Whitsand Bay Fort is a unique place to stay in Cornwall, combining military history with coastal scenery on the Rame Peninsula. Originally built as a Victorian coastal fort, it’s now a dog-friendly holiday park with hotel-style chalets, lodges, holiday homes and camping facilities near Whitsand Bay. Here’s everything you need to know before booking your stay.
Dog-friendly Hotel in Whitsand Bay
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If you’re looking for a dog-friendly holiday park in Cornwall with incredible sea views, fascinating history, and easy access to some of the county’s most beautiful coastline, Whitsand Bay Fort is well worth considering.
We stayed for two nights and were pleasantly surprised by how unique this place is. Unlike many Cornwall holiday resorts, Whitsand Bay Fort combines military history with modern accommodation, making it feel completely different from your average holiday destination.
Whitsand Bay Fort Holiday Park
Originally built in 1893 as a coastal defence fortification, Whitsand Bay Fort has been transformed into a unique holiday destination. The former military buildings remain, with old barracks, historic structures and even disused World War One gun emplacements scattered around the site, giving it plenty of character.
Accommodation caters for almost every type of holidaymaker, including hotel-style chalets, self-catering lodges, historic cottages and camping and touring options. If you’re researching holiday sites in Cornwall, Cornwall caravan parks on the beach or even campsites in Cornwall with swimming pools, this is certainly one to add to your shortlist thanks to its excellent location and range of facilities.
Whitsand Bay Hotel
Although it’s referred to as the hotel, don’t expect traditional hotel bedrooms. The Whitsand Bay Fort Tamar Bedrooms are chalet-style rooms, each enjoying stunning countryside views stretching towards Plymouth and Dartmoor.
Our room was spacious, comfortable and ideal for a weekend away. Inside, we found:
- Large double bed
- En-suite with a large shower
- Toiletries and towels provided
- Hairdryer
- Television
- A kettle with plenty of tea and coffee
- Wine glasses
- Open closet space for clothes
- Terrace with outdoor seating
The hotel rooms are adult-only, making them a peaceful option if you’re travelling without children.
There’s no parking directly outside the chalets, although you’re welcome to pull up briefly to unload before moving your car to the main car park beside Reception. A parking permit is left in your room. Car parking is free.
One thing worth noting is the WiFi. It’s available and free in the public areas, but doesn’t extend to the bedrooms. Because of the remote area, it’s worth downloading anything you may need beforehand.
Cornwall Campsites with Swimming Pool
If you’re bringing a caravan or motorhome, Whitsand Bay Fort also offers a fully serviced pitch, making it a great all-round base for a Cornish holiday. They include moat pitches, meadow gravel pitches with electric, fully serviced grass pitches suitable for roof tents, trailer tents and small campervans, plus non-electric hiker pitches designed for 2-man tents. There are shared toilets, hot showers, laundry facilities and pot-wash areas. It’s ideal if you’re looking for holiday parks in Cornwall with a swimming pool.
Whitsand Bay Fort Swimming Pool
Guests have access to the indoor swimming pool. The pool isn’t huge, but it’s ideal for relaxing after a day of exploring, especially if the Cornish weather isn’t behaving. Having these extra facilities definitely adds value, particularly for families staying longer than a weekend.
It’s included in your stay, but you will need to pre-book a timeslot at Reception. Those staying in the hotel get complimentary towels. Other guests are required to bring their own.
There’s also a gym – TMT Fort Fitness. There is a small fee for those staying on site. It’s packed with cardio equipment, weights, slam balls and more. There are also fitness classes such as HIIT, yoga and kettlebells.
The Fort Inn
The Fort Inn is Whitsand Bay Fort’s on-site pub and restaurant, and we were genuinely impressed. I’ll admit I’m a bit of a fusspot when it comes to food – I much prefer independent restaurants and homemade cooking over mass-produced meals – so I wasn’t expecting too much. Thankfully, I was proved completely wrong.
We ate here on our first evening, and everything was delicious. Mum and Dad shared the loaded fries and mac and cheese from the starter’s menu, but the portions were so generous they could easily have been main courses. I opted for the chicken Caesar salad, which was huge, while the fish and chips were perfectly cooked with flaky fish and crisp batter. The prices were very reasonable, and even the drinks were surprisingly affordable, making it excellent value for money.
Dogs are welcome in the bar area on a lead, so Ivan was able to join us while we ate, making it an easy choice after a day of exploring. He was happy enough to curl up under the table.
After dinner, we stayed for Friday night bingo, which starts at 8pm. We had great fun, and between the four of us we managed to win two bottles of wine and £20 – definitely not a bad way to end the evening!
The pub also shows live sports on the big screens, and there’s occasionally live music, creating a friendly atmosphere for guests and locals alike.
