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Walk - Bude - Coast & Canal

Start
Falcon Hotel, Bude - EX23 8SD
Finish
Falcon Hotel, Bude
Length
5.6 miles (9.0 km)
Summary

The walk takes in the Coast Path with lovely sea views, before turning inland across farmland to join the canal towpath back to Bude. An excellent walk for children - if the weather's good take a picnic and watch the boats and kayaks on the canal - or why not hire one yourself and take your picnic upstream? A fine route in spring, when there are ducklings and even cygnets on the canal, the hedges are full of primroses and celandines and warblers sing in the blossom-covered bushes.

A good walk for dogs too as it passes a beach and pubs where dogs are welcome. Have a look at our Top Dog Walks on the South West Coast Path for more dog friendly beaches and pubs. 

Difficulty
Moderate
Terrain

After a gentle climb out of Bude, the walk becomes easy and flat. There are no stiles along the route, although kissing gates will prevent access for some prams & wheelchairs. The section along the Bude canal is very accessible for wheelchairs and more details about it can be found on the Cornwall Council website.

A Tramper all terrain mobility scooter is available for hire from Whalesborough Farm for use exploring the farm trails and canal path. Further information and booking details can be found on the Countryside Mobility SW website.

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Route Description

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  1. From the Falcon Hotel in Bude follow the Coast Path sign and pass St. Michael’s Church, originally built in the 19th century as a chapel of ease to nearby Stratton Church.

 The climb from here to the top of the cliff at Compass Point is rewarded by spectacular views of the beaches and town of Bude. This is a popular stretch with surfers and, while looking inland the magnificent high tors of Dartmoor can be seen on a clear day.

  1. Continue along the Coast Path until you reach Widemouth Bay (which is dog-friendly throughout the year). Just before the Bay View Inn and a little way after the car park at Lower Longbeak, you leave the Coast Path and cross the B road to a kissing gate with a public footpath sign. From here you follow a well-maintained path through lush fields, following the waymarks and passing through two small gates and two more kissing gates before reaching the historic canal path to Bude at Helebridge.

The Bude Canal was built in the early 1820s to carry the calcium-rich sea sand inland where it was used by farmers as fertiliser.

  1. Stay on the path on the left hand side, following the canal. The path eventually comes to a green bridge where you cross over to the path on the right hand side and continue to finish back at the car park and the Falcon Hotel.

Nearby refreshments

Bude (cafes, pubs, restaurants), Widemouth Bay (cafes, pubs), Helebridge (tearooms).
Near to the start/end of the walk in and around Bude the Bredon Arms, Bay View Inn, Crooklets Inn and Preston Gate are recommended by users of www.doggiepubs.org.uk as serving good food and being dog-friendly.

Public transport

For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Bude and Widemouth Bay (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX23 8LG).

The Falcon Hotel, Bude (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX23 8SD)

Lower Longbeak, Widemouth Bay, North Cornwall. Photographer David Carvey, Bodmin

Lower Longbeak, Widemouth Bay, North Cornwall. Photographer David Carvey, Bodmin

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