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Northcott Mouth
This small rocky beach opens up to expansive sand and rock pools as the tide drops.
near Bude, Cornwall
Opening times for 22 May 2025
Asset Opening time Countryside Dawn - Dusk Car park height restriction barrier (2.1m) in place.
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Seasonal café (not National Trust)
- Car park
The car park is open dawn until dusk. There is a height restriction barrier of 2.1m. No overnight camping or parking. Donation welcome.
- Dogs allowed
Dogs welcome all year but under control, particularly around grazing livestock and cliff edges
- Lifeguard
Seasonal RNLI lifeguard cover in place (peak summer only)
Lifeguard - more information
Uneven surfaces and steep in places. No toilets. Phone signal patchy. Car park height restriction barrier (2.1m).
- Steps/uneven terrain
Coastal paths may be uneven in places and with kissing gates
Planning your visit
Dry stone walling at Maer Cliff
Join local National Trust rangers on Sat 14 Jun for a Cornish hedge repair workshop at Maer Cliff.
Highlights
Beach
A remote rocky beach with sand at low tide. RNLI lifeguard cover during peak summer holiday - now finished for 2024. Please check back for 2025 dates.
Maer Cliff
Stretch of coast south of Northcott, with Bronze Age burial chambers and views of Lundy Island on a clear day.
Places to stay
There are a number of holiday cottages in nearby Boscastle.
Boscastle Elm Cottage
A Grade II listed cottage with bags of charm in the wooded Valency Valley near the river.
Harbour View
A great location on the valley floor overlooking the quayside in the pretty village of Boscastle.
Upcoming events
Event
Dry stone walling at Maer Cliff
Join local National Trust rangers who’ll be leading Cornish hedge repair workshops on Maer Cliff.
About Northcott Mouth
Northcott Mouth remains fairly unchanged since the nineteenth century becoming popular amongst visitors in the 1930s. The cliffs here showcase the dramatic Bude Foundation, made up of rocks formed over 300 million years ago.
At low tide the rusting debris from the steamship ‘Belem’ may be seen in the sand at Menachurch Point to the north of the beach after running aground in 1917.
There are coastal walks to enjoy with Maer Cliff and Down offering views of Lundy Island to the north on a clear day. The circular trail from Northcott to Crooklets and back is a popular route using the South West Coast Path.
The cliffs have an array of wildlife to spot. Six-spot burnet moths and meadow brown butterflies can be seen flitting amongst plants such as lady’s bedstraw, fine grasses and thrift.
Our work
Article
Our work at Northcott Mouth
Discover how the rangers look after Northcott Mouth for wildlife and visitors.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Northcott Mouth.