Morwenstow to Bude

7 June 2023

Distance on Coast Path: 11.6km; ascent: 407m

Total distance: 12.3km; ascent: 407m

Walking time: 3h 31′

Total time: 5h 08′

(all stats to Bude lock gates)

Overnight: Sea Jade Guest House

In much better sprits than the previous day I set off for the last part of this visit to the Coast Path and the shortest day of the four. It was another bright sunny morning and the prospect of the four and a half down-and-ups between me and Bude didn’t spoil my mood. Back on the Path and turning south the radar domes and dishes two kilometers away dominated the view. Between me and them were two more river valleys – the first the oddly named stream The Tidna; the second, Stanbury Mouth.

After passing the radar station on high ground the Path drops to Duckpool (car park but no services). Then it’s back up again before the much smaller drop to Warren Gutter. With the downs-and-ups getting smaller it didn’t take long before I reached Sandy Mouth where I was delighted to see above me to the left the umbrellas of what turned out to be the terrace of the Sandymouth Café, and it was open!

At Sandymouth Café

At breakfast that morning I had chatted with the other Coast Path walker staying at Morwenstow’s The Bush Inn, a teacher from Germany. I left before her, but as I was idling time away at the café she passed by and sat down a short distance away. I went over and said hello and we talked for a while before I set off for the last part of the walk to Bude.

It was easy going now, warm at mid-day, and the nearer I got to Bude the more people and dogs there were.

I stopped again for a cold drink at one of the first beach cafés in Bude and finally walked across the sand to the lock gates of the Bude canal, at which point I left the Path and wandered into Bude and eventually my B&B. It had been a nice easy and enjoyable short day’s walking.

Trail buddy notes: That evening I met up for a drink with Sophie, who had reached Bude in one go from Hartland Quay. It took her ten hours, and she had taken this day as a rest day. I didn’t see the German teacher again until I opened my B&B room door to go for breakfast just as she was coming out of her room opposite ready to set off for Crackington Haven. It’s good to know the people you meet are staying safe and well.

Long Rock Beach near Bude

Sea swimming pool, Bude

Bude Canal lock.