Walk - Bude - Coast & Canal

5.7 miles (9.1 km)

Falcon Hotel, Bude - EX23 8SD Falcon Hotel, Bude

Moderate - 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.

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. It is good in autumn too, when pipits and buntings find rich pickings in the stubble of the newly-harvested fields.

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. 

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Safety advice

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Beach-House-B&B

01288 361256
Sat on Widemouth Bay with private access to golden sands, our B&B has a restaurant, bar, garden and family rooms. Listed in The Times top 20 beachside bars.
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Gwelmor

07711 264087
Award Winning - spacious, contemporary coastal home with garden just 5 minutes from the Path. Pub, beach cafe and shop within easy reach. Sleeps 6 and dogs welcome.
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Sea Jade Guest House

01288 353404

Sea Jade has 7 en-suite rooms and one other with a private bathroom. Happy to help with travel arrangements.Come as a guest,leave as a friend.

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Sunrise Guesthouse

01288 353214

The Bude Guest House, Sunrise is situated 200m from the South West Coast Path offering opportunity to walk both north and south using us as your base.

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Tee-side Guest House

01288 352351
Lovely B&B centrally located minutes from the Path, town & restaurants. Free WiFi. Full English Breakfast, vegetarian options available
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Penhalt Farm Holiday Park

01288 361210
Penhalt Farm is a working farm and the Holiday Park stands on an 8 acre site well equipped for touring caravanners or campers. Our aim at Penhalt Farm is that you enjoy a happy, peaceful time
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You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Brendon Arms

01288 354542
Bude's best known inn, owned and run by the Brendon family since 1872.Overlooking Bude's inner harbour and 200 yards from the unique sea-lock and Summerleazes Beach.
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What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Bayside Taxis

07769313654
Family run friendly reliable taxi service 8-seater mini bus and car (dogs welcome) covering North Cornwall coast path
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Wroes Outdoors

01288 353789

Full range of walking boots, shoes, clothing, waterpoofs and backpacks backed up with expert knowledge! Coffee shop with great views also.

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Trev's Taxi

07799 663217

A local taxi service based in Bude in the beautiful county of Cornwall. Providing an efficient service around Bude and surrounding areas. Particularly convenient for visitors walking the Coast Path.

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Interactive Elevation

  • Upton, near Bude: Route Realignment - Dec 2019: Cornwall Council has closed a short section of the South West Coast Path National Trail at Upton, located between Bude and Widemouth Bay. This is due to instability of the cliff. A new route is in place following a public bridleway and a pavement alongside Marine Drive. More details.

Route Description

  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.

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)

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