Widemouth Bay - circular walks

Widemouth Bay

The beach at Widemouth Bay, Cornwall

Widemouth Bay is the southernmost of the sandy beaches around Bude. As the name implies, this is a substantial stretch of sand and faces west into the Atlantic. Consequently, when there is a big surf running, there can be some absolutely monster waves at Widemouth which can make you wonder why going surfing seemed like a good idea at the time. In the autumn and winter, it's a good place to see expert surfers.

In the past, sloops from Wales would use Widemouth as a port (in the most basic sense), unloading goods such as coal and limestone; and taking Cornish wares back to Wales such as granite, slate, tin, copper and even Cornish pasties! The beaches in the bay are now the landing points for many transatlantic cables linking the USA and UK, supporting an altogether different kind of surfing.

Walks visiting Widemouth Bay

  • 6.2 miles/10 km - Easy-moderate

    Widemouth to Bude

    Storm Tower at Compass Point

    Widemouth to Bude

    6.2 miles/10 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk from Widemouth Bay along the Coast Path though the Phillips Point nature reserve to The Storm Tower at Compass Point and then along the Bude Canal to Whalesborough, returning across the fields to Widemouth.

  • 6.4 miles/10.3 km - Strenuous

    Crackington Haven to Widemouth (via bus)

    Sunset at Widemouth

    Crackington Haven to Widemouth (via bus)

    6.4 miles/10.3 km - Strenuous

    A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, along the Shipwreck Coast from Crackington Haven to Widemouth Bay passing the bluebell woodland of ancient twisted oaks at The Dizzard, chevron folded rocks and honeycomb reefs of Millook Haven and fossil beds of Wanson Mouth.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.