Battle of Stratton

Guided walk across the battlefield of this iconic Cornish victory and Civil War turning point

An opportunity to explore the battle that turned the tide of the English Civil War in the west. Join Charles Cordell on Sunday 10 May 2026 – ahead of the 382nd anniversary, 16 May 1643.

This hard-won royalist victory defeated a well-positioned, prepared and numerically superior parliamentarian force on Stamford Hill outside Bude in Cornwall. The victorious Cornish Army went on to fight its way to Bath and the brutal Battle of Lansdown Hill, before sustaining terrible casualties at the Storming of Bristol on 26 July 1643.

A morning walk will follow the lanes up which the Cornish foot fought. It will end at the Battle of Stratton memorial on Stamford Hill. The walk will last approximately two hours and will include discussion of the key role played by Cornwall in the Civil War. Stout footwear is recommended.

The meeting point for the walk will be at the Preston Gate Inn in Poughill near Bude EX23 9ET, at 10:30 on Sunday 10 May. Car parking at the pub is very limited (please check with staff). However, there is a free village carpark at the cemetery, off Northcott Mouth Road.

Although not part of this Battlefields Trust walk, those interested may wish to also visit St Andrew’s Church and/or the Tree Inn in Stratton. The church includes a good display of artifacts from the battlefield. The Tree Inn was the home of Anthony Payne the ‘Cornish Giant’, steward and ensign to Sir Bevil Grenville, who fought at the battles of Stratton and Lansdown Hill in 1643.

Please check the event link, or Battlefields Trust website, for more details. If you can, please do sign up ahead of this walk to give an indication of numbers.

This Battle of Stratton 1643 walk will be free for Battlefields Trust members. Non-members are asked to make a (small) donation to the trust to support its work in protecting and promoting understanding of Britain’s battlefields. Donations (cash or online) can be made on the day of the walk.