Bude to Crackington Haven Walk

9.3 miles (15 km)

This walk follows the South West Coast Path from Bude to Crackington Haven. The route runs for just over 9 miles, following the waymarked trail south to Compass Point, Upton and Widemouth Bay before coming to the finish point at Crackington Haven.
The walk begins at Bude, one of Cornwall's best-known seaside towns, where the route passes the distinctive white Compass Point lookout above the town's beaches and harbour.... Heading south, the path follows a quieter and less developed coastline, passing the small settlements of Upton and Millook where steep valleys descend to the sea through a landscape of pasture and ancient hedgebanks.
A highlight of the route is Widemouth Bay, a long sweep of sand popular with surfers and backed by low cliffs and open countryside. Beyond the bay, the coast becomes more remote, with the path crossing a succession of deep combes and streams that have cut through the cliffs on their way to the sea. This section feels notably wilder than the coastline around Bude, with few settlements and long stretches of uninterrupted coastal scenery.
The walk finishes at Crackington Haven, a small village nestled in a narrow valley between high headlands. The beach and surrounding cliffs are among the most studied geological sites in Cornwall, with dramatically folded rock layers clearly visible from the shore. Together with Widemouth Bay and the quieter valleys to the north, they give this route a distinct character that differs from many other sections of the North Cornwall coast.