Kilkhampton Common

The open moorland at Kilkhampton Common sprawls across the border between Devon and Cornwall, just inland from Bude, and it's the sort of place that catches you off guard with how wild it feels despite being minutes from the coast. This is proper walking country - gorse-covered hills, wind-bent heather, and views that stretch toward the sea on clear days. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, just open access and the kind of solitude that makes you understand why people drive out here specifically to think.

Walkers will get the most from it. The common isn't spectacular in the way a dramatic coastal path is, but it rewards exploration. The terrain rolls rather than climbs steeply, and you can wander for an hour or half an afternoon depending on mood. It's less crowded than you'd expect for somewhere so close to Bude's summer bustle. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find it a bit exposed and featureless. Birdwatchers and anyone interested in open moorland habitat will find it genuinely rewarding.

Free, obviously. Go when the weather's decent and the wind isn't howling hard enough to knock you sideways - autumn and early spring are excellent. Winter can feel relentless up there. If you're staying at Wooda Farm Holiday Park or Atlantic Horizons, both within a few miles, this is a sensible morning out to break up the holiday rhythm. Not a destination in itself, but a proper addition to a Bude-area trip. You'll want proper footwear and a map.