At Gwelmor you are a five minute walk away from the South West Coast Path, the longest national trail in England. Pick up the trail at Widemouth Bay beach car park and head south to stunning Crackington Haven and Boscastle or north to Bude, Morwenstow and Hartland Quay. The Coast Path is best done with a map, sturdy boots, plenty of water and some good planning. Choose a walk to find out more...
A short and easy leg in comparison to other sections but it certainly packs a punch with its sensational views, so it is worth taking your time over.
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The small fishing village of Appledore is a maze of narrow lanes lined with brightly coloured picture postcard cottages and is a great base for this stretch of cliffs and woods.
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I never thought I’d be so excited for a 9.2-mile walk that a guide-book brands ‘severe’, but after the year we’ve all had nothing could have been better as we finally resumed our mission to walk The South West Coast Path.
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On any other day a 13-miler branded ‘easy’ in the guide book would have probably been a breeze, but with aching muscles and 21miles already under my belt, today was tougher than I expected. To be fair though, walking 13 miles is never easy, even when relatively flat like this leg.
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A flat and easy, but long walk which follows the route of the old railway line from Barnstaple to Bideford. Can be a bit frustrating as it feels as if you're not going anywhere fast and, as it also part of the Tarka Trail, it can get a bit busy, especially in summer.
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Saunton Sands is a vast expanse of stunning golden beach on the north Devon coast. It's a popular spot with sun-seeking families and longboard surfers, and I can see why. It's simply stunning and, even better, dog friendly all year round.
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Inspired by the book 'The Salt Path' by Gaynor Winn, we're attempting to walk The South West Coast Path, all 630 miles of it (albeit not all at once!). And so we began, on a rather damp summer’s day in 2019, from the steep 'map' sculpture on Minehead seafront that marks the start of this epic route.
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With The South West Coast Path right on its doorstep, Gwelmor holiday cottage is perfectly positioned for exploring some of the most sensational coastal walks that this national trail has to offer. But it was a book that actually inspired Gwelmor's owners to pull on their hiking books and attempt to walk the Path in its entirety. Our story so far...
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If you feel the need to blow away the cobwebs the last seven hideous months have left us with then try walking Port Isaac to Rock in a 51mph wind. Trust me, it does the trick. The wind was relentless from start to finish and always against us, never behind us egging us on, making every mile feel like three.
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This particular leg of The South West Coast Path has some of the most stunning coastal views which definitely make up for tough climbs along the way.
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This may be a shorter section but it still comes packed with jagged headlands, sandy beaches, steep climbs and historic features. A great local favourite.
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If you fancy a fitness challenge whilst taking in some of the splendid coastal views that Cornwall has to offer, then the hike from Crackington Haven to Boscastle ticks all the boxes.
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The stretch from Hartland Quay to Morwenstow is not easy but you'll be rewarded with some amazing views of the rugged north Devon coastline.
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Heddon's Mouth is described in the guidebook as 'dramatic' with 'spectacular coastal landscapes' and 'breathtaking scenery'. For me, this section was a story of dog ticks and panic attacks!
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This breath-taking and dramatic stretch of coastline has some seriously arduous climbs and descents, but the rewards are worth the effort. This is one of my favourite legs so far in our bid to walk the entire South West Coast Path
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A route that should have taken in Baggy Point and its 'superb views', but a misjudged turning found us cutting it off completely for an inland route instead before finally getting back on track at Croyde.
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The walk from Widemouth Bay to Crackington Haven is a stunner and the Path is just four minutes walk away from Gwelmor. High cliffs tops, layered rock formations and steep valleys set the scene for some sensational scenery. It's well worth the effort.
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This was an epic section of two halves; luscious green woodland and spectacular, open air cliff-top views. But luscious greenery can bring its problems, as we were to discover when we stopped for lunch at Sister’s Fountain deep in the woodland.
Read our blog postThere's plenty to keep everyone occupied in and around Widemouth Bay. The beach itself is two miles long, popular with families and surfers, and has a wonderful cafe and public facilities. Widemouth Bay is in a great position for exploring both north Cornwall and Devon with a wide range attractions and activities close by. Here's just a few...
The South West Coast Path runs 630 miles from Somerset to Dorset. The breath-taking stretch along north Cornwall falls right on Gwelmor's doorstep and has some seriously arduous climbs, but the rewards are worth the effort. We're are on a mission to walk entire path and are blogging each leg along the way.
Bude has its very own semi-natural sea pool just above Summerleaze Beach. Open daily and free to swim thanks to the dedicated work of the Friends of Bude Sea Pool charity. Dogs on leads welcome, a water bowl is provided but there’s no shade.
With its craggy rock-pools, colourful beach huts, open-air sea pool, surf schools, kayaking and outdoor pursuits, Summerleaze Beach has it all. The beach is dog friendly all year round but must be kept on a lead from May 21 to September 30 10am to 6pm.
Widemouth Bay is a fantastic spot to learn to surf or try your hand at bodyboarding. It has a Blue Flag Beach Award for cleanliness and is seasonally manned by lifeguards for your safety and has surf schools on hand.
Whether you walk, cycle or paddle this unique waterway it's a haven for wildlife and delight to explore. Originally built to transport lime-bearing sand for use as agricultural fertiliser its locks hauled ‘tub boats’ up steep slopes on chains.
Crooklets adjoins Summerleaze Beach and at low tide you can walk between the two. Has a row of pretty beach huts for hire, a play area, skate park, showers, amusements and water sports. Dogs welcome out of season.
This gorgeous and unspoilt National Trust beach lies between Bude and Morwenstow. A fantastic stretch of sand is unveiled at low tide with a dramatic backdrop of sheer cliffs. Seasonal café and toilets and dog friendly all year.
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A former working farm now an all-weather attraction for the whole family, with a host of cute animals and a great selection of rides and activities. There are different shows/displays depending on the time of the year. Free dog kennels on site.
Traditional two-screen cinema and a refreshing change from big multiplexes. Big Screen releases, comfy seats, 3D digital projection, cutting-edge sound systems and small refreshment kiosk make it great choice for rainy days.
An 18-mile multi-use trail giving access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheelchair users.
With its massive biomes housing the largest rainforest in captivity, this is a great place to visit, especially in wet weather. They also put on exhibitions, summer concerts and family events so it’s worth checking out their website.
Test your balance on a segway as a fun way to explore 500 acres of stunning countryside trails on offer you can ride from Wooda Farm in Bude to Widemouth Bay. The centre also offers caving experiences, surf lessons and wall climbing.
With more than 40 natural, sea-themed habitats its great for kids to explore critters from local Cornish waters as well as tropical creatures from exotic seas. The Aquarium is home to turtles, jellyfish, octopus and black tipped reef sharks.