Clifftop Cafe
The Fort Inn serves breakfast at weekends, but during our stay, we headed to Cliff Top Cafe instead, which is less than a five-minute walk away.
It’s a bit of a hidden gem. Apart from a roadside sign, you’d never know it was tucked away, overlooking the coastline. It was incredibly popular when we visited, with a queue stretching out of the door, but don’t let that put you off – it moved quickly, and the wait was more than worth it.
In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we came back both mornings. Between us, we tucked into smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast, loaded hash browns, American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, a full English breakfast, a bacon sandwich and one of the specials – garlic mushrooms on toast. Every dish was generous, freshly cooked and absolutely delicious.
There’s cosy seating inside, but we were lucky enough to grab a table outside, where we could soak up the panoramic sea views while enjoying our breakfast. With a warm dog-friendly welcome, excellent coffee (including iced coffees) and a menu packed with tempting choices, it’s exactly the sort of place you’ll find yourself wanting to return to.
Highly recommend!
Whitsand Bay Beach
One of the biggest reasons to stay here is easy access to Whitsand Bay, also known as Tregantle Beach, one of the most spectacular Cornwall beaches.
At low tide, miles of golden sand appear, revealing fascinating rock pools filled with marine life. The coastline is also home to a sunken naval frigate that’s become a popular dive attraction. Many of them are exposed when the tide is out, including The Juno, an American cargo vessel wrecked in 1802, and The Chancellor, a steam trawler whose boiler and engine can be seen, wrecked in 1934.
The rolling swell attracts surfers year-round, while walkers can enjoy the dramatic scenery along the cliffs above the beach. It’s favoured by intermediate and advanced surfers as it’s notorious for rip currents. There are left-hand waves and good banks during low to mid-tide.
The beach sits below Tregantle Fort Military Firing Range. So, the beach is closed to the public whenever red flags or lights are flying.
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St Michael’s Church at Rame Head
One of our favourite outings was visiting the iconic chapel at Rame Head.
It’s around a 10-minute drive to the nearby car park, where parking costs just £1 for all day. From there, it’s roughly a 10 to 20-minute walk depending on your fitness and how often you stop to admire the scenery or take photos. (My two OAP parents managed it with no problems.)
Although there are steps leading up to the chapel, the walk isn’t particularly steep and is perfectly manageable with sensible footwear. The panoramic coastal views at the top are absolutely worth the effort.
The chapel itself dates back to 1397, though it is believed that a religious site had been here before then. Over the centuries, it’s been a lookout for the Spanish Armada, and during the First World War, an anti-submarine gun was positioned here.
Cawsand and Kingsand
The twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand are only a short drive from Whitsand Bay Fort and are well worth exploring.
Their colourful cottages, narrow streets and sheltered coves make them incredibly picturesque. You won’t realise they are separate villages, as it isn’t a large place; the boundary is marked on a wall by an old metal sign that’s often missed.
If the weather is good, you can enjoy the beach, hire a kayak or SUP, join a guided boat trip, follow the South West Coast Path towards Rame Head or Mount Edgcumbe, explore the shops, or stop to enjoy food and drink in one of the many pubs, restaurants or cafes. Check out the Best Dog-friendly Pubs in Cawsand and Kingsand.
You can also catch the passenger Cawsand Ferry to Plymouth, which lands at The Barbican. The crossing takes around 30 minutes and costs £6.50 each way. Dogs go free. We had planned to visit during our stay, but decided against it because it was Armed Forces Weekend and Plymouth was expected to be busy.
BookBeat – Soundtrack Your Dog Walks
If you love turning a simple dog walk into a mini adventure, BookBeat is the perfect companion. This audiobook app gives you access to over a million stories – from gripping thrillers to feel-good novels – all ready to stream straight to your phone.
Even better, there’s a 30-day free trial, so you can give it a proper go with no pressure. And if BookBeat isn’t the right fit for you? No problem at all – you can cancel your subscription whenever you like, making it a totally stress-free way to soundtrack your dog walks.
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
A short drive from Whitsand Bay Fort, Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is one of the highlights of the Rame Peninsula and makes a fantastic day out when visiting this corner of Cornwall.
Again, I didn’t visit on this trip as there was a music festival there; however, I have been before. It’s set within a huge 865-acre estate, the park combines stunning coastal scenery, woodland walks, formal gardens and fascinating history.
The estate is home to the impressive Mount Edgcumbe House, the ancestral home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, which dates back to the 16th century. You can wander through the formal Italian Garden, explore the Victorian Fern Dell, discover the Jubilee Woodland and admire plants from around the world. The estate is also home to hidden corners, sculptures and viewpoints that make exploring feel like a treasure hunt. Don’t miss the historic features dotted around the estate, including the restored Folly, the Old Deer Park, the Tudor Blockhouse and the Grade II listed Amphitheatre.
