The summer holidays are well under way so it's time to look back at the July feature for our 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar. It's one of our favourite places to take the pups on their summer break, Cornwall...
Wilbur's first ever proper holiday was there and after a week of exploring the Cornish way of life, we fell in love. Since then we've returned every single summer, travelling to all different areas of the county from Lands End to Bodmin Moor. One place we'd never visited was the popular seaside town of Newquay. That was until we stayed at the luxury Headland Hotel...
Located on an exclusive clifftop overlooking the UK's most famous surfing beach, this really is the perfect spot for a dog-friendly Cornish break.
On entry, we were greeted by the hotel's resident dog who was watching over a big bowl of water for all the four-legged guests. The friendly staff welcomed Wilbur and Paisley with open arms along with a treat. Straight away, we knew this place was super dog-friendly - they were even selling artisan dog biscuits in quality glass jars at reception.
The hotel really is one of its kind - from the unique sea views and short walk to the beach to its outdoor pool, iconic looks and rich history. It's even been a filming location for many movies and TV series - the most famous of which being Roald Dahl's The Witches.
The Headland has a wide range of rooms for all budgets as well as five-star self-catering cottages. We were staying in an Ocean View room and the scenery from our window was spectacular...
On entering our suite, we were blown away - this hotel really has thought of everything. Fresh fruit and chairs were placed by the window for us to relax and admire the view. The bed was made up with a blanket, fresh bathrobes and slippers for us to use during our stay.
We found the dressings gowns perfect for a cuddle on the sofa after a nice relax in the tub. They're also ideal to take down to the on-site spa where you can enjoy tailored treatments, a salt steam room and much more.
The bathroom comes with his and hers sinks and luxury toiletries as well as a rain shower. The luxury suite even has a mirrored door in the bedroom which opens on to a separate seating area.
This comes complete with sofa as well as another TV - perfect for unwinding with a glass of wine in the evenings.
Blankets are provided for the dogs as well as a special welcome pack containing a handwritten note from the hotel pups, a place mat, bowls and some premium food. The Headland is self-proclaimed as one of the best dog friendly hotels in Cornwall, and we can certainly see why!
The room also has use of the hotel Wi-Fi and there's a writing desk as well conference rooms in case you've got some business to do (though we suggest leaving the work at home!) You're also provided with a Nespresso coffee machine and a fridge filled with fresh milk and bottled water. There's no better way to start the day than with the sun shining through your window and a freshly made cup of coffee in your hands...
There's also a buffet breakfast in the morning for you to enjoy, with plenty to choose from including Full English and pastries. The dogs are not permitted to sit with you in the main serving area but they are allowed in the lounge section. On a warm day, you might even want to sit out on the terrace and enjoy breakfast on the beach.
After we'd finished our cooked breakfast, we went out for the day to a Cyder Farm. We've been fans of Cornish cider-makers, Healeys, for a long while so when we came to Cornwall for the first time and discovered that their farm was dog-friendly, we made sure to take a trip there! Since then, we always visit whenever we're nearby, and this time was no different...
The farm is packed full with fun things to do for all the family, from learning about the cider-making process and trying some samples to taking a tractor ride and even visiting the farm animals. You can meet the goats...
As well as pigs, donkeys and horses...
And you might even see a peacock or two!
If you go at the right time, you might even be lucky enough to see some of the younger animals...
Dogs are allowed around most of the farm except for the production areas and make sure to keep them away from the main animal enclosures so they don't scare these little guys...
There's also an on-site shop, cafe and restaurant where dogs are permitted. Find out more about where they're allowed here.
The shop sells their full range of products including ciders, jams, preserves, country wines, spirits and fresh-pressed juices. There's also branded glasses for you to take home as well as lots of other souvenirs and plenty of Cornish goodies for you to enjoy! There's a small bar inside the shop where the staff are more than happy to pour ciders and spirits for you so you can to try before you buy.
The dog-friendly Old Bottlery restaurant only opened recently and is a great place to grab a bite to eat after exploring the farm. Enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal, a traditional Cornish pasty or a classic cream tea...
All washed down with a cider, made right there on the farm!
After a wonderful day at Healeys, we returned to Newquay for a walk along the coastal path. The scenery was spectacular - we were even able to see our hotel from the other side of the beach.
We slowly made our way back and freshened up ready for dinner. We were going to be dining in the hotel's award-winning restaurant, Samphire. Dogs aren't allowed inside the main dining room but there are some tables set up just outside it in the elegant lounge area where you can dine from the menu. If you fancy something more relaxed, they're also welcome on the terrace.
The restaurant caters to all, and even has a vegan menu with some mouthwatering choices. We were greeted with a bottle of the house wine, freshly baked bread and sumptuous starters...
Followed by mouthwatering mains...
And finally delectable desserts...
Well and truly full, we retreated to the bar area to enjoy some evening cocktails.
As the tide came in and the moon shone, we made our way to bed ready for another day of exploring. The next morning we decided to venture into the town of Newquay, there's loads of dog-friendly places, walks and of course, there's the beach too!
After getting the sea air in their fur and their paws wet, we decided to find somewhere to grab a cup of coffee.
Just away from the beach and near to the town centre is the wonderful Box & Barber Coffeehouse. It's dog friendly and has a small seating area at the front for you to sit outside on a sunny day.
They serve breakfast and brunch and homemade cakes and pastries. The coffees are wonderful and the cinnamon buns are to die for...
After warming up, we set off to explore the town further and stopped off at a local pet shop called the Pet Centre. We treated the dogs to a Pick 'N' Mix to take home with them, and then found a treat for ourselves - a Cornish pasty. Well, when in Rome (or, er, Cornwall)...
Whilst walking through the town, we spotted the perfect place to go for dinner - WAX. It's a cocktail bar and restaurant located right in the centre of Newquay. Best of all, it's dog-friendly! We made sure to make a mental note of it and later that evening we returned for dinner and cocktails.
The restaurant is designed with a bank theme and has an open plan layout, meaning that it's perfect for both diners and those who have come for a Saturday night cocktail.
The menu offers pizzas and burgers as well as sharing platters for those who are there for the cocktails more than the food. There are also mocktails for the designated drivers. We decided to order one of their pizzas and a cocktail or two...
After a lovely evening, we retreated back to the hotel for a well-deserved sleep before awaking early the next morning to head home. Not before one last trip to the beach though...
The dogs had a great time chasing waves, playing in the sand and meeting new friends as we made our way across the golden stretch of sand. At the other end of the strip was a lovely beach cafe called Sea Spray. Before heading home, we decided to dry off and warm up with a nice cup of coffee...
Serving up hot drinks, breakfast and lunch, this little beach shack is a great place to warm up after a chilly morning on the beach - and also the perfect end to our little Cornish adventure!
And with that, we headed back home, already planning our return visit...
Thank you for reading our blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to Cornwall. With thanks to The Headland, Healeys & WAX for our visit. We will be back!
If you visit any of our recommendations then please do share your photos with us on Facebook, we love seeing them. Our 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar 2019 is still available to purchase here if you haven't got your paws on a copy yet.
We'll be back soon with a blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to the Cotswolds!
Until then...
Love, nose licks & waggy tails,
From the WildPaws team (including a very tired Paisley) x
