We had the most amazing week. Our expectations were very high and I was a little concerned I’d be disappointed but I need not have worried.
The property is wonderful, the views and the setting is unbeatable and the hosts have thought of every detail and are so friendly and attentive.
As I have a keen interest in sustainable living I was impressed with the zero carbon measures in place and we were lucky enough to be given a tour.
Our little dog had the time of his life. We will mostly certainly be returning. Thank you for a brilliant holiday.
If you want a truly 5* holiday cottage experience, that not only allows but specifically caters for dogs and is environmentally friendly, this is your place.
We highly recommend the local farm shop and a trip to the falls, but only when Inkie’s is open because it is amazing!! Tree Barn July 2022
Award-winning Dog-friendly Holiday Cottages in Cornwall
Here at Kernock, we are very dog friendly; we are delighted to have won the Gold Award at the 2016/17 Cornwall Tourism Awards and also at the South West Awards for Dog-friendly Business of the Year.
Our beautiful estate with just four holiday cottages is a superb location for holiday with your dog in Cornwall. Our secure 6-acre dog walking park ‘Central Bark’ provides dog walking from your cottage door.
We are very happy to welcome well behaved dogs, so that we can continue to provide comfortable and desirable cottages which are both dog-friendly and 5*.
We provide dog packs which include a throw for the sofa, dog towels, dog treats and a dog toy. We are installing warm dog showers across each property.
Below you will find useful information on dog services (vet, groomers, walking services), beaches, and follow the link to our Pubs and Restaurants page for a list of pubs and restaurants in the area – we have indicated against each venue if dogs are welcomed. Our local pub – The Weary Friar – is dog-friendly, and is only 1 km away. The listings all have Access notes, contact details and SatNav codes, which will hopefully help you plan your dog-friendly Cornish adventure! If you wish to plan a day out, visit our Walks and Cosy Pubs page.
Please do not leave any dog alone and unattended in your cottage unless it is crated. We have provided a long list of pubs where you can eat with your dog, but we know that it is not always possible or practical to take the dog with you. We have several XXXL crates (big enough for English Mastiffs, so will accommodate most dogs) we can lend to guests, which are perfect if you are going out to dinner for a few hours. There is also a medium crate and a smaller one. We are proud of our 5* Gold grading, and need to keep the cottages in top condition to keep it, which is incompatible with dogs chewing furniture. This is particularly relevant for puppies. Reimbursement for any damage caused to the furniture by your dog will be your responsibility.
Central Bark
Welcome to “Central Bark”, our 6-acre dedicated dog walking park, which has mown paths, a loop through the woods, benches for weary humans and dog poo bins. The bottom section has far reaching views towards Bodmin Moor – you can see the communications beacon on top of Caradon Hill, which looks like a red light sabre at night (good for some dramatic night photography!). There are several access points into Central Bark.
“Central Bark” – 6-acre secure dog-walking area
Central Bark is our 6-acre onsite dog-walking area.
Views towards Bodmin Moor from Central Bark
Around the Estate
On first arrival at Kernock, please keep your dog on the lead while it familiarises itself with the site. Please also keep your dog under control around the other properties (you may need to keep them on a lead at the start of your walk, until you get to Central Bark). There may well be other dogs and children staying in the other cottages. Please exercise caution when with your dog around the estate. We want to make sure that everyone has a happy holiday, so your cooperation is appreciated. All of the cottages have either a fully enclosed garden, or a large enclosed area near the hot tub, so the dog can be outside with you while you soak the day away, without you having to worry about them running off. The garden in the Coach House is fully enclosed with a beech hedge, picket fence and gate. Heather Barn has a large enclosed area behind the hot tub. Owl Barn’s lower garden – where the hot tub is located – is fully enclosed. Tree Barn has a large fully enclosed lawn next to the cottage. If any dog is persistently causing nuisance or distress to other guests, we reserve the right to ask the owner to leave.
Dog Showers
We have installed warm outside dog showers at Owl and Tree Barns, and at The Coach House (with plans to install at Heather, too), so muddy paws (and sandy feet) can be cleaned outside. Dog towels are provided in the doggy welcome pack.
Doggy welcome pack
Our doggy welcome pack includes dog towels, a sofa throw, treats, poo bags and a dog toy (it helps if you let us know the breed/size of your dog – treats and toys appropriate for a Rottweiler may not be suitable for a Chihuahua!). We provide water bowls and an outside dog poo bin for each cottage. There are also poo bins adjacent to the gates at both ends of Central Bark. Please use the poo bags at the time of any incident, so that grass mowing doesn’t cause muck spreading incidents! The towels are for muddy paws, and the blankets/throws are for the sofas. We understand that many dogs will want to snuggle up on the sofa with you, but please don’t allow your dogs on the sofas without the blankets. Crates (of various sizes) are also available for when you are out without the dog (see above).
Please do not allow dogs into the bedrooms. We can provide stair gates in all of the cottages to keep the dogs in the main living areas, where there are hardwood floors. Please ensure that the cottage is clean and free from dog hair before you leave. We regret that we will charge an additional cleaning fee of £50 if your cottage requires extra cleaning of rugs, carpets or furnishings.
Exploring with your dog
We provide some OS maps in each cottage. Please also visit our Walks and Cosy Pubs page for details of the local area and popular days out with your dog(s). The Countryside Code provides sensible rules for anybody (dog owners or not) using the countryside, such as not leaving litter, leaving gates as you find them, and not disturbing farm animals.
