Active Coastal Adventure in North Cornwall: Bude to St Ives - 11 Days

Day 2: Transfer to Bude, Explore & Relax

Your Cornish adventure officially starts today, and after breakfast, you'll transfer to the charming Victorian coastal town of Bude. A cherished destination for surf enthusiasts, Bude's position along the Atlantic coastline is characterized by rugged cliffs, expansive undulating vistas, and pristine sandy beaches. 

Settle in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the town before your walking holiday begins in earnest tomorrow. Start with an exhilarating stroll along the sandy Summerleaze Beach, where swimmers flock to the Bude Sea Pool, a vast semi-natural tidal pool flanked by cliffs on one side and the beach on the other. While hardy locals will swim all year around, the Atlantic waters are bracing!

Whether you decide to take a dip in the sea or not, toast your trip in typical Cornish fashion with an evening at a local pub. Cornwall is home to some of the UK's best seafood, and whether you're after classic fish and chips or a more refined take on the catch of the day, you'll find it at one of Bude's local pubs and restaurants. Afterward, head back to your hotel ahead of tomorrow's early start.

Day 3: South West Coast Path (Day 1): Bude to Crackington Haven

Wake early this morning and fuel up on a typical English breakfast in readiness for today's hike. Your destination is Crackington Haven, and the 10-mile (16 km) walk along the South West Coast Path is filled with sweeping panoramas of the rocky coastline dotted with fishing villages. You'll be free to enjoy the scenery without worrying about your bags, as your luggage will arrive at your hotel ahead of you each day.

The first leg of your walk follows the grassy cliff path behind the beaches and along the historic Bude Canal to Widemouth Bay, a wild and windy spot (making it popular with surfers) with several excellent local pubs, where you can grab a bite to eat and try one of the local ales. Refreshed and ready to continue, make your way along the path across several sheer clifftops, pausing at Philip's Point Nature Reserve to see if you can spot the grey seals that frequent the bay below.

You'll walk across the cliffs and alongside the Dizzard Forest (the remnants from a prehistoric wood that once covered the entire country) for a stretch and pass a series of gentle waterfalls and hilltops before the path descends into the enclosed bay of Crackington Haven. Here, you can make a beeline for your accommodation and enjoy a warm Cornish welcome before a restful evening at a local pub. 

Day 4: South West Coast Path (Day 2): Crackington Haven to Tintagel

Lace up your hiking boots for another windswept day of walking Cornwall's famous coastal path. You'll find some of the 11-mile (18 km) route to Tintagel moderate to challenging but worth it for the incredible clifftop views. Walk above the isolated beaches of the nearby Strangles and past rocky shelves and headlands, mindful of the spectacular sheer drops that give way to the Atlantic. It's a beautiful stretch for bird watchers, with colonies of puffins, razorbills, and guillemots dotting the cliffsides.

It's also an area steeped in the mysterious legend of King Arthur, whose reputed birthplace is Tintagel, your overnight destination. It's not hard to imagine Arthurian tales as you pass sights such as the Pentargon inlet, where an astonishing waterfall plummets 130 feet (39 m) into the sea below. Eventually, you'll arrive in the storied town, whose rocky promontory was the site of a Roman settlement and Celtic fortress. Once you reach your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax and take it easy in one of the village's excellent pubs.

Day 5: Explore Tintagel Town & Castle

Today is yours to explore Tintagel at your own pace, and there's one sight you can't miss—Tintagel Castle. Perched on cliffs overlooking the sea on the peninsula of Tintagel Island, the castle is accessed via a recently built footbridge from the mainland. The views from the bridge are astonishing, and you'll first experience the castle the way its medieval residents once did before the old crossing disappeared between the 14th and 17th centuries. 

Arrive at the 13th-century castle ruins, and you'll discover why myths and legends abound at Tintagel. It's been rumored since the 12th century to be the birthplace of King Arthur, and stories of the fortress as a stronghold for medieval Cornish kings are said to have inspired Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to build his clifftop home here. See the walled garden where Earl Richard installed stepping stones to retell the tragic love story of Tristan and Iseult, and cast your eyes down to the sea, where seals can often be spotted playing in the waters below. 

