The Hartland Quay to Bude walk follows the South West Coast Path for approximately 24.1km. It is a one way route rather than a circular walk, maintained as part of the National Trails network.
This is considered one of the toughest stretches of the entire South West Coast Path, a long day with relentless climbs and descents as the route crosses ten separate river valleys. The coastline here has a fearsome reputation of its own. More than 150 ships have been wrecked on the rocky outcrops between Morwenstow and Bude, and walking the cliffs above it, past waterfalls and secluded combes, gives a real sense of why. It is demanding, but the isolation and the views, particularly from Higher Sharpnose Point and Steeple Point, make it one of the most rewarding sections on this part of the coast.
Near Morwenstow you pass Hawker’s Hut, a small shelter built into the cliffside from timbers salvaged from shipwrecks. It was the retreat of Robert Hawker, the Victorian poet and eccentric parish vicar who built it himself in the 1830s. He would spend hours there writing, smoking, and watching the Atlantic, and is said to have entertained guests including Alfred Tennyson and Charles Kingsley. The hut still stands today, cared for by the National Trust, and remains one of the smallest properties in its collection.
Further along, look out for St Catherine’s Tor, an unusual small hill thought to have once carried a Roman chapel or villa on its summit, with a waterfall dropping to the beach beside it. At Spekes Mill Mouth, two streams that rise on Bursdon Moor meet and fall together down a sheer rock face in a series of cascades before reaching the sea, one of the most striking waterfalls on the whole coast path. Duckpool is worth timing a visit around too. On calm evenings in July, glow worms can sometimes be seen here after dark, a rare sight increasingly hard to find anywhere else.
As the path eases towards Bude, it passes Bude and Stratton Museum on the quay, housed in the old blacksmith’s shop for the Bude Canal, with a collection of photographs and documents charting the canal’s history.
Given the distance and difficulty, many walkers split this into two days, stopping at Morwenstow after around 12km and continuing to Bude the next day.
Parking is available at Hartland Quay, Milford, Welcombe Mouth, Morwenstow, Duckpool, Sandy Mouth, Maer Cliff, and Bude.
Take A Walk Around Bude
Weather
Plan The Walk
Places along this walk
Places to stay
- Edgcumbe Hotel
- The Beach at Bude Hotel
- Links Side Guest House
- Sea Jade Guest House
- Sunrise Guest House
- The Brendon Arms
- Tommy Jacks
- Tee-Side Guest House
- Falcon
- An Mor
- Premier Inn
- Adventure International
- Ruaival apartment
Beaches
- Summerleaze Beach, Bude Passes nearby
Where to park
- Duck Pool
- Sandy Mouth Carpark
- Northcott Mouth
- An Mor Car Park
Pubs
- The Brendon Arms
- The Barrel Bude
- Brendon Arms
- The Carriers Inn
- The Globe
Cafes
- Coasters
- The Castle
- Olive Tree
- Crooklets Inn
- Scrummies
- The Coffee Shop
- Cloud Nine Cafe
- Waves
- Tian Di
- Morwenna Cafe Bar
- Bellinis Italian cafe
- The Barge
- The Lock Gates Tea room
- Sea Fever
- Sip and Sea
- Rosie's Kitchen
- Crooklets Beach Cafe
- Life's A Beach
- Silver River
- La Bocca
Attractions
- Wildspirits Wellness Cafe & Studio
- The Old Forge
- Wrangle Point
- Ocean Soul Sauna
- The Castle Heritage Centre
- Bude Tennis Club
- Bude Sea Pool
- Bude Tunnel
- The Triangle
- Bude Pitch & Putt
- Bucket Hill
- Bude Croquet Club
- Bude Haven Mini Golf
Shops
- Landsdowne Bakery
- North Coast Wine
- Budeful
- The Bakery
- Bude RNLI Shop
- Banfords Curious
- Wildwood
- Blue Heron Gallery
- Art Inside
- Daisy Crafts
- Atlantic Gift Shop
- TGJones
- The Costume Room
- Spencer Thorn
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