onto the South West Coast Path – meaning there’s no need to use the car at all. A short walk through our valley garden will take you to Bream Cove, where you can stock up on hot drinks and snacks at The Bream Box. The cove itself is dog-friendly all year round (even in the height of summer), so you’re free to while away as much time as you like.

From just above the beach, you can take the fairly easy walk around the coast to Rosemullion Head, just under a mile away. On the headland, spot the remains of an Iron Age castle and traces of Second World War gun bases. If you’re feeling energetic, carry on along the path towards the Helford – or just enjoy a picnic lunch before looping back home once again.

Alternatively, from Bream Cove you can pick up the South West Coast Path in the opposite direction to walk around to beautiful Maenporth and Swanpool (around an hour away). Both beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, but from here it’s not far to the centre of Falmouth and its many attractions and cafes. The Gylly Beach Café on Gyllyngvase Beach has a dog-friendly verandah, meaning you can rest your legs with the bonus of a sea view.

If you pass through Falmouth, you’ll reach the Pendennis Headland, which offers impressive sea views from above the town. Take the 2.5-mile walk around the headland, and then venture into Pendennis Castle itself, now cared for by English Heritage. Dogs on leads are welcome in both the grounds and buildings, and as well as a café, there are large lawns perfect for picnics.

Hotel Meudon lies in Mawnan Smith, a landscape of lush green fields and leafy trees. Spend some time discovering the many different footpaths that crisscross the area, perhaps taking a circular walk by strolling over to peaceful Mawnan Church.

The thatch-roofed Red Lion pub is dog friendly and popular with walkers, serving drinks, light lunches and classic pub dishes. Carwinion Woods, owned by the National Trust, is another good spot for dog walking and features exotic plants such as ferns and bamboo.

The Falmouth area is known for its stunning sub-tropical gardens, with plenty of sights (and smells!) that dogs can enjoy as much as their owners. However, not all local gardens are dog-friendly, so it’s worth knowing which ones to add to your list and which to save for another time.

Trebah Garden, just a five-minute drive from Hotel Meudon, has four miles of winding footpaths and a private beach, with dogs on leads very welcome. Likewise, Penjerrick (around ten minutes by car) is happy to admit dogs on leads.

At Hotel Meudon, we extend a very warm welcome to both you and your dog – just let us know you’ll be bringing a pet when making your booking.