Exploring unspoilt Towns, Villages and Coastal areas of the Bude, North Cornwall & Devon Coastline - all designated as AONB’s. Linked to footpaths and history.

Our walks are designed to maximise on the beauty of the North Cornwall and Devon. All “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty” (AONB’s) and inform on the nature, history and geology of our towns, villages, Moorland and coastline.

Select from our list of towns, villages and Moorland and you will have a pocket history of that location to whet your appetite, together with a selection of individual guided walks available.

We recognise that some people will be happy to enjoy the footpaths for the sheer pleasure of the environment others will wish to delve into the history. For the sake of simplicity, we refer to the two options as “casual” and “inquisitive” walkers. At the bottom of each “walk choice” will be a suggested historical link that will connect the walker with more detailed content. We hope that a little advance reading of the history associated with the area will enable you to enjoy each walk without constant referral to too much written content.

A Note on Pathways of Discovery

Many decades ago the author created “Highways of Discovery” which had at it core the idea of travelling around our region and discovering its history by car.

We now live in different times and “pathways of discovery” is a more environmentally friendly way of discovering our regions and, of course, is a much more healthy way to do so. Our region is fortunate in having an expanse of unspoilt countryside with history that continues to produce. Recent research has revealed ancient connections between local harbours that serviced the needs of each local community; that is, each significant valley leading from the coast held communities whose lives were very much connected to the dominant village or town.

We have decided therefore, to identify these particular valleys and tell their story in this connected way. Coombe Valley, just to the north of Bude is a good example. Visiting the valley a visitor could be forgiven for thinking little has happened here throughout time; the truth is very much different. The story of Duckpool, Coombe Valley and Stowe Woods, part of which is shown in the photo, is the first to be treated in this ways under the title of:

“A Valley History Lost in Time”.