Hele Valley Trail

The Hele Valley Trail cuts inland from Bude's seafront bustle into something altogether quieter - a proper ravine walk that follows a stream through thick woodland before opening into coastal views. You're looking at roughly two miles of riverside walking, the path switchbacking down past small waterfalls and moss-covered rocks, then climbing back out through gorse and heather to the clifftops.

It's free, takes about ninety minutes at a steady pace, and works brilliantly for families with older kids and anyone who wants a countryside break without the full-on moorland commitment. The woodland section is genuinely atmospheric - damp, green, a bit wild - and there's real satisfaction in emerging at the top to find yourself standing above the cliffs with the Atlantic spread out below.

Walk it in the morning when it's quieter, ideally after rain when the water's flowing properly. The valley's at its most striking then. Avoid midday summer weekends unless you don't mind company.

If you're based at Wooda Farm Holiday Park two miles away, this is the sort of walk that justifies the trip - proper woodland, no crowds, done and dusted before lunch. Atlantic Surf Pods is closer, but the trail works well as a half-day outing for anyone staying in that corner of Bude. Not a long walk, but it's got enough character to feel like you've actually gone somewhere rather than just nipped down to the park.