St Olaf

Perched above Bude's clifftops, St Olaf is a Victorian church that catches you off guard. You'll spot it from the coastal path - a proper sturdy building that looks more Scandinavian than Cornish, which makes sense given it's named after a Norwegian saint. The story goes that a ship wrecked nearby in the 1800s, and the locals decided to build a church dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers. Fair point, really.

Inside, it's modest but genuine. No fussiness, no crowds. The views from the churchyard are the real draw - straight out across the Atlantic, with the kind of dramatic drop that makes you appreciate why they put a place of worship here in the first place. On a clear day you can see for miles.

Walkers will love this spot. It sits perfectly on the South West Coast Path, so you can fold it into a longer coastal ramble without breaking stride. History types will appreciate the Victorian-era stonework and the tale of that shipwreck - it's the sort of proper local story you don't read in guidebooks. Families with younger kids might find it a bit too quick a visit on its own, though the clifftop setting keeps everyone alert.

Bude itself is just a short walk downhill, so you could easily combine this with a beach day. If you're staying at Atlantic Horizons glamping site nearby, it's a lovely morning walk before breakfast. No entry fee, no faffing about with opening hours - it's just there, doing its job on that windswept headland.