If you can drag yourself away from the wonders of the castle, don't miss Merlin's Cave on the shore below. At low tide, it's an atmospheric spot to visit and adds to the air of Arthurian mystery that shrouds the area. To better understand rural life in centuries past, visit the Tintagel Old Post Office, a 14th-century building and a well-preserved example of a medieval manor house. After a day of exploring, the Camelot Castle Hotel is a wonderful spot for afternoon tea, with grand architecture and sweeping views from its terrace. 

Day 7: South West Coast Path (Day 4): Port Isaac to Padstow

While you might have a hard job tearing yourself away from beautiful Port Isaac this morning, know that today's hike contains some of the most spectacular views so far, with the bonus of two days in Padstow, a chic, bustling fishing village that's home to some of Cornwall's finest restaurants. Your last stretch is 12 miles (19 km), and after leaving your accommodation and following the coastal path out of town, you'll pass the remote inlet of Pine Haven and the Iron Age fort of The Rumps, a rocky promontory in an area dotted with sandy coves and surrounded by gorse and woodland.

You'll want to keep your camera close at hand as the path winds its way around several steep headlands and gentle valleys, culminating in spectacular views from Pentire Point across the Camel Estuary. Soon, you'll reach Polzeath, another idyllic Cornish village and one-time favorite haunt of the poet laureate Sir John Betjeman. Stop here for lunch on the go (a filling Cornish pasty is a must if you haven't tried one already), and as you head out of town, the path becomes significantly easier as you walk down to the sandy beaches of Daymer Bay, where you'll catch a ferry to Padstow. 

Upon arrival in the harbor, you'll be transferred to your hotel and reunited with your luggage. While your epic walk along the South West Coast Path has come to an end, there's still much to explore, and Padstow has no shortage of attractions. Head back to the harbor for a cool drink and watch the fishermen at work, or seek out local artwork at the galleries that dot the medieval streets that wind back from the port. Afterward, go for a predinner stroll along St George's Cove and return to Padstow for dinner, where you'll be spoiled for choice with excellent eateries. 

Day 8: Guided Tour of Bodmin Moor, Optional Kayaking Tour

Wake to the sound of gulls as Padstow gently comes to life, with the fishing boats making their way out of the harbor to bring back another day's catch. There's no rush this morning, so enjoy a leisurely breakfast before meeting your guide and driver for a full day exploring Bodmin Moor. Fans of author Daphne du Maurier will recognize the location as the backdrop to her eerie novel "Jamaica Inn." It's these moors that you'll spend the day exploring with your guide.

Depending on your interests and how much walking you'd like to do, your guide will tailor your trip to your preferences. The moors are rich in folklore, and some famous highlights you can visit include Dozmary Pool, the lake where, according to legend, King Arthur received the sword Excalibur. Legends aside, your day of sightseeing will include several granite tors that rise up from the rolling moorland, as well as evocative stone circles and ancient monuments.

Part ways with your guide in the afternoon, and before you seek a cozy nook in a local pub, you'll have the option of working up an appetite for tonight's dinner with a private kayaking or standup paddleboarding tour around the coast. Meet your guide in Padstow and transfer 30 minutes to Port Quin, a nearby hamlet and cove with plenty of caves to paddle to and explore. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned kayaker, your friendly guide will tailor your session to meet your needs. Afterward, you'll transfer back to Padstow in time for your dinner reservation. 

Arguably, Cornwall's most popular destination, St Ives regularly attracts over half a million-day trippers each year, and there's a reason why. For centuries, artists and painters have flocked to the picturesque seaside resort seeking the town's special quality of light, said to arise from St Ives' vast quartet of golden beaches. Arrive at your hotel, and waste no time in discovering the maze of whitewashed atmospheric cobbled streets and beautiful beaches for yourself. Start with a walk along Porthminster Beach and stop for dinner at the Porthminster Beach Café, an award-winning restaurant with sweeping sea views.

Day 10: Tour the Polgoon Vineyard, Visit the Tate Modern St Ives

It's been a long day, and if you're looking for somewhere to settle and toast your adventures, you're in luck. St Ives is filled with excellent seafood restaurants, cozy bistros, and pubs, many of which hark back to the town's reputation as an 18th and 19th-century smugglers haven. Find your spot, and if it's live music you're after, you'll find several pubs by the waterfront offering music nights.  

Day 11: Transfer to Exeter, Depart

Your tour of Cornwall has come to an end, and after one final stroll along the waterfront, you'll transfer to Exeter, where you'll continue to your next destination. Safe travels!

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