The Estate & Our Surroundings
Life on the
estate
428 acres of working Cornish farmland near Bude — meadows and animals, walking trails to the coast, and a market garden that feeds the kitchen. This is the land your holiday is set within.
A Working Estate
A working Cornish farm, near the North Cornwall coast
Whalesborough has always been a working farm estate — 428 acres of fields, hedgerows and woodland at Marhamchurch, a few minutes inland from Bude. The cottages and spa sit within that landscape rather than apart from it.
It is a place to slow down: meet the animals, follow a footpath to the coast, or simply watch the light move across the fields. This page is a short guide to the estate and the country around it.
Recognition
Gold Award
Cornwall Tourism Awards 2024/25
Category: Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism
Animals & Meadows
Alpacas, goats and donkeys —
and meadows full of wildlife
The estate is home to alpacas, goats, pigs, chickens and donkeys — a favourite with younger guests, and an easy way to start the morning. Children and grown-ups alike are welcome to come and say hello.
Beyond the paddocks, wildflower meadows and areas of planted woodland thread through the estate. They are left to do what they do best: provide cover and feeding for birds, bees and other wildlife across the seasons.
Hedgerows frame the fields the way they always have, marking out a landscape that has been farmed for generations.
Walking & the Coast
Trails from the door to
the South West Coast Path
Walking trails lead straight out from the estate and link up with the South West Coast Path and the beaches of Widemouth Bay — a wide, surf-washed stretch of sand just a few minutes away.
From there the coast path runs north towards Bude and Summerleaze Beach, and south past dramatic cliffs and rock pools. It is some of the finest walking in the country, and it begins on your doorstep.
Closer to home, quieter farm paths loop through the fields for an easy stroll before dinner or a longer wander with the dog.
The Market Garden
An organic market garden
that feeds the estate
Tucked among the working farmland is an organic market garden, growing seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs that find their way into the kitchen and onto the table.
What grows changes with the seasons — salad leaves and soft fruit in summer, roots and greens as the year turns. It is a simple pleasure of staying on a working estate: some of what you eat was grown in the fields you can see from the window.
The garden sits alongside the wider farm, part of the everyday rhythm of life on the land here.
Getting Around
Easy to reach, easy to explore
There are 18 EV charging points on site for guests with electric cars. For those who would rather leave the car behind, the estate is well placed for cycling: Sustrans cycle routes run nearby, and the level Bude Canal towpath makes for a gentle, traffic-free ride or walk towards the sea.
Bude itself — with its shops, cafés, beaches and the historic canal — is just a short drive or cycle away, and the wider North Cornwall coast unfolds from there.
Recognition
Gold Award.
Cornwall Tourism Awards
2024/25.
Category: Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism — recognition from the Cornwall Tourism Awards for the experience we offer guests across the estate.
All Awards & AccreditationsCornwall Tourism Gold 2024/25 · 4.9★ Tripadvisor · Reply within 1 business day
/25
Cornwall Tourism Awards
Gold · Responsible Tourism
Questions
Frequently asked.
Where is the Whalesborough estate and how big is it?
Whalesborough is a 428-acre working Cornish farm estate at Marhamchurch, near Bude in North Cornwall. The estate sits within easy reach of the South West Coast Path and the beaches of Widemouth Bay.
What animals are on the estate?
The estate is home to a range of farm animals that guests can meet, including alpacas, goats, pigs, chickens and donkeys. Wildflower meadows and planted woodland across the estate provide habitat for local wildlife and birds.
Can you walk to the coast from Whalesborough?
Yes. Walking trails lead directly from the estate and connect to the South West Coast Path and the beaches of Widemouth Bay. The Bude Canal towpath and Sustrans cycle routes also pass close by, making it easy to explore the area on foot or by bike.
Does Whalesborough grow its own produce?
Yes. The estate has an organic market garden that grows seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs used across the resort, alongside the surrounding working farmland.
Is there electric vehicle charging at Whalesborough?
Yes. There are 18 EV charging points on site for guests. The estate is also well connected for cyclists, with Sustrans cycle routes and the Bude Canal towpath nearby.