Wild Wanderers

Keen walkers can join the South West Coast Path at Widemouth Beach (20 minutes’ drive) for a day of hiking with glorious sea views from the clifftops. You can keep everyone active with surfing lessons at Widemouth Bay, paddleboarding or kayaking on the Bude Canal (both 25 minutes) and swimming in the sea; alternatively up the ante and go coasteering on the rugged cliffs south of Bude (half an hour). Younger kids will probably be pushing for bucket-and-spade days on the beach. Summerleaze has lifeguards in summer, Northcott Mouth (both half an hour) is dog-friendly all year, and Bude Sea Swimming Pool (35 minutes) is popular for splashing around safely in shallow water. Other family attractions include the raptor displays and dodgems at The Milky Way Adventure Park (40 minutes), and animal encounters at The Big Sheep (50 minutes). Squeeze a bit of history into your sightseeing with a visit to the clifftop ruins of Tintagel Castle (50 minutes), where you can walk down to Merlin’s Cave at low tide, or tour the ornate interior of handsome Hartland Abbey (45 minutes), with its mishmash of architectural styles, and then walk through the formal gardens to the rugged Atlantic coastline.