Chapel Rock is linked to the mainland of Cornwall at Compass Point, Bude by a stone breakwater. It is called Chapel Rock because there was once a small chapel on the top of it. A flight of stairs leads to a viewing platform at the top of the island.
The first breakwater was built in 1819 by Bude Harbour and Canal Company to provide a sheltered anchorage for boats using Bude Canal. When the tide was low, boats used the channel of the River Neet. The breakwater was narrow and it was destroyed by a storm in 1828.
The present breakwater was built between 1839 and 1843. The core of the breakwater is clay and rubble and it is faced with granite and limestone blocks. It is only about 4 feet above high water level during spring tides and it was designed to allow waves to pass over it. On the day I visited it was an hour before high tide and a few waves were almost reaching the top of the breakwater.
Sir Thomas's Pit was dug by Sir Thomas Acland as a sea bathing pool between Chapel Rock and Barrel Rock in 1859. It was for use by men only.
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