West Park

The coastal path drops steeply into West Park, and you immediately understand why locals keep quiet about it. It's a proper nature reserve - all scrubby vegetation, cliff-side walks, and that particular quality of light you only get when the Atlantic is doing its thing just beyond the brambles. The reserve sits just outside Bude, close enough for a morning visit but far enough away that you won't stumble into it by accident.

What you're actually doing here is walking. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, none of that. Just yourself, the coastal landscape, and if you're lucky, a few seabirds that haven't yet learned to be nervous of humans. The paths are manageable rather than punishing - good for families with older kids and anyone who fancies a proper walk without needing climbing boots. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice without rushing.

It works brilliantly as a breather if you're staying at Wooda Farm or Pencuke Farm up the road. Both are solid five-star rated operations, which tells you something about the area. Those spots are close enough that you could knock out West Park in the morning and still have the afternoon for the beach near Bude. The reserve is free to visit - no gates, no fees - which is increasingly rare and rather generous of whoever manages it. Spring and early summer are best for wildflowers and nesting birds. Winter's perfectly decent too if you like the place quieter and the light more dramatic.