Walking Sandymouth to Stanbury Mouth - 2.7 miles

OS Explorer 126: grid reference SX202101 to SX200135

Park your car at NT Sandy Mouth car park. There may be refreshments and toilets available if it is 'in season'. If it is low tide look behind you to see the sands stretching southwards to Bude. On our visits we have seen the summer sands replaced by winter boulders, this making the beach totally change character. Surfers are almost always in evidence and there is some fine tited rock strata for budding geologists. Note the parallel 'reefs' running out to sea - very much a feature of this area.

Look around for the path marked 'Footpath to Duckpool' taking it up onto Stowe Cliffs. Climb gradually dropping briefly into Warren Gutter before climbing once more to reach Warren Point. A sharp descent leads down into Duckpool - grid reference SX201115 where it would be wise to break for a picnic lunch or to use the toilets provided. The scenery here is spectacular and the beach is outstanding at low tide. Amateur naturalists may also get something out of their stop here as land-based and marine wildlife is varied and plentiful.

Refreshed, climb steeply on the coastpath out of Duckpool onto Steeple Point some 91m (300 ft.) above sea level. Take extreme care where the coastpath runs close to the cliff edge. Inland lies the steeply sided Coombe Valley with its meandering stream and the tower of Kilkhampton Church on the skyline. Your route continues north climbing gradually up to Lower Sharpnose Point. Just south of Rane Point and Rane Beach the path runs to the seaward side of Morwenstow Satellite Tracking Station better known locally as Cleave Camp. Now simply drop down carefully into Stanbury Mouth to complete this stage and take a well earned rest. The nearby hamlet of Woodford may offer a convenient pick-up point or parking for your second vehicle

THE CLIFFS BETWEEN BUDE AND MARSLAND MOUTH ARE EXTREMELY FRACTURED AND CRUMBLING. DO NOT LEAVE THE PATHS OR SIT BELOW THE CLIFFS IF YOU ARE VISITING THE BEACHES AS ROCKFALLS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. KEEP CHILDREN AND ANIMALS UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION.

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