The height of summer is still a little way off, but as the days are getting longer and weather is getting warmer, there’s a real sense of Spring in the air. Whilst the pathways are quiet and the temperature is mild, enjoy some of the fantastic rambling routes in and around Bude that we’d suggest.

Bude to Marsland Mouth – 10 miles

Beginning at the Tourist Information Centre in Bude, follow the canal towards the sea and pick up the cliff-top path. Walkers will pass Bude Sea Pool and Sandymouth Beach to find one of the most remote areas of coast in Cornwall.

Maer Cliff – 2.1 miles

For views of two sandy beaches and an easy going footpath, an amble along Maer Down is ideal. Beginning at Northcott Mouth and finishing in Crooklets Beach, this walk is only around a mile long, perfect for visitors looking to quickly blow away the cobwebs. The nearby nature reserve is recognised internationally as a resting and feeding site for migratory birds that are blown by strong Atlantic gales, and the cliffs remain of geological importance. Although the path is exposed to occasionally harsh weather, the cliff remains laden with wild flowers. Northcott Mouth and Crooklets Beach are renowned for rock pooling, and whilst Crooklets has a seasonal ban on dogs, Northcott welcomes them all year round.

Bude Canal – 5.6 miles

As an alternative to a coastal path, Bude Canal offers a peaceful landscape with plenty of wildlife. The walk is predominately flat, with a low hill between the canal and coast path, ideal for children or wheelchair users. The path is bustling with pipits and buntings in the autumn, who are searching for pickings in the newly-harvested fields found alongside the canal. Bring a picnic and watch the kayaks and boats glide past in a picturesque setting.

Duckpool & Woodford – 5.1 miles

The walk along Duckpool Beach and the coastal path is known for its wildlife and small, but well-known, beach. The circular walk is around five miles and although the tide is too dangerous for swimming at any time of the year, the beach is a uncrowded hidden gem, which almost completely disappears at high tide. 

Bude Town Trail – 4 miles

With a beautiful coastline, it is easy to forget that Bude’s town trail is full of culture, history and beautiful views. When walking along Summerleaze Crescent and heading inland, walkers will come across pit stops such as the Clifton Memorial Stone and Bude Marshes Local Nature Reserve. 

Hawker’s Hut walk – 1 mile

This is a gentle walk on the cliffs of North Cornwall which encompass an array of breathtaking views. Walkers will come across historical landmarks, such as a beautiful church which is believed to date back to Saxon times, as well as Hawker’s Hut, the refuge of poet Reverend Robert Hawker. There is plenty of local wildlife and on a clearer day visitors can see Lundy Island.

Dunsdon to Vealand Farm Wild Walk – 4 miles

This child and dog friendly walk is around four miles and three hours long. Explore the grassland meadows and wander along the waterway before finding the Vealand Farm nature reserve, full of ponds, hedges and meadows.

Images courtesy of Adam Gibbard and Visit Cornwall.