Cornwall’s dramatic coastline creates some truly special walks and views, but all the more spectacular is seeing the coast from on the water. Cornish waters have a great history with fishing, smuggling and shipwrecks. Experience the thrill of a fast motorboat ride or settle down for a relaxing afternoon sailing. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to boat trips in Cornwall, many of which are dog friendly.
Take a trip across Mounts Bay
Mount’s Bay stretches in a great 40-mile curve from Prussia Cove to Mousehole, offering a mix of dramatic scenery, busy fishing boats, pretty harbours, and bustling Penzance, all framed by the famous silhouette of St Michael’s Mount dramatically rising from the sea. Its calm waters are dotted with sailing boats, fishing vessels, and a variety of wildlife. Dolphins, Basking Sharks and Seals are some of the most popular wildlife to look out for.
This part of West Cornwall has a slower, more timeless feel, making it ideal for leisurely days exploring by boat. The harbours of Penzance and Newlyn are working ports with a friendly, local atmosphere, while Marazion provides an iconic crossing to the mount itself.
From Penzance or Newlyn Harbour you can catch a coastal cruise around the bay, visiting Mousehole, Lamorna Cove and sometimes even as far as Land’s End. Here are some of the bigger operators in the area:
Mermaid Pleasure Trips are one of the longest serving companies, having run boat trips out of Penzance for over 20 years. They offer 2 or 3 hour wildlife cruises with prices starting at £29 for an adult. Dogs on leads are welcome to join for no extra cost. Cruises either head east around St. Michael’s Mount or south-west along the coast to see the Minack Theatre from the sea.
Coast Boat Trips operates a fleet of rigid inflatables which can travel at quite a pace. They offer a range of trips around Mounts Bay and further afield, some more relaxed and some more adrenaline-fuelled. Well-behaved and comfortable dogs can join at the discretion of the captain. Prices start at £30 for an hour tour around the bay.
Other Options include Atlantic Adventures who offer trips out of Newlyn and Marine Discovery who operate a sailing catamaran, but these don’t openly advertise themselves as dog friendly, so we would recommend checking directly with the company.
Take the Ultimate Cornish Boat Tour
Coast Boat Trips have started running a new route between Hayle on the north coast and Penzance on the south, taking in a range of stunning landmarks along the way, including St Ives, Levant Mine, Land’s End and the Minack Theatre. Suitable for well-behaved dogs, this is a 2.5-hour one-way trip, giving you the perfect opportunity to take the scenic train trip back between the two towns.
See the Seals from St. Ives
St. Ives is one of Cornwall’s most iconic harbours. Exploring the turquoise bay from the ocean is an unforgettable experience with stunning beaches, rugged headlands, and picturesque towns and villages. Most trips are family and dog friendly, leaving directly from St. Ives harbour, which is ideal to allow you to fit a bit of shopping or a pasty in before your trip.
Boat trips range from short and fast motorboat rides to Seal Island where you can spot the Atlantic grey seals basking on the rocks, to more leisurely cruises which navigate the headland and get close to Godrevy Lighthouse. Many operators also offer private charter or small self-drive boats for a more bespoke experience, ideal if your dog is nervous, or you want to go at your own pace.
Here are two good options which advertise as being dog friendly.
St. Ives Boats, or Dolly P. as their recognisable boat is named, have been running boat trips from St. Ives for over 20 years. They offer a range of trips, including as far away as Land’s End and private charters for special events. Dogs are very welcome but some boats depart from the harbour wall in St. Ives which has restrictions on dogs walking. A one-hour trip to seal Island on the far side of St. Ives bay is around £30.
Tiger Lilly Boat Trips offer a range of trips from St. Ives such as wildlife tours, fishing trips and twilight adventures. The boat is larger than some others with a toilet on board. You are welcome to bring food with you. Dogs are very welcome to join but again must be carried in arms to get onto the boats on some departures. A one hour trip to seal island starts at £25 per person.
Some other popular companies to look out for are Blue Thunder Boat Rides offering fast speed boat rides across the bay and Seal Island St. Ives. Please make sure you check with these and other companies that they can take dogs on board before you book.
Isles of Scilly Day Trips with Dogs
For the ultimate Ferry ride, the Scillonian Ferry travels from Penzance to the Scilly isles, a small group of islands around 25 miles off of Cornwall’s western tip.
The Scilly isles are truly special, with the feel of Mediterranean islands. There are over 140 islands dotted about, with regular ferries between some of the most populated. There are excellent walks, sandy dog friendly beaches and cosy pubs to enjoy.
Taking the ferry, there is no short undertaking, though. The journey takes around 3 hours and if you get sea sick then this crossing probably isn’t for you. The Scilly steamship company, which run the route, offer a day trip package. Get the ferry from Penzance in the morning, spend 3-6 hours exploring the island, then get the last ferry home again in the evening. Costs start at around £35 per person, making it a surprisingly affordable option to explore these unique islands while also getting to experience being out in the Atlantic Ocean. The route is
Some of the views along the route are simply stunning, and if you’re lucky you may see some of the Dolphins and Whales.
If the idea of 6 hours on a boat isn’t for you, then they also have a package where you can get the boat out in the morning and fly back to Penzance via helicopter in the evening.
Fal River Cruises
The Enterprise Boats travel daily from Falmouth to Malpas near Truro, via Trelissick Gardens, a striking National Trust property and gardens situated in a prominent position overlooking the Fal River.
The ferries operate a hop on/off service, with multiple travel times each day. You can start at either end, with the service running regular buses from Malpas into Truro and back.
If you’re National Trust members, we recommend parking at Trelissick Gardens, walking down through the gardens where there is a cut through to get down to the ferry stop. From there the journey to Falmouth takes around an hour, with lovely views of the river and the pretty villages of Feock, Mylor, St Just-in-Roseland and Flushing.
You arrive in the centre of Falmouth with plenty of shops, museums, art galleries and cafes to keep you entertained until it’s time to hop back on the ferry and head home.
St Mawes Ferry
Run by the same company, the St Mawes Ferry crosses from Falmouth to the small historic village of St. Mawes on the other side of the Fal Estuary. The journey takes about 20 minutes, gives you a flavour of the busy Fal river which is home to many yachts of all sizes, Royal Navy boats and in the summer, occasional cruise ships.
St Mawes is a quaint village with a picturesque harbour, great food and lovely views of Falmouth. There is a well-preserved fort build in the 1500s, managed by English Heritage which is well worth a visit, and which allows dogs on leads.
Explore the Helford River
The Helford river is a beautiful and incredibly peaceful river which winds it’s way up from its mouth near Falmouth almost all the way to Helston, cutting off the Lizard Peninsular. It’s made up of many small creeks and inlets, which add to it’s sense of mystery.
There is a small ferry which will take you across the river to the small quaint village of Helford where you can grab a drink and bite to eat in the pub or café. Dogs are free to join the ferry trip or one of the regular boat tours which leave from the same place at Helford Passage beach.
The river is also ideal for a gentle boat trip, kayak or Paddle Board, with the hills protecting you from strong winds or waves, the river is the perfect spot to while away the afternoon on the water.
Helford River Boats are one of the companies offering tours of this peaceful river. They are dog friendly and offer a 90-minute tour with plenty of local history about the area included. Prices for adults starting at £40.
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All of the prices in this article and companies options in this article were correct when first published in 2025. We hope that this gives you a flavour of some of the dog friendly options available in this part of Cornwall. If you do take a boat ride, let us know how it goes, as we’d love to share your experiences with our other guests.
