Dog friendly rainy days out in Cornwall
It’s possibly harder to find fun things to do for your dog than kids when it is raining — without getting very muddy. But here are some days out you can enjoy with your dog and stay dry .
Once upon a time, there was a huge mining industry in Cornwall — but it wasn’t only tin and copper. In the St Austell area conical mountains and vivid azure lakes appeared as a result of the China Clay mining industry. China Clay is used in everything from toothpaste to the gloss on magazines and was exported all over the world. Find out more at this brilliant museum and country park. Dogs are welcome throughout the site. www.wheal-martyn.com
Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway
If you want to try something a little different, enjoy a ride on a beautiful vintage steam train through the Cornish countryside. Enjoy a 13 mile return journey from Bodmin General Station to Bodmin Parkway in the Glynn Valley and Boscarne Junction in the Camel Valley. Dogs are welcome on board — but not on the seats, or in the buffet car and they need to be kept on leads on the platforms and at the stations for fairly obvious reasons! www.bodminrailway.co.uk
Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance
Both of these prestigious art galleries now allow well behaved dogs. Newlyn has been an historic centre of support for British painters and the exhibitions in the galleries are excellent. newlynartgallery.co.uk
One of Henry VIII’s finest forts was built to protect the strategically important opening of the Fal estuary in Tudor times. Today dogs are allowed on leads, and visitors can enjoy the magnificent keep, grounds, tea room and shop as well as brilliant historic exhibitions. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle
Housed in Helston’s former Market House and Drill Hall, Helston Museum has some fascinating collections, and this is an ideal day out come rain or shine. Inside you can find exhibitions about archeology and geology on the Lizard Peninsula, a huge social history collection covering everything from toys to gardening equipment from the area in days gone by. There’s also a large costume collection, exhibited in the Martin Matthews Costume Gallery. www.helstonmuseum.co.uk
This museum, located on the Davidstow airfield, aims to provide a more interactive experience, alongside shelved exhibits. Enjoy a hot drink reading WW2 newspapers or take a tour of the airfield in the summer months. Dogs on leads are welcomed throughout the museum. www.cornwallatwarmuseum.co.uk
Healeys Cyder Farm, nr Newquay
Situated 20 minutes from Newquay, this working cyder farm provides tours of the distillery with taste-testing, a cyder making museum and even a tea room serving their very own jam. www.healeyscyder.co.uk
Cornwall Regimental MuseumHoused in ‘The Keep’ at Bodmin, this museum covers 300 years of history. The collections, of which most of the items were donated from veterans themselves, range from the raising of the regiment in 1702, through to the second world war, to battles fought by the Light infantry in Ireland and the Middle East in the 20th century. Dogs are welcome but may be restricted entry during the busiest periods. www.cornwalls-regimentalmuseum.org
Designed to guard Carrick Roads, along with Pendennis castle, St Mawes is known for being one of the most well preserved and elaborately decorated of all of Henry VIII’s coastal fortresses. While you’re there be sure to listen to the audio tour of the castle’s history and visit the oubliette where prisoners were once kept captive. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-mawes-castle/