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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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.

Gwelmor

07711 264087

Award Winning - spacious, contemporary coastal home with enclosed garden just 5 mins from the Path. Pub, beach cafe and shop within easy reach. Sleeps 6 and dogs welcome.

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Efford Down Campsite

07870472448

Basic hillside camping right in the heart of Bude. Close to SWCP, cafes, pubs, beaches and shops.

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Sea Jade Guest House

01288 353404

Sea Jade has 7 en-suite rooms. Single night stays welcome. 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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The Tree Inn

01288352038

The Tree Inn is a charming former Manor House dating back to the C13th. We offer 6 comfortable rooms, 2 bars, restaurant a flower filled courtyard.

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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.

Bude Tourist Information Centre

01288 354240

Modern TIC, open 360 days of the year. Large resource of books, maps, guides, and local information. Free and comprehensive accommodation booking service/

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Friends of Bude Sea Pool

01288 488118

FOBSP charity set up 10 years ago to save and enhance BSP. The SWCP goes along our perimeter path so people can enjoy a swim along the way too.

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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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Route Description

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.

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.

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.

Walk - Bude - Coast & Canal