Seal hole

The cave sits right on the Cornish coast near Bude, accessible at low tide when you can actually get inside to see where the seals used to haul out. It's a short scramble down from the clifftop path, nothing technical, but you'll want proper footwear and a tide table - get this wrong and you're looking at a frustrating trudge back up with wet feet.

What you're actually looking at is a fairly modest sea cave, the sort of place that rewards curiosity more than it impresses with sheer scale. The real appeal is the geology and the seals themselves, though spotting them depends entirely on timing and luck. Come during pupping season if you can, though access restrictions apply then for good reason. Walkers on the coastal path between Bude and Widemouth Bay will find this a worthwhile diversion, and it's the kind of spot that feels properly exploratory without requiring mountaineering skills.

If you're based at Pencuke Farm Holiday Cottages or the Bude Camping and Caravanning Club Site, both close by, this fits neatly into a broader coastal walk. Allow two hours maximum, including the descent, exploration, and climb back up. The cave itself takes ten minutes to properly examine. It's free to visit, and there's no formal management, which means checking local conditions beforehand is your responsibility. Best visited in settled weather when the rocks aren't treacherous. Families with older kids will enjoy the adventure; younger ones might find it a bit underwhelming once they realise it's just a cave.