Padstow Pooch Paddock

If you've got a dog in tow around Padstow, this is where you'll find other people's mutts having the time of their lives. Padstow Pooch Paddock is a dedicated off-lead space for dogs - the sort of thing that makes a real difference when you're touring Cornwall with a four-legged friend who's been cooped up in the car. It's near Little Petherick, just inland from the coast, so you can combine it with beach walks and the usual North Cornwall seaside chaos without too much faffing about. The space itself is what you'd expect: fenced area, room for dogs to run about properly, and usually a decent crowd of regulars who'll chat your ear off about their spaniels. Best visited early morning or late afternoon if you want a quieter session - midday gets rammed, especially in school holidays. It's free, which is a bonus, and doesn't require booking as far as anyone can tell. Allow 30 minutes to an hour depending on how long your dog wants to stay and socialise. Dog owners staying at Padstow Holiday Village or Dennis Cove Campsite - both within spitting distance - will find this genuinely useful rather than a tourist tick-box. If you're not a dog person, skip it. If you are, it's a proper lifesaver on a wet day when the beach is too much hassle.