Doggone Shame - St Ives Empty Beaches

08/07/2026

Just when you thought Harbour Beach was confusing… 🤯

This is Porthminster at low tide.

Walk south from Lambeth Walk and, before you know it, you’ve crossed into another beach with seasonal restrictions.

The boundary is generally around the rocks at the end of Lambeth Walk, but on the beach itself there’s no official marker. Once the tide is out, it’s simply an invisible line across the sand.

You can’t exactly bolt a sign to the rocks, and an A-board on the sand would have to be moved with the tide.

That’s why I think a simple map on the Lambeth Walk entrance sign showing the beach zones is probably the most practical solution.

And finally… if you don’t think dogs should ever be allowed on beaches, this probably isn’t the forum for you.

That ship sailed a long time ago. This page is about improving what’s already here, not turning the clock back. 🐾

07/07/2026

One beach?

Not for two months of the year.

For July and August, Harbour Beach effectively becomes two different beaches.

One is restricted between 10am and 6pm.

The other remains dog friendly all year.

The only thing separating them?

An invisible line across the sand.

Unless you already know where that line is, it’s surprisingly easy to cross it without even realising.

Then there’s the access.

During the restricted hours, the safest route to the dog-friendly section is the one you can’t use.

The lifeboat slipway takes you through the restricted area.

There is no approved crossing point through the restricted area between 10am and 6pm, including via the lifeboat slipway.

At low tide, you can reach the dog-friendly section by walking around Smeaton’s Pier via the slipway by Bamaluz. At higher tides, the only alternative is over the rocks behind the lifeboat station, which simply isn’t practical for many people.

One final thing…

If you’re walking at low tide and continue beyond Lambeth Walk, remember you’ll eventually reach Porthminster Beach, where the seasonal 10am–6pm (May–September) restrictions apply.

It’s easy to see why visitors get confused.

The good news is that St Ives Town Council and Cornwall Council have already started improving the signage. New signs are already in place, with larger signs and map boards hopefully to follow.

These improvements will mean far fewer people get caught out in future.

Because whether you agree with the restrictions or not, everyone should at least know where they start.

🐾

Images adapted from publicly available aerial imagery sourced from Cornwall One for illustrative purposes. Annotations added by Doggone Shame – St Ives Empty Beaches.

01/07/2026

🚨 Seasonal Dog Restrictions Start Today 🚨

From today, seasonal dog restrictions between 10am and 6pm are back in force on all beaches subject to a PSPO, including St Ives Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden Beach.

If you’re unsure whether your usual beach is affected, don’t guess. Please check the Cornwall Council website before heading out and always take a moment to read the signage when you arrive.

Unfortunately, signage is still inconsistent in places. Some signs still have old stickers attached, while others have had them removed altogether. If you’re in any doubt, check the CC website rather than relying solely on the signage or information from tourist websites, as some of it is still out of date or incorrect.

🔗 Cornwall Council beach restrictions: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment/animal-welfare-and-enforcement/dogs-on-beaches/

Enjoy your walks and, as always, please respect this hard-won compromise.

P.S. Merlin doing all the hard work while Bertie continues to be chauffeured around the bay. 🐶😂

30/06/2026

🚨 Harbour Beach Restrictions – Reminder 🚨

From tomorrow, the seasonal 10am–6pm dog restrictions come into force on Harbour Beach and other non-awarded beaches in Cornwall covered by a PSPO.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been working with both St Ives Town Council and Cornwall Council to look at the signage around the harbour. They’ve been really receptive to feedback and have already replaced several missing and ageing signs, relocated others to improve visibility, and are looking at further improvements, including larger signs and mapping.

Despite that, the harbour remains one of the easiest places for visitors to get caught out.

The biggest issue is the Lambeth Walk/Harbour Beach boundary. Unless you already know the local geography, it’s not obvious where the restrictions begin. It’s an invisible line across the sand, and it’s easy to wander from a dog-friendly area into a restricted one without realising.

The slipways also remain a key pinch point. In busy periods, fixed signs can easily be missed amongst the crowds, which is why we’ve also been discussing larger signs, portable seasonal signage and clearer maps to help people understand exactly where the restrictions apply.

The photos below show some of the areas we’ve been discussing.

If you’re walking your dog in the harbour over the next couple of months, please take a moment to check the signage and make sure you’re entering the correct section of beach.

Hopefully, with the improvements already made and more planned, fewer people will be caught out this summer.

29/06/2026

📢 To my followers… I need a favour.

Many of you stood with us when we successfully challenged the blanket dog bans in Cornwall.

For the past three years, we’ve been running the Doggone Shame campaign in Wales.

The people using Aberavon Beach are facing many of the same frustrations we faced in Cornwall—blanket restrictions and being directed to an alternative area where we’ve repeatedly documented broken glass, discarded needles and other hazards.

📋 The consultation is now live.

🐾 If you holiday in Wales, don’t assume it’s only for local residents. Visitors can have their say too.

If you use Aberavon Beach—or plan to—please complete the consultation.

If you know anyone else who uses, or would like to use, Aberavon Beach with their dog, please send them the link too.

🔗 Consultation link:

Current consultations

22/06/2026

🐍 Well that’s not something you expect to see on the beach…

Most of us think of adders hiding in dunes, heathland or along coastal paths, but they don’t always stick to the script.

Looks like this one fancied a day at the seaside 🏖️

19/06/2026

⚠️ Dog owners using St Ives Station 🚉

Just a heads-up for anyone travelling through with their dog.

“Rodenticide in use – Rat poison has been laid in this area.” 🐀

Many people pass through the station car park and surrounding area with their dogs, whether they’re heading to Porthminster Beach, arriving by train or catching a train home.

If you’re using the area, keep dogs on a lead and don’t allow them to sniff around, scavenge or pick up anything from the ground.

27/05/2026

Before 10am in St Ives and Bertie’s already hired staff, launched his yacht, and demanded a sea tour before the tourists arrive 🌊🐶😂

Meanwhile Dad’s doing all the work like an unpaid paddleboard chauffeur.

Proof that the before 10am compromise works just fine… especially if you’re a golden retriever floating around like royalty before breakfast☀️🐾

26/05/2026

Porthmeor Blue Flag beach today.

By early afternoon the beach is packed, hot and busy — not ideal for dogs during peak hours anyway.

This was Merlin just before 10am, cooling off and having the time of his life 🌊🐶

That’s why the compromise works:
🐾 Dogs before 10am & after 6pm
☀️ Peak daytime for the crowds
🌊 Everyone still gets access responsibly

Common sense. Shared beaches. No drama.

24/05/2026

Really hot day in St Ives — feels like summer has finally arrived ☀️

Merlin enjoying a swim at Carbis Bay before 10am 🌊🐾

Beaches were super busy today, but St Ives gets the balance right. Awarded bathing beaches like Carbis Bay, Porthminster and Porthmeor still welcome dogs before 10am and after 6pm 🙌

No restrictions on the harbour beach or Porthgwidden until July, and glorious Bamaluz is dog friendly year-round (especially stunning at low tide) — so plenty of places for doggos to cool off 🐶🌊

👮 Spotted the enforcement team out in town today (on a Sunday as well), which just proves this kind of compromise can work when the rules are actually enforced.

Funny how beautiful Cornwall manages to make compromise work year after year. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Meanwhile many fellow doggos around the UK are still banned from their local beaches completely until October.

Hard not to look at places like this and wonder why more councils can’t make compromise work too 🐶