Plan your summer in Bude

For walking enthusiasts, the South West Coastal Path offers cliff and coast walks with spectacular views of the ocean and rock structure – make sure you have suitable walking boots (and stamina) to manage the undulating terrain! You may be relieved to know there are many “refuelling” stops along the way from Widemouth’s Beach House Café Takeaway with its famous fish & chips and global street food or Trelawny’s delicious cakes and cream teas, or Rosie’s Kitchen at Crooklets, through to The Bush Inn and The Rectory Tea Rooms at Morwenstow, where you can also see Hawkers Hut – the UK’s smallest National Trust property.If geology is a real interest for you, Dr Higgs is an expert on Bude’s rock formations and runs guided tours every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon starting at Bude’s Tourist Information CentreIf you prefer a gentler stroll, then the canal is a flat, less demanding route and takes you through the nature reserve which is home to many varieties of wildlife. Besides the more common varieties of birds and butterflies, you could also see herons, kingfishers, oyster catchers and egrets. There is also a cycle path along the canal and if you are visiting without your bike, you can hire one from Bude Bikes.Thrill seekers have plenty of choices including surfing, body boarding, kayaking, coasteering, abseiling and rock climbing. There are many good local schools, including Shoreline Extreme Sports operating from Bude, Raven Surf School with ex British and European surfing champion Mike Raven which operates at Widemouth, and Outdoor Adventure who operate from both locations. If horse riding is your thing, then Bude is one of the few places in the country where you can ride on the beach – a real thrill for experienced equestrians! You can also ride along the cliffs for days when the tide is not right. In addition to the many activities you will find around the shoreline, there is also, tennis, pitch & putt, skateboarding, golf, clay pigeon shooting archery…. the list goes on! Trust me, you will not be short of things to do here! And the really great thing is, all these activities are within a very short distance of each other. The 2015 Bude Guide in now available from the Tourist Information Centre - complete with map! This post was kindly written by Linda Winstanley of Broomhill Manor