Duckpool
A remote beach with rock pools overlooked by cliffs often carpeted with wild flowers.
Planning your visit
Parking information and tide times for the Bude to Morwenstow area. Please check in advance of setting off.
Duckpool
Facilities and access
Duckpool
Overview
A remote beach with rock pools overlooked by cliffs often carpeted with wild flowers.
Duckpool sits at the mouth of the Coombe Valley, in an area steeped in history and surrounded by coastal grasslands and ancient woodlands.
A river flows down the valley and emerges at the top of the beach, giving Duckpool its name. Like other beaches in the area such as Sandymouth, Duckpool is very tidal with pebbles lining the top of the beach and sand becoming exposed around low tide.
There are great opportunities to enjoy a walk here, both along the South West Coast Path for exhilarating sea views as well as inland. A circular walk along the valley takes in Stowe Barton farmstead, and woodland trails in Stowe Wood can be explored too.
There is much history and wildlife to discover here. Anti-tank blocks installed before WW2 can be found scattered along the beach. King William’s Bridge built by Parson Hawker in 1836 crosses the river at the top of the access road. Nearby sheltered woodlands are dripping in lichens and the maritime grasslands are strewn with flowers such as thrift and squill. Rock pools offer an array of sea life.
- Telephone
- +441208863046
- duckpool@nationaltrust.org.uk
Duckpool
How to get here
- Address
- near Bude, Cornwall
- By road
- From A30 east take exit signed Okehampton onto A386. Then join A3072 all the way to Bude. From Bude join A39 signed Bideford. At Kilkhampton follow signs to Stibb and Sandymouth. Drive through Stibb, passed the turning to Sandymouth and continue about 2 miles. Just after crossing a bridge turn left and Duckpool is at the end of this lane.
- Parking: On site
- SatNav:
- By bus
- Stagecoach number 216.
- By train
- Bodmin Parkway, 32 miles (52km) from Bude.
- On foot
- On the South West Coast Path.
Duckpool
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
Duckpool
Opening times
Tuesday 17 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 18 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 19 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 20 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 21 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Sunday 22 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 23 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk