South West Coast Path

Dramatic cliff walking north to Morwenstow and south to Crackington Haven

The South West Coast Path passes through Bude and the surrounding coastline is among the most dramatic sections of this 630-mile national trail. North of Bude, the path climbs to Compass Point (a distinctive octagonal storm tower on the headland above the town) and continues to Morwenstow — about five miles along clifftops with views south toward Hartland Point. South of Bude, the path follows the cliff edge past Widemouth Bay and onward to Crackington Haven, a deep-cut cove about eight miles distant.

The geology along this stretch is extraordinary: the Carboniferous rocks have been so heavily folded by ancient tectonic forces that the strata are nearly vertical, creating cliff faces that look nothing like the horizontal layering typical of sedimentary coasts. The Bude Formation — a specific rock sequence of sandstones and shales — is named after the town and is studied by geologists internationally. Walking either section requires appropriate footwear; the path is well-maintained but the coastal sections are exposed.

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A story
The South West Coast Path is 630 miles long — the longest National Trail in England. The section around Bude passes through some of the most geologically dramatic coastline in Cornwall: the Carboniferous rocks here have been folded almost vertically by ancient tectonic forces, creating cliff faces that display their strata like a textbook diagram rather than horizontal layers.