Dog-friendly The Lizard

Old smugglers' inn in a thatched fishing cove where the boats are still winched up the shingle. The inn describes itself as very dog friendly and it is the only real stop in the village. It has rooms above but publishes no dog policy for them, so ask when booking.

Substantial St Austell inn at the head of Porthleven's harbour, which is the best seat in the house when the swell is coming over the wall. Your dog is allowed with you in all areas except the main restaurant, and dog-friendly rooms can be booked in advance. Porthleven Sands, west of the harbour, closes to dogs 10am to 6pm in July and August.

Thatched sixteenth-century inn in the middle of Mullion, with low ceilings, a big fire and St Austell ales on the bar. The pub describes a welcoming, dog-friendly atmosphere throughout, and it is the natural stop between Poldhu and Polurrian. Both those coves close to dogs 10am to 6pm in July and August.

The pub on the green at Lizard village, the most southerly in mainland Britain and the last stop before the point. Dogs are welcome under St Austell Brewery's managed-house policy, with a bowl and biscuits behind the bar. From here the clifftop path to Kynance is exposed and unfenced in places.

Harbourside restaurant in a former net loft on Porthleven's quay, doing wood-fired pizza and Cornish seafood. It is a dog-friendly restaurant and asks you to say at the time of booking if a dog is coming so a dog-friendly table can be held. A sensible end to the coast path walk in from Loe Bar.

Four miles round the most southerly point in Britain, two hours with 150 metres of climbing, taking in the Devil’s Frying Pan collapsed cave, the lighthouse and the old lifeboat slip at Polpeor. Start from the car park above Cadgwith, because the village is a thatched dead end with no room for cars, and walk out past Grade church. The going is easy for a dog and there is fresh water in the valleys, but the cliff path is unfenced with some long drops, and four of the coves on this stretch fall inside the July and August restriction.

Seven and a third miles south round Black Head to a hidden cove under an Iron Age cliff castle, four hours with 300 metres of climbing on a coast path that is rocky and slow rather than steep. It starts from the Coverack car park and there is no shop or tap between there and the turn, so carry water for the dog as well as yourself. Stiles are reported fine for dogs and every beach on this stretch, five of them, allows dogs all year, which makes it the best long August walk on the Lizard; the compensation is a great deal of unfenced clifftop.

Five and three quarter miles north from Coverack over the raised beach at Lowland Point and back through St Keverne, three hours with 210 metres of climbing on some of the strangest geology in Britain. Park in the car park above Coverack, since the harbour road is narrow and tidal in a gale, and expect the Manacles reef offshore for most of the outward leg. Most stiles are manageable and Coverack and Godrevy Cove take dogs all year, but ponies graze near Lowland Point, one stile by Dean Quarry is best bypassed along the beach top, and a very large dog will need help at the Godrevy footbridge.

Five and a half miles south from the Loe Bar over Halzephron Cliff to the church in the sand at Gunwalloe, three hours with 180 metres of climbing and a rather bleak, wrecking coast in any weather. Start from the small National Trust car park behind the Loe Bar, off the Helston to Porthleven road, and return by field paths through Chyvarloe. Stiles are reported fine even for large dogs, and Loe Bar, Dollar Cove and Gunwalloe Fishing Cove all allow dogs all year; Church Cove is the exception in high summer, and the clifftop is unfenced with some sudden drops.

Four and a half miles of gentle serpentine coast between a wide sandy bay and a working fishing cove, two and a half hours with easy going by Lizard standards. Start at the Kennack Sands car park behind the beach, which is large for this coast and has a cafe in season, and return inland through Ruan Minor. Stiles are reported fine for dogs and the old serpentine works at Poltesco give shade and a stream; both Kennack Sands and Cadgwith Cove are inside the summer restriction, so time it for the morning or the evening in July and August.

Four and a half miles linking Poldhu, Polurrian and Mullion Cove, two and a half hours with 190 metres of climbing on grass clifftop above serpentine rock. Start in Mullion village, where there is free parking near the church, rather than the tiny National Trust car park at Porth Mellin which serves the harbour. Very large dogs cannot squeeze through the gap on the last stile and will need lifting, dogs must be on leads in the harbour area at Mullion Cove, and both Poldhu and Polurrian are inside the summer restriction.

Victorian cliff hotel in gardens above Housel Bay, with the coast path along the bottom of the lawn. Four rooms are dog-friendly, two dogs maximum, and dogs are welcome in the Terrace restaurant, Marconi's Bar and the garden — but not in Fallowfields or the Snug. There is a paw wash with a hose beside reception.

Edwardian clifftop hotel above Mullion harbour with the coast path running straight past the gate. Dog-friendly rooms are offered across all room categories and dogs are welcome in the Bistro and two of the three lounges, plus their own Doggy Lounge. Every dog gets a welcome pack, and a towel or bowl is there for the asking.

Cliff-edge hotel and bar named after the liner wrecked below, looking down on Coverack's harbour and shingle. The hotel lists a pet-friendly room among its facilities, so a dog-friendly room has to be asked for rather than assumed. Coverack beach itself is not among the beaches covered by the council's seasonal order.

Thousand-acre wooded estate above the Helford with self-catering cottages, barns and an indoor pool. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome per property and there are woodland walks from the door, but you must bring beds, bowls and towels as none are provided. There are pheasants, chickens, cows and sheep on the estate and dogs must be on leads around it.