Dog owners will love it too, with plenty of open spaces and woodland paths to explore with their four-legged friends. Dogs are welcome throughout much of the park, although restrictions apply in some garden areas, so keep an eye out for signs.
National Trust – Antony
Located just a short drive from Whitsand Bay Fort, Antony is a wonderful place to visit if you enjoy history, gardens and scenic walks.
Antony House has been the home of the Carew Pole family for over 600 years and is still lived in by its descendants today. The impressive early Georgian house is filled with historic treasures, including family portraits, antique furniture and collections that tell the story of generations who have lived here.
Outside, the gardens are the real highlight. You can wander through beautifully maintained formal gardens, discover colourful flower borders, explore woodland paths and enjoy peaceful views across the estate.
Film fans may recognise Antony as the filming location for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, with the gardens and woodland providing the perfect backdrop for the film’s magical scenes.
For dog owners, Antony is a great choice too. Dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden, making it an easy addition to a dog-friendly itinerary in Cornwall. The surrounding estate also offers lovely walking routes where you can enjoy the countryside together.
National Trust Membership
I absolutely love our National Trust membership. With entry fees often reaching £23 per person, it quickly pays for itself if you plan on visiting more than a couple of places. You usually get free parking, too, including at some beaches and coastal spots. The membership unlocks access to over 500 historic houses, gardens and heritage sites. Most sites are dog-friendly, although dogs usually can’t go inside the buildings.
Whitsand Bay Golf Club
Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at Whitsand Bay Golf Club, located just a short drive from the fort. This scenic 18-hole course sits high above the coastline, offering spectacular views across Whitsand Bay and the surrounding Cornish countryside. With its challenging holes and interesting natural contours, the course offers an enjoyable experience for everyone, from low handicappers to newcomers to the game.
Book a Tour
Booking a tour in Cornwall with Viator is one of the easiest ways to explore this beautiful corner of England without the stress of planning every detail. These tours are crafted by locals and seasoned travellers, so you’ll discover more than just the postcard spots – think hidden viewpoints, quirky tales, and tucked-away tea rooms.
Make A Booking At Whitsand Bay Fort
Prices vary throughout the year depending on the season. We paid £153 for a two-night, room-only stay on a Friday and Saturday in June 2026, and Ivan stayed free of charge.
Whitsand Bay Fort Address
Whitsand Bay Fort, Donkey Lane, Millbrook, Downderry, PL10 1JZ
What Three Words: ///cute.limiting.amounting
Whitsand Bay Check-in and Check-out Times
Check-in from 3pm
Check-out at 10am
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Our Other Cornwall Hotel Reviews
Want some more inspiration on where to stay with your dog?
- Nancecliff Holiday Cottage in Looe
- Looe Bay Holiday Park
- Ship & Castle in St Mawes
- The Old Inn Mullion
- Pentire Hotel Newquay
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Whitsand Bay Fort?
Whitsand Bay Fort is privately owned by WBF Lodge Development Ltd and operates as a holiday resort offering accommodation, leisure facilities and holiday homes.
Where is Whitsand Bay?
Whitsand Bay is located on the south coast of Cornwall between Rame Head and Portwrinkle, close to Torpoint.
How long is Whitsand Bay?
The bay stretches for around four miles along the Cornish coastline.
Is Whitsand Bay dog-friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on all parts of the beach throughout the year. There are no seasonal restrictions.
Is Whitsand Bay good for surfing?
Yes. Thanks to its Atlantic swell, Whitsand Bay is popular with surfers of all abilities.
How far is Plymouth to Torpoint?
Depending on where you’re travelling from, driving around via Plymouth may not be the quickest route to Whitsand Bay Fort. When we travelled from Cardiff, our Sat Nav kept directing us across the Tamar Bridge and around the coast, but the quicker and more enjoyable option was actually the Torpoint Ferry.
The ferry takes you directly across the River Tamar between Plymouth and Torpoint, saving both time and miles on your journey. Travelling from Plymouth to Torpoint is free, with payment only required on the return crossing. At the time of our visit, cars cost £3 for the return journey.
It’s also a fun part of the trip, with great views across the water and a little sense of adventure as you arrive in Cornwall by boat rather than road.
What are the best things to do when visiting Cornwall UK?
Some of our favourite experiences include exploring Whitsand Bay, walking to St Michael’s Chapel at Rame Head, visiting Cawsand and Kingsand, discovering Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, spending time at the National Trust’s Antony, and enjoying breakfast at Clifftop Café.
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