The South Cornwall beaches are very dog friendly. Many beaches welcome dogs all year, and others only from October to March, so do click here to check details on the individual beach. Please take care on the beach if your dog is eating seaweed – it can expand in the dog’s stomach and then swell up and cause a gastric blockage. Many Cornish tourist attractions such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are now dog friendly and/or have shaded parking areas for dogs. It is always worth checking the website of the venue, though, so you don’t end up having to leave a dog in a hot car.
We do make a nominal charge of £25 per dog per stay, but there is no charge for assistance dogs (if you are uncertain if your dog qualifies, please see the Assistance Dogs UK website – they usually have official doggy ID!).
Recommended Veterinary Practice
Hopefully you won’t have need of a vet while you are staying here, but if you do have an emergency then we would recommend Calweton Veterinary Group in Callington. The address is 79 Tavistock Rd, Callington and they have a 24-hour helpline:
T: 01579 383231 SN: PL17 7RD W: www.calwetonvets.com
Dog Groomers
There are several dog groomers in the area, some of whom will even come to you:
Callington Dog & Cat Grooming Services – Complete dog and cat grooming service. All breeds and cross-breeds welcome. They offer show-preparation for all breeds. The owner ( Eve Somers ) is the most highly-qualified dog groomer in the South-West of England and is a member of The Guild of Master Groomers. This grooming salon welcomes and abides by The Small Animal Welfare Act 2007. Address – 79 Tavistock Rd, Callington
T 01579 383004 SN PL17 7RD
Tamar View Dog Groomers – Tamar View Nurseries, Carkeel, Saltash. Cornwall PL12 6PH
T 01752 840988 W www.tamarviewdoggroomers.co.uk
Doggystyle Mobile Grooming – Loveton, Vollards Lane, Hatt, Saltash. Cornwall. PL12 6RD
T 0333 666 1966 W www.doggystylemobilegrooming.co.uk/index.html
Dog Walkers and Doggy Day Care
Central Bark offers dog walking, boarding and doggie daycare services throughout the Plymouth, Saltash and East Cornwall areas.
T 07522 404955 W www.central-bark.co.uk/dog-walking-care
Wild About Walkies services include dog walking, dog-sitting, and pet taxi.
T 07890 161738 W www.wildaboutwalkies.co.uk/
What people say
I cannot praise this place enough. The tranquillity, location, scenery were all amazing. I had high hopes after following Kernock Cottages for a while on Facebook, and to say we were not disappointed is an understatement. The cottage was perfect. The hosts were amazing. The welcome package for us and our dog was thoroughly appreciated. Perfect location to go out exploring Cornwall as well. We will definitely be back, to be honest we didn’t want to leave! I have already recommended this place to 3 other people! May 2022
Our stay here was fantastic. We spent 7 nights at Kernock with our baby son and dog. Damian and Louise brilliantly helpful, around if you need anything before or during your stay, without at all being intrusive. The cottage is fantastically well equipped and located for either a peaceful retreat or a hub to go and explore. The best break I’ve had in a very long time.
Coach House – July 2022
We found Kernock Cottages after much searching for dog-friendly stays in Cornwall. The description on the website sounded perfect, and the reality was even better. Whilst absolutely perfect for dogs (fantastic welcome pack, the enclosed garden, central exercise facility etc ) there was zero compromise on the humans’ accommodation – all the luxury of a quality self-catering cottage with its own private garden, hot-tub and welcome hamper. We couldn’t have asked for more for our hideaway week to rest and recharge our batteries.
But what really sets this place apart is the personal touch from the owners, Damian and Louise. From their patience and understanding before we arrived, to the arrival meeting, to the local “in the know” recommendations, and checking up on us during the hottest week of the year, we were made to feel not just welcome, but special and looked after. Honestly it was great, nothing seemed like too much trouble.
Since returning home, we have recommended this place to everyone we know and have absolutely no qualms about recommending it whole-heartedly. Thank you, Damian and Louise. We will be back.
Coach House – August 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Heather Barn. Such a lovely welcome, and the cottage was lovely. Gifts for the dogs and a stocked fridge were lovely touches. So peaceful, and nice to have a large area for the dogs. Hot tub was an extra treat. We will be back!
Heather Barn – September 2022
The two cottages were exactly what we were looking for. Very clean, comfortable, and in a lovely location. We were well catered for, and so was our dog! When required, we received information for eating out, walks etc, and there is a full info book in the cottage. We used a local cordon bleu chef, for a meal in our cottage for a special occasion , who came recommended, which was lovely. We will definitely return in the future.
What a wonderful place to stay – we cannot recommend it enough. Everything was above our expectations. The cottage was well equipped with so many special touches . . . the bath robes, all necessary kitchen products and especially the magnifying mirrors – an essential for us females! We felt immediately welcome and at home – as did our dog! The views at Tree Barn Cottage are amazing with beautiful sunsets and so many wonderful walks nearby.
What a fabulous cottage and in the most amazing setting. The cottage was spotless and fitted out to a very high standard and I couldn’t fault the cottage – simply loved it. I was also impressed that the cottage is also very eco friendly using all low energy lights, re-cycle bins and bio mass heating. Amazing attention to detail. Our welcome pack was a very nice touch, as was the welcome pack for Sofie, our dog, who by the way loved her holiday! Top marks Kernock Cottages. If you’re looking for a quality cottage, in great countryside, handy for touring around Cornwall or just staying local and chilling out, this is the place for you. Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did.