Walking In Bude

There’s no better way to explore than on foot. Numerous, well marked foot paths and bridleways start, finish and pass through Bude ensuring you never need walk the same path twice during your stay.

The South West Coast Path (SWCP) is, perhaps, the most famous trail in the UK. Hardened walkers will complete the full 630 miles from Minehead to Poole, others will make use of small sections, enabling them to enjoy the varied coastline.  Popular stretches of coast path from Bude are north to Marsland Mouth and south to Crackington Haven. Regular bus services allow for linear walks along the coast.

Some of the wildest and most beautiful stretches of the North Cornwall coast encompass Bude.  However, there are also numerous inland, well-marked footpaths and bridleways that start/finish in Bude, or pass through, ensuring you never need walk the same path twice during your stay.

Visitors to Bude can readily access the SWCP from the Bude Tourist Information Centre. A short stroll alongside the canal towards the sea brings you to the sea lock, one of only several in the country. Take a moment to stop here as it’s the iconic “Bude View” that offers something different whatever the time of year. If you want to rest a while, there are several benches where you can relax and soak up the views of the harbour.

If you do want to explore the coastline further, head towards Efford Cottage (the pink house) at the end of Breakwater Road.  Some steps to the left take you onto a tarmac path, and up to Compass Point – a folly known locally as “The Pepper Pot” because if its shape.  You will be rewarded with breath-taking views up the coast towards Morwenstow and Lundy Island. There are several benches en route! 

Keep on walking and descend to the sandy beach at Widemouth Bay.  At this point you can follow the Bude Circular Walk (printed guide available for 70p from the TIC) back to the Tourist Information Centre.

Continue to Pentire Point through Phillip’s Point and Upton Meadow nature reserves.  You may see seals below in the deserted rocky coves.

Just south of Widemouth Bay is Millook. From here the views both north and south are outstanding.  Millook is renowned for the zigzag rock formations called “chevron folding” and is one of the world’s finest examples.  Further down the coast between St Gennys and Boscastle is the aptly named High Cliff, an awe-inspiring drop of 735ft (224m) and the highest cliff in the county. If you make it to Crackington Haven or Boscastle, there is a regular bus service back to Bude.

To see a different aspect of the coast path, head from Crooklets Beach towards Morwenstow, an outpost of wild and dramatic scenery, simply look for the easily recognisable, large satellite dishes (formerly a WWII airbase and now part of GCHQ).

Some of the path is narrow with loose stones and very steep in places, so good walking boots are a must.  Look out for grey seals and basking sharks in the water below and the wild goats on the cliff.  Just beyond Higher Sharpnose Point you will find Hawkers Hut, the smallest National Trust property, which is precariously balanced on the cliff edge.

It’s worth heading inland to have a look at Morwenstow Church, a cream tea at The Rectory or a pint at The Bush Inn.  The very unusual church chimneys were modelled on church towers where Hawker had served before coming to Morwenstow.  

It doesn’t matter which direction you decide to take from Bude along the coast path, but every visitor should experience it to fully appreciate why our region truly deserves to be regarded as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

 There is a large selection of walking leaflets available from Bude Tourist Information Centre priced from 70p. These will ensure you don’t take the wrong path, or overlook the many important features. 

Circular Walks, Village and Town Trails

There are many circular walks in the area covering the coast path, town and villages of various lengths and difficulty.

Walking the Bude Canal

Starting at the Sea Lock gates, adjacent to Summerleaze Beach, the Bude Canal travels over two miles inland. Follow the flat, level under-foot towpath past the Canal interpretation centre and nature reserve, several locks and inclined plains. The Canal terminates at Helebridge near Maramchurch. From here, return to Bude, but for different scenery, follow the cycle path through the nature reserve and along the river Neet back to the Tourist Information Centre.

Extend the walk from 90 minutes to 2 ½ hours, and stop off at the Woodland Tea Rooms and Community Woodland for their famous Cream Tea's. From here, join the coast path for a fairly easy coastal walk, past Compass Point, down Breakwater Road and back to the Tourist Information Centre.

Along the canal, if very possible that you will see our family of Otters and a few Kingfishers.