Our Projects - Maer Down, Bude - New gate

Last year saw a tired and dilapidated kissing gate hanging forlornly on the edge of Bude.  This well-used entrance on the SWCP we thought was deserving of an upgrade with something more visually interesting – it was just a matter of deciding on what.

The opportunity to decide arose when a local furniture designer, Christian O’Reilly, offered his ‘steam-bending’ skills to curve the oak rails in and around a new kissing gate.  The SWCPA kindly offered a donation, which was added to by a lady from Bude who funded the original kissing gate some 20 years earlier.

The work began in November 2016 and turned out to be more challenging than expected.  The bedrock was half an inch below the surface and it took many days with a compression rock-breaker to ‘dig’ the various postholes needed.  The gate was further delayed by the cliff collapse on the coast path at Morwenstow (see project page) which diverted our efforts for a while, until we were finally able to return to hang the gate, finish the gate cradle and fencing , install some steps, and add the final waymarker.

The curvy kissing gate is functional, as well as hopefully adding some visual interest for anyone passing through.