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Welcome to Morwenstow

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Holidays in Morwenstow

Situated six miles north of Bude, Morwenstow presents the kind of shipwrecking rugged coastline and dramatic rural landscapes that make you want to escape. The parish sits in a National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and is the most northerly in Cornwall, located just two miles short of the Devon border and perfectly positioned to afford a wonderful end-of-the-road sense of seclusion.

Combining country and coastal living, Morwenstow is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Pack your walking boots and spend your days rambling through the countryside, and along the South West Coast Path. 

Morwenstow Parish Church is of significant historical interest. Dating back to Norman times, with some believing a Saxon church once stood in its place, this incredible building forms the heart of Morwenstow.

 

Did you know...

Morwenstow was home to vicar Robert Hawker who created the Harvest Festival tradition?

Walks

A rambler's paradise, Morwenstow and the surrounding area are replete with routes across a variety of scenic landscapes, from the craggy coastline, to woodlands and Valleys. 

Walk the South West Coast Path

Arguably one of the most spectacular walks in the county, the coast path offers the chance to ramble along a well-trodden path, while soaking up the spectacular sights and breathing in the fresh sea air. Head in the direction of Bude for a sight of the clifftop satellites of GCHQ Bude, an unexpected view amid the beauty of the cliffs. 

Circular Valley

This circular walk gives you the chance to fully appreciate just why Robert Hawker loved the area so much. Beginning at the Rectory Farm Tea Rooms, head into the churchyard, following the path to the right past the vicarage and down into Morwenna Valley. Turn left at the way marker sign for the coast path following along the length of the valley, through meadows and woods, until you reach Vicarage Cliff and the coast path. Upon joining the coast path, turn left and ascend the cliff to the farmland above. Soon you’ll come across a kissing gate, at this point you can either continue on towards Hawker’s Hut, or return to the Rectory Farm Tea Rooms for a cuppa and a slice of cake!

Why not finish off your day of walking with a homecooked meal at the local 13th Century pub, The Bush Inn?

Beaches

No visit to Cornwall is complete without a trip to the beach, regardless of the time of year you visit. Just south along the coast of Morwenstow are several stunning beaches.

Sandymouth beach

Situated between Morwenstow and the popular seaside town of Bude, this National Trust beach is a popular choice for a day at the beach, while remaining quieter than the busier beaches at Bude. Dog-friendly year-round, and with seasonal lifeguards, it’s ideal for families, surfers, rock poolers, and dog-walkers alike. When the tide is out, the sand stretches for two miles along the dramatic cliffs, exposing a shipwreck buried in the sand. 

Duckpool beach

Beautifully wild and remote, this National Trust pebbly cove can be found at the base of Coombe Valley. At low tide, the cove reveals an expanse of far-stretching sand dotted with rock pools. Though not suitable for swimming, families can enjoy a day building sandcastles, rock pooling, fossil-hunting, and beachcombing. Dogs are welcome all year round, so it’s the perfect spot for letting your four-legged friends have fun in the sand!

Northcott Mouth Beach

This unassuming small cove reveals a large rocky beach as the tide drops, exposing the remains of the SS Belum, wrecked in 1917. Another National Trust-owned beach, this stunning beach is backed by 300 million-year-old cliffs. While surfers will delight in the waves created by the rocky reefs, children can enjoy rock pooling and playing in the stream that runs down the beach. Dogs welcome all year and lifeguards patrolling during the summer.

Places of interest

Set amidst the beautiful countryside, but also close to the coast, there are so many places to explore in the area, from hidden huts to shipwrecks in the sand.

Hawker’s Hut

Robert Hawker, the parish vicar, who created Cornwall's 'Trelawney' anthem and England's harvest festival tradition (which is celebrated here with aplomb), enjoyed spending time in his favoured spot on the clifftop, where he built his own small hut.

Visit Hawker’s diminutive driftwood dwelling nestled in the cliffs below his old vicarage – another must-see that features hand-built chimneys replicating the church towers he treasured throughout his life.

Morwenstow Church

A marvel of architecture, this historic church houses a range of fine carvings, tomb chests, memorials and stained glass windows; while in the graveyard lies dozens of smugglers and mariners - look out for the white figurehead of the Caledonia: the gravestone of a shipwrecked captain.

Henna Cliff

One of the best vantage points in the area affords spectacular seascapes where, standing atop Cornwall’s highest cliff at 144 metres, you can gain a bird’s eye view of Lundy Island and the distant south Wales coast.

Stay in Morwenstow

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Hobb's Choice

Hobb's Choice, Morwenstow

From £644 - £1995
Sleeps 6 + 2 cots

West Cottage

West Cottage, Morwenstow

From £408 - £1230
Sleeps 6 + cot

Bella's View

Bella's View, Bude

From £589 - £1550
Sleeps 7 + cot

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