We had a weekend in Weymouth booked and decided we needed a warm up coastal walk in order to prepare for that area. We decided that north Cornwall was again the area, and we would carry on further north from my previous walk passing Bude (here). This walk passes the huge GCHQ satellite dishes on both sides as well as some spectacular cliff views and drops down to beach coves. Some of the rocky scenery around Steeple Point and the Lower and Higher Sharpnose Point is more in-keeping with much higher mountain ground and made for some real surprising views. I loved the gentle descent back into Northcott Mouth, across fields with brilliant views to Bude Bay. The weather was similar to previous weeks, with warm sunshine in the main and pretty unseasonable for the end of September. A perfect birthday walk for me
Start – Northcott Mouth
Route –South West Coastal Path – Menachurch Point – Sandy Mouth – Stowe Cliffs – Duckpool – Steeple Point – Lower Sharpnose Point – Stanbury Mouth – Higher Sharpnose Point – Tidna Shute – Crosstown – Eastaway Manor – Coombe – Stowe Barton – Northcott Mouth
Distance – 10.5 miles Start time – 10.15am Time taken – 6hrs 45mins Highest Point – Eastaway Manor 132 metres
Starting out from the National Trust car park at Northcott Mouth, heading down first before we climb the zigzag path to Menachurch PointLooking down from Menachurch Point to the beach at Northcott MouthAnd north towards Lower Sharpnose Point and the white satellite dishes sticking up at GCHQ. You can also see Lundy Island just off Sharpnose Point, the views to there get better as you head northInland to some classic Devon rolling greenery A long beach running towards Sandy Mouth, there are a couple of dips between me and the white dishes, meaning drops down to the sea before climbing back up, they are hidden from sight here ready to sneak up on youThis is Sandy Mouth and the first of the drops before you climb back up to Stowe Cliffs up to the right on this photoBude Bay and the headland at Trevose Head a long way across the Atlantic. A glorious sight from up hereGetting nearer to GCHQ Bude, but before that one more down and up to doTo this place, DuckpoolA van selling refreshments, loos and a car park, plus steep climbs either wayDuckpool beach down below and that view around Bude Bay beyondClimbing up from Duckpool you hit Steeple Point and scenery more normally scene in Wales or the Lakes rather than by the coast. The drop to the left of Linda was a little vertiginous We are at Lower Sharpnose Point here looking at the Higher one sticking out to sea over there, with Lundy Island in view, no doubt as we continue north on this stretch over the coming months we’ll get better views to itGCHQ BudeThe cloud had built out to sea and a few rain showers passed us to the south and one to the north. Timing was good for us todayHigher Sharpnose PointWe are heading next along that valley called Tidna Shute which will take us towards CrosstownThrough the woods towards CrosstownStanbury House, a grade II listed 16th century manor house. Up for 4.25million according to Rightmove!!Heading back around the GCHQ site we cross fields and plenty of old stone stilesFor some reason on the road side of the GCHQ site they had no photos signs up along the road, but nothing on the coastal path side. Here we are walking the road down to CoombeA speckled woodAfter a really steep climb out of Coombe we walked a green lane and then popped out on fields which gently sloped down towards the sea, plus the glorious views to Bude BayFantastic walking along hereAnd finally back at Northcott Mouth, Some lovely light and clouds to finish a fantastic part of the coastal path. I’d loved the section across Widemouth Beach and then this part matches it for brilliant walking. It had been my birthday 2 days before this walk and this had been the best weather I’d had for quite a while on my birthday weekend
Belated happy birthday! Pretty damn fine walk for a birthday. Some fabulous scenery, golden beaches and those rolling green fields. Is Higher Sharpnose Point as exposed as it looks?
treksandtors 
Lovely photos.
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Belated happy birthday! Pretty damn fine walk for a birthday. Some fabulous scenery, golden beaches and those rolling green fields. Is Higher Sharpnose Point as exposed as it looks?
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Higher Sharpnose sticks out into the sea a bit, it would be fun with a strong westerly blowing at you
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