Mouthwell Sands

Four point eight miles and two and a half hours from the thatched lanes of Outer Hope round the prehistoric fort on Bolt Tail and along the open heath of Bolberry Down, back by quiet road and green lane, with 240 metres of climbing on uneven field and cliff path. Park in the pay-and-display car park at Outer Hope, which is the only sensible parking in the village and fills early, or use the twice-daily 162 bus from Kingsbridge. Dogs run free on the Bolberry heath and the National Trust keeps the top paths wide and firm, but Mouthwell Sands, the main beach at Hope Cove, excludes dogs between 10am and 7pm from 1 May to 30 September, and there are cliff drops on Bolt Tail with no fence and sheep on the return lanes.

A big, plain seaside pub above the slipway at Hope Cove, with rooms and a terrace facing Bigbury Bay. As a St Austell managed house dogs are welcome inside with a water bowl and dog biscuits, which matters here because Mouthwell Sands below is closed to them through the middle of the day in summer.