Lat 50.8280° N, lon 4.5440° W●Cornish village

KilkhamptonCornwall

Kilkhampton is a village and parish in north east Cornwall, about four miles north north east of Bude.

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Kilkhampton at a glance

Kilkhampton: a Grenville village on the A39 about four miles north of Bude, near Sandymouth

Kilkhampton is a village and parish in north east Cornwall, about four miles north north east of Bude. It lies on the A39, part of the Atlantic Highway. The village was recorded in the Domesday Book as Chilchetone.

The Church of St James the Great dates from the 12th century. It has a Norman south doorway, a tall tower with eight bells and an extensive set of 16th century benches. The Grenville Chapel holds a monument to the Royalist commander Sir Bevill Grenville.

The remains of Penstowe Castle, a late Norman motte and bailey, lie about 500 metres west of the village. Further west at Stowe stood the great house of John Granville, Earl of Bath, built in 1680 and pulled down in 1739.

The village has two pubs, a post office, a primary school and several shops. The London Inn is a coaching inn beside the church dating from 1785. Buses run between Hartland and Bude and stop in the village.

The nearest beaches are on the coast north of Bude. The National Trust's Sandymouth has seasonal RNLI lifeguards, a car park and a cafe. The coast path links it to Duckpool, with a longer loop through Stowe Wood.

Planning questions

Frequently asked questions about Kilkhampton

Where is the London Inn in Kilkhampton?

The London Inn is beside the church in Kilkhampton, postcode EX23 9QR. CAMRA describes it as a welcoming locals' coaching inn dating from 1785, with a bar, a dining room and a garden. It serves lunch and evening meals and is listed as an Asset of Community Value.

What pubs are there near Kilkhampton?

Kilkhampton has two pubs. The London Inn by the church is the best known, with real ales from Cornish brewers. Bude, about four miles away, has many more places to eat and drink.

What is the nearest beach to Kilkhampton?

The beaches north of Bude are the closest. Sandymouth is looked after by the National Trust and has seasonal RNLI lifeguards and a cafe. It is very tidal, so check the tide times before you go.

How do I get to Kilkhampton?

Kilkhampton is on the A39 Atlantic Highway, about four miles north north east of Bude. Buses run between Hartland and Bude and stop at the London Inn, The Square and North Close. There is no railway station nearby.

What is there to see in Kilkhampton?

Visit the 12th century Church of St James the Great, with its carved 16th century benches and the Grenville monument. Walk out to the earthworks of Penstowe Castle, about 500 metres west of the village. The coast path at Sandymouth and Duckpool is a short drive away.

Where can I walk near Kilkhampton?

The National Trust suggests a coast path walk of about 2.5 miles between Sandymouth and Duckpool. A longer circular route of about 4.5 miles adds Stowe Wood inland. Dogs are welcome if kept under control near livestock and cliff edges.

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