Holiday cottages near the Fowey River

Lantic Bay

This gorgeous National Trust beach between Between Fowey and Polperro is dog-friendly all year with sandy shores and turquoise waters on a bright sunny day. It’s a coastal walk and then an exciting scramble down the cliff from the Lantic Bay Car Park (NT), and being a step or two off the beaten track, most people like to stay awhile and make a day of it with a well-prepared picnic. We think there’s something special about being on a beach where so many visitors arrive by sea, and Lantic Bay is no exception.

Polruan ‘Quay Beach’ and ‘Back Beach’

Probably the closest beaches to Lerryn, these sandy spots either side of the port are also close to local amenities. A couple of pubs, shops and toilets are just a stone’s throw from the beach in Polruan village. (Though in terms of accessibility, there is a steep walk from the nearest car park at St. Saviours unless you come by ferry from Fowey.) The beaches here are safe for swimming, but do check your tides before visiting as the sand disappears almost completely at high water! The beach is a favourite for families but is not dog-friendly due to its small size.

Polkerris

Polkerris is the beach with a buzz! Privately owned, it hosts events and activities throughout the year; beach yoga, stand-up-paddleboarding, beach cleans and sailing events, to name just a few. Creative workshops are available for both adults and children, with a beach-side shop and gallery as well as the all-important café. Check out their webcam to see what’s happening on the beach right this moment…

Polkerris is dog-friendly only from October-Easter.

Sam’s in Fowey

“Roguish piracy has always been the unspoken code of conduct” at Sam’s in Fowey, where the exposed brick walls and funky pink and green decor invite you into this welcoming and contemporary space in the middle of town. They know their fish and their local Cornish produce, working these into the carefully curated menu of seafood, salads, steaks and burgers. The newly added bar and lounge upstairs creates a perfect place to relax – traditional cocktails are joined by non-boozy creations such as the ‘Teeny Colada’ for the little people in your party…

And if you’re on the beach at Polkerris, ‘Sam’s On the Beach’ have the additional benefit of a wood-fired pizza oven overlooking St Austell Bay…

The Ship Inn

In Lerryn itself is The Ship Inn, with generous portions of locally-sourced food and a dog-friendly bar area ready for woodland walkers. The sixteenth-century building is full of charm and serves up a traditional roast of pork, beef, lamb or chicken every Sunday. Step back in time, and sit down to dinner by candlelight in the main restaurant or eat outside if the weather is fine…

The Lugger Inn

Relax, grab a tipple and soak up the atmosphere, the Lugger Inn is an authentic pub great for mingling with locals and tourists alike. It has great views of the Fowey Estuary from every window, has a toasty log burner for the colder months, and boasts a good range of locally sourced food & drink. The fresh seafood is especially a draw, with Fowey estuary mussels on offer — you can’t less food miles than that!

Motor or kayak up the river:

Just across the river from Lerryn Creek is Golant, where Encounter Cornwall run guided canoe trips and kayak hire for all ages and abilities. Paddling through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) you’re likely to be joined on your paddle by kingfishers, egrets, herons and perhaps a seal or a dolphin if they’re feeling friendly! If the tide is high, you’ll head upriver, and if it’s low you’ll bob south towards the sea – meaning that paddling is available throughout the day, all year round.

If some (or all) of your party fancy something a little more stable than a SUP or kayak, you can hire a motorboat from Fowey Riverhire. A secure and stable way to explore the river – even dogs are welcome aboard!

Restormel Castle

This stunning circular ruin is an unusually well preserved ‘shell keep’ from the 13th century; boasting fabulous views across the valley as well as peaking your historical intrigue. Managed by English Heritage, the castle is a favourite for picnics and has a 45-minute walking trail which links to the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery through the picturesque Cornish countryside. Back inside the structure of the ruins you can climb a stone staircase and walk around the inner ward of the old castle walls. It is easy to imagine the royal grandeur of times gone by. The English Civil War saw the remains of the castle occupied by a Parliamentary garrison before being stormed in 1644 by none other than Sir Richard Grenville, a former Fowey MP…

Polkerris

The privately-owned beach at Polkerris hosts events and activities all year round, from children’s pottery and mosaic making to adult printmaking classes, to stand-up paddleboarding and beach yoga. The shop, gallery and café are well worth a visit and there are kayaks, SUPs, sailing boats and windsurfing kit available to hire as long as the weather allows. Dogs are welcome from October to Easter and you can easily spend a day here walking, paddling, eating and creating to your heart’s content.