Hersham

Hersham is a hamlet in the civil parish of Launcells, positioned south of Kilkhampton in northeast Cornwall. The settlement sits on elevated farmland a few miles inland from the Hartland Heritage Coast, with the market town of Stratton roughly 1.5 miles to the south and the seaside resort of Bude just beyond that.

The surrounding landscape is open and agricultural - wide fields, high hedges and long views toward the coast. Launcells parish church, dedicated to St Swithin, is worth seeking out for its unrestored medieval interior, which includes original bench ends carved in the 15th and 16th centuries. The church is considered one of the finest unspoiled medieval churches in Cornwall.

Bude provides the nearest full range of shops, restaurants and beaches. Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches are popular for surfing, while Widemouth Bay - a broad sandy beach about 3 miles south of Bude - attracts families and bodyboarders. The South West Coast Path passes through Bude and runs north along the Hartland coast toward Morwenstow and the Devon border, offering some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in the county. Kilkhampton, the nearest village, has a pub, post office and the 15th-century church of St James. Hersham suits visitors looking for a quiet rural base with Bude’s beaches and amenities a short drive away.