A PLASTIC walkway which protects supermarket shoppers from the elements in Bude has become one of the top ten attractions in the town and has even been compared to the Sistine Chapel and the ruins of Pompeii, writes Richard Whitehouse.

The Bude Tunnel, as it is known, is currently rated as the eighth best attraction in the town on Trip Advisor.

It currently has 139 reviews on the ratings website with 85% of them being the highest five-star approval and most of the reviews are hilarious with people describing it as architecturally important and a great day out.

Many reviewers have also posted photographs of themselves enjoying the ‘attraction’ on Trip Advisor.

The walkway, which connects the town’s Sainsbury’s supermarket with its car park, also has its own Facebook page.

On Trip Advisor the tunnel is described as: ‘The only tunnel Bude has to offer is open to the public free of charge, walk from the Sainsbury’s car park to Crooklets Road completely undercover, protected from the elements whilst maintaining your view to the spectacular surroundings of Bude. Consisting of 36 metal arches and over 70-metres long, nowhere else in Bude can you walk this far undercover in a continuous straight line, all ages are welcome.”

The opening times of the tunnel are listed as being midnight to 23.59pm and visitors are advised that visits should last less than one hour.

Rachel L from Chelmsford gave the tunnel a four-star rating and wrote on Trip Advisor, “We recently visited the tunnel with our four children and found it was great for a wet day out in Bude. We also had their grandparents with us and even they had a good time looking around at a more leisurely pace and talking to the friendly locals. Just wish it had a gift shop!”

Paul S gave it top marks and said: “We travelled four hours to see the tunnel after reading reviews and have to say it was everything we had hoped. It was the same sense of awe as I have felt visiting the Sistine Chapel, ruins in Pompei and the amphitheatre at Verona. Highly recommended.”

Ian T also gave a 100% rating and said: “Arrived in Bude in the AM and had lunch in town ahead of our trip to the tunnel. We arrived just after lunch and was pleasantly surprised to find parking was free for up to two hours. The likelihood is, two hours in the tunnel is sufficient for most families. My son enjoyed the tunnel as did my wife. We enjoyed the gift shop too and bought a few essentials before our trip home. An excellent day out.”

While many on Trip Advisor have embraced the opportunity to joke about their visits, some people are not getting the joke.

Donna from Derby gives a three-star rating and states: “I didn’t realise that this was an attraction. As we only thought it was a undercover walk way to get to Sainsbury’s. A bit confused that people find it to be an attraction rather than a walkway.”

Generalmont from Hersham gives a one-star rating and asks if their leg is being pulled: “I’m still not convinced that this is not an elaborate practical joke being played on me. The Bude tunnel is an elongated plastic bus shelter. It does a serviceable job linking Sainsbury’s car park to the store. As somewhere to visit its up there with standing under an umbrella in the rain. It does the job but you wouldn’t recommend it for a day out.”

Melissa P added: “Folks I’m not even sure why this has been created as a place! It’s a Perspex tunnel at the side of a supermarket — we did use it as the Sainsbury’s car park is free for 90 minutes so it came in handy, but I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit and I certainly don’t think it’s of any architectural importance!”