Can we walk onto the coast path straight from the park?

Not directly. The valley sits about two miles inland, which is what gives it the shelter, so most people drive the few minutes into Bude and pick the path up from there, in whichever direction they fancy.

Which way should we walk, north or south?

North towards Sandymouth and Duckpool for wild, quiet cliffs and very few people. South towards Widemouth Bay and on to Crackington Haven for some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Cornwall.

Is there a flatter walk if we don’t fancy the cliffs?

Yes — the Bude Canal towpath is level and easy the whole way, and starts from the town. It’s the one to pick with small children or on a rough day.

Can the dog come on the coast path?

Yes. Dogs are welcome on the trail and back at the park — every stay at Willow Valley takes dogs. Around the park please keep them on a lead no longer than two metres, exercise them in the area provided, and don’t leave them unattended.

What should we take with us?

Water and decent footwear for the bigger cliff walks. The path is rewarding, but it earns its views, and there are long stretches with nothing to buy along the way.

What is the South West Coast Path?

England’s longest waymarked trail, following the coast around the South West peninsula. It runs along this whole stretch of North Cornwall, passing through Bude, so you can join it a few minutes from the valley.

Grey slate cliffs and wave-cut rock ledges running along the North Cornwall coast under a pale sky, with white surf breaking over the reefs below

Area guide

South West Coast Path walks

The South West Coast Path is England’s longest waymarked trail, and it runs along this whole stretch of North Cornwall. Cliffs and coves the whole way, and you can join it in Bude, minutes from the valley.

You can pick the path up in Bude, a couple of miles from the park, and head in either direction for as far as your legs and the dog fancy.

Bude Sea Pool from the air, its curved wall half-covered by white surf, with the coloured beach huts and clifftop grass above it

North towards Sandymouth and Duckpool

Turn north out of Bude and the coast empties out quickly. The path runs on past Sandymouth, a National Trust beach with rockpools at low tide, and carries on to Duckpool, through wild, quiet cliffs with a good deal more sea than people.

It is up-and-down walking in places rather than a stroll, but the views are the reason you came.

South towards Widemouth Bay and Crackington Haven

Head south and the path runs above Widemouth Bay, a long, wide stretch of sand that is good for a surf, a swim or an afternoon in the rockpools, then on towards Crackington Haven and some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Cornwall.

There’s no need to do the whole thing. Walk out along the cliffs as far as suits you, then turn round and come back the same way.

Bude from the air: the beach huts on the cliff, the canal, and the town spreading inland behind

Walks for every pair of legs

Prefer something flatter? The Bude Canal towpath is an easy, level stroll from the town, and a sensible choice with small children, older legs or a wind coming in off the Atlantic.

For the bigger cliff walks, take water and decent footwear — the path is rewarding, but it earns its views.

Helyk’s private hot tub on the enclosed patio, with the picnic bench alongside

Back to the valley

After a day on the cliffs there’s a hot tub with your name on it, if you’ve booked one of the lodges — and a sheltered valley to come back down into once the wind has finished with you.

Dogs are welcome on the trail and back at the park; every stay at Willow Valley takes dogs. We ask that they’re kept on a lead no longer than two metres around the park, exercised in the area provided, and not left unattended.

At a glance

Highlights

Distances and times are from the park.

Sandymouth
Distance from the park: About fifteen minutes’ drive
A National Trust beach north along the path, with dramatic cliffs and rockpools at low tide.
Duckpool
Further north again, where the path carries on through wild, quiet cliffs — the emptier end of this coast.
Widemouth Bay
Distance from the park: Under ten minutes’ drive
A long, wide stretch of sand just south of Bude — surfing, rockpooling and a proper beach day, with the coast path running above it.
Crackington Haven
Distance from the park: A short drive down the coast
A smaller, dramatic cove framed by some of the highest cliffs in Cornwall, and the best of the cliff scenery on this stretch.
Bude Canal towpath
Distance from the park: In Bude, about two miles from the park
The flat option: an easy, level walk from the middle of town, with no cliffs to climb.

Questions & answers

: Not directly. The valley sits about two miles inland, which is what gives it the shelter, so most people drive the few minutes into Bude and pick the path up from there, in whichever direction they fancy.
: North towards Sandymouth and Duckpool for wild, quiet cliffs and very few people. South towards Widemouth Bay and on to Crackington Haven for some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Cornwall.
: Yes — the Bude Canal towpath is level and easy the whole way, and starts from the town. It’s the one to pick with small children or on a rough day.
: Yes. Dogs are welcome on the trail and back at the park — every stay at Willow Valley takes dogs. Around the park please keep them on a lead no longer than two metres, exercise them in the area provided, and don’t leave them unattended.
: Water and decent footwear for the bigger cliff walks. The path is rewarding, but it earns its views, and there are long stretches with nothing to buy along the way.
: England’s longest waymarked trail, following the coast around the South West peninsula. It runs along this whole stretch of North Cornwall, passing through Bude, so you can join it a few minutes from the valley.

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