The National Trust protects several significant sites near Bude, offering opportunities to explore Cornwall and Devon’s rich history and natural landscapes.
Closest to Bude is Duckpool (approximately 5 miles, 15-minute drive), offering a secluded, cliff-backed beach perfect for those seeking natural beauty away from busier spots. This small National Trust car park provides access to a rocky coastline with dramatic scenery and excellent walking opportunities with panoramic sea views. While not a traditional property, this rugged beach exemplifies the Trust’s commitment to preserving natural coastline. The short walk to Steeple Point rewards visitors with some of the area’s most spectacular views.
Boscastle Harbour (around 17 miles, 30-minute drive) represents another coastal treasure under National Trust protection. The medieval harbour, surrounded by steep-sided valleys, creates one of Cornwall’s most romantic landscapes. The Trust maintains the quay, portions of the village, and many acres of surrounding coastline. While visiting, explore the unique Museum of Witchcraft and Magic (privately owned) and the atmospheric old village with its characterful cottages.
Sandymouth Bay (approximately 5 miles, 10-minute drive) offers another National Trust beach experience with dramatic cliffs, rock formations, and a sandy beach revealed at low tide. The car park provides easy access to this stretch of the South West Coast Path, offering walks with breathtaking coastal panoramas.
For those willing to travel a bit further, Cotehele (approximately 45 miles, 75-minute drive) in the Tamar Valley presents a wonderfully preserved Tudor house complemented by extensive gardens, orchards, and a historic quay and watermill. This atmospheric house remains largely unchanged since Tudor times, with tapestries, armour, and pewter adorning its interiors. The extensive estate includes formal gardens, a working watermill, and a quay on the River Tamar that once bustled with trade.
Lanhydrock (approximately 40 miles, 60-minute drive) offers one of Cornwall’s grandest country estates. The magnificent late-Victorian country house reveals what life was like upstairs and downstairs, with sumptuous family areas contrasting with extensive servants’ quarters. The property is surrounded by 900 acres of estate, including a stunning formal garden and ancient woodlands laced with cycling and walking trails.
