Dog-friendly walks in St Ives

Four and a third miles one way along the dunes and low cliffs of the Hayle estuary into St Ives, about two hours with 130 metres of climbing and the branch-line train back for the price of a coffee. Start at St Uny church in Lelant, where there is limited roadside space, or use the Lelant Saltings Park and Ride and pick up the train one stop. No stiles and little chance of livestock, and Porth Kidney allows dogs all year with a mile of firm sand at low water; dogs must be on leads between St Uny church and Porth Kidney Sands, and the two St Ives beaches at the far end are restricted in season.

Twelve miles and a proper day out, five to six hours with around 480 metres of climbing, out along the roughest section of the entire coast path and back on the old coffin path through medieval fields. Start at Porthmeor beach in St Ives and be honest about the timing, because there is no escape route in the middle and the bus from Zennor is infrequent. This is the hardest walk here for a dog: small or less athletic dogs need lifting over boulders on the coastal leg, the stone stiles on the coffin path defeat all but the most athletic, the granite is slippery when wet, and the whole seaward side is unfenced.

Four and a third miles round the town’s beaches and out onto the first rough headland of the north coast, about two and a quarter hours with 140 metres of climbing. Start at the Trenwith car park above the town, the largest in St Ives with a shuttle bus down, or arrive on the branch line from St Erth and start at the station. There are no stiles at all, and Bamaluz beach takes dogs all year, but the harbour and the two big beaches are all shut to dogs in July and August, and beyond Clodgy Point the path turns rocky and runs along an unfenced edge.