Family and dog friendly local area information

IDEAS for DAYS OUT and PLACES to VISIT - majority are dog friendly (DF):

(Please click on the relevant separate tabs for info on LOCAL BEACHES as well as SHOPPING & EATING)

NOTE mileage indicates approximate distance from The Milking Parlour Cornwall

• Visit the quaint harbours at Mevagissey Harbour and Charlestown Harbour - (DF) (4 miles each)

• Take the Mevagissey to Fowey Ferry - you may spot dolphins and porpoises! (DF) (weather dependent) 

• Hire watersports equipment, Pentewan or Porthpean (3 miles) Portmellon Kayak and Paddle Board Hire (5 miles)

• Local Dog Walking trails - Kingswood - Woodland Trust and the Pentewan Valley Trail (DF) - great for dog walking, especially in the heat when dogs can dip in and out of the shallow river which runs along the cycle trail (2 miles)

• Pentewan cycle hire (DF) (2 miles),

• The Lost Gardens of Heligan (DF) - well worth a visit and barely a 5 minute drive away - Spend a few hours in the gardens, tea rooms and Lobbes farm shop. (They often have themed events and evening light displays too). (less than 2 miles)

• The South West Coastal Path (DF) - walk stunning sections of this magnificent ancient route that starts in Somerset and follows the entire Cornish coastline and on through Devon to Dorset

• Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, St Austell (DF) -  A hidden gem! Great for kids of all ages to explore and learn (5 miles)

• Shipwreck Museum, Charlestown(DF) (4 miles)

• Football Golf, St Austell (DF) (5 miles)

• Pinetum Park,St Austell(DF) (5 miles)

• White River Place Cinema, St Austell (3 miles)

• Sanctuary Wood - Woodland Trust, near Gorran Haven (DF) - fabulous views and great for dog walking for the fit and active (it spans 2 steep-sided valleys). (5 miles)

• The Eden Project (DF) - often has concerts, themed events and evening light displays (7 miles)

• Cardinham Woods (Forestry England) (DF) (17 miles)

• Cardinham Woods cycle hire - Hire bikes and trailers (17 miles)

• Lanhydrock House and Gardens - National Trust (DF in gardens) (14 miles)

• Respryn Ramble near Lanhydrock - National Trust (DF) - some streas for cooling doggy dips (14 Miles) 

• Trelissick House and Gardens (National Trust) (DF in gardens) (18 miles) (Just up from the King Harry Ferry offering a scenic short hop accross the Fal River, connecting St Mawes and the Roseland with Feock, Truro and Falmouth)

• Caerhays Castle offering a majestic backdrop to Porthluny Beach (DF in gardens) (6 miles)

• Bodmin Steam Railway (DF) (they also run themed events - eg Diesel Days, Murder Mystery events, Meet Santa and more) (15 miles)

• Lappa Valley Steam Railway and Activity Centre, near Newquay (DF) (13 miles)

• iBounce  Trampoline Park Bodmin (17 miles)

• Seal Sanctuary, Gweek (DF) (28 miles)

• The Minack Theatre (DF) is one of the furthest attractions, (some 50 miles West), but a truly remarkable place, considered one of the world's most spectacular theatres

Note most of the above attractions have cafes onsite or nearby.

See the links to the St Austell and Cornwall Tourist Websites, as well as local Facebook groups for many more ideas of things to do and places to visit in the local vicinity as well as further afield. There is also an OS map and a guide book listing beach information throughout the county (location, parking, whether they are dog friendly etc) on the bookshelf in the barn.

With so many more things to do you won't get bored and remember, nothing is that far in Cornwall!