Crackington Haven
A small shingle-and-sand cove wedged between the highest cliffs in Cornwall, with contorted rock beds on either side. It carries the long restriction, 15 May to 30 September between 10am and 6pm, so an early start is the only way to use it in season. The coast path out to High Cliff is exposed, unfenced and very steep with a dog.
Crooklets Beach
The northern of Bude's two town beaches, backed by the old lifeguard buildings and a grassy hill. Dogs are excluded 10am to 6pm from 15 May to 30 September, the longer award-beach window. Northcott Mouth, twenty minutes up the coast path, is not on the council's list.
Polzeath Beach
A wide, shallow-shelving Atlantic bay that is the busiest learn-to-surf beach on this coast. It carries the longer award-beach restriction, so dogs are shut out from 10am to 6pm right through from mid-May to the end of September — before ten and after six the whole bay is yours. Daymer Bay, a mile south, has no ban at all.
Summerleaze Beach
Bude's harbour beach, with the sea pool cut into the rocks at the far end and the canal lock behind. Unusually for Cornwall this is a leads beach rather than a banned one: between 21 May and 30 September, 10am to 6pm, dogs may be on the sand as long as they are on a lead and under close control. Outside that they can run.
Trevone Beach
A square of sand between low cliffs a couple of miles west of Padstow, with a blowhole in the field behind it. The council lists it under the long award-beach window, closed to dogs 10am to 6pm from mid-May to the end of September. Harlyn Bay, next along, is not on the council's list.
Widemouth Beach
A mile and a half of sand and low reef south of Bude, split by a rocky spine at low tide. The restriction is the long one, mid-May to the end of September between 10am and 6pm, which catches out a lot of visitors who assume the Cornish ban is July and August only. The southern end at Black Rock empties out first.
