The Best Beaches in Bude: for surfing, hiking and relaxing!
If you’re looking for beaches in Bude, this list will go through all of the ones to visit! Bude is a chilled out town in North Cornwall that is very popular with surfing, although there are many safe swimming spots! Famous for its friendly beaches and holiday atmosphere, Bude is loved by many holidaymakers throughout the year.
From secret beaches in hidden coves to the vast beach of Summerleaze, this article will detail the best Bude beaches and how to get to them all. Whether you’re on a Cornwall road trip or are looking for the best things to do in Bude on a holiday to the town, the beaches are definitely worth visiting!
Here’s a list of amazing beaches in and around Bude!
The Best Beaches in Bude
Summerleaze Beach
Bude is full of lovely beaches, but Summerleaze is perhaps its most famous. It’s also the beach closest to the town, so it’s an ideal place to visit for an afternoon to catch some rays or have a quick dip in the ocean!
Summerleaze Beach is a broad, sandy expanse with lots of space. It does get busy during the summer months, but you should find a good spot if you head down there early!
Another reason why Summerleaze is so famous is the Bude Sea Pool. This open-air sea pool is an excellent safe swimming spot – it uses seawater, but as it is an artificial pool, there is no current or waves.
On the other hand, the sea is best for advanced surfers – the waves can be brutal here! There are some local surf schools if you fancy giving surfing a try, or you could also go kayaking, coasteering, sea fishing or rock climbing.
The beach has level access, making it an excellent beach for people with disabilities. Should you wish to spend a day at the beach but have some shade, you can rent a beach house for a day. There are beach toilets available in the car park.
Crooklets Beach
Crooklets Beach is the other main beach of Bude – and this is a must-visit for beach lovers! Sitting on the South West Coast Path, Crooklets is a glorious mix of pebbles and sand, with rock pools to explore at low tide.
Also, during low tide, you can walk to Summerleaze. Just know your tide times, as getting cut off could be very dangerous.
There is a cafe and several watersports companies at the beach, and it is only a short walk from Bude town centre. There is a seasonal dog ban at Crooklets.
Beaches near Bude
Widemouth Bay Beach
Widemouth Bay Beach is quite literally a surf haven and is one of the most popular places to visit near Bude. With a very distinctive Australian vibe, this golden Cornish beach has epic sands and crashing waves. It’s located near Bude – a five-minute drive in the car and on the 95 bus route – but it feels like a world away from any town.
Widemouth Bay is actually split into two beaches – Black Rock Beach – which is dog friendly all year round – and Widemouth Bay. Widemouth Bay itself is famed for surfing and its crazy waves!
The golden sands are accessible from nearby pay and display car parks, and there is a cafe just by the beach that serves a range of food and drink (with plenty of veggie and vegan options).
Sandymouth Beach
Sandymouth Bay is just before Bude, and it’s a beautiful, reasonably quiet coastline to enjoy. The National Trust owns this part of the coastline, and it’s a beautiful part of the South West Coast Path.
As the name suggests, Sandymouth is a sandy beach that is popular with surfers. It’s worth checking tide times, as it is much more exposed at low tide. If you’re very confident that the tide won’t go in, it’s also possible to walk all the way to Bude from Sandymouth Beach.
There is a seasonal cafe, and it’s a great place to go for a summer evening walk.
Duckpool Beach
Duckpool Beach is a small, charismatic beach that seems a million miles away from Bude town! However, it’s a popular spot because of its wild setting and the spectacular views from the nearby cliffs.
It’s a family-friendly beach, especially popular with adventurous kids, as there are plenty of rock pools. It looks like a pebbly beach from the top, but there’s a large expanse of sand closer to the sea.
There’s no cafe at Duckpool Beach, but there is a National Trust car park and toilets. It is a year-round dog-friendly beach.
Millook Beach
Like Duckpool, Millook Beach is popular because of its wild feeling. In stark contrast to the golden sand of Widemouth Bay, Milook is a dramatic beach, covered in rocks, with a very isolated atmosphere.
There is some on-road parking but no amenities. It’s also not the best beach for disabled access.
While Millook is certainly one of the most secluded spots near Bude, with epic coastal views, it isn’t a lifeguarded beach, so it is considered to be not safe for swimming.
Northcott Mouth Beach
Northcott Mouth Beach is close to Sandymouth but is a lot quieter than the beaches at Bude and Widemouth Bay. However, there is a seasonal refreshment kiosk, National Trust parking and seasonal RNLI lifeguards, so it’s not quite as remote as Millook.
Northcott Mouth Beach is mainly rocky, but it has a wide expanse of sand closer to the beach. It’s a popular place with geology enthusiasts due to the interesting folded cliffs. There is also a shipwreck which you may be able to spot!
It’s also a popular spot for rock pooling and has its own distinct beauty as the cliffs soar up above. You can walk from Northcott to Sandymouth either on the cliff path or the beach if the tide will stay out for the whole walk (ask a lifeguard about this before starting to walk).
Crackington Haven Beach
Crackington Haven is a chilled-out village about six miles from Bude. It has a small, interesting beach – the whole place is popular with geology students. There’s a bit of sand at the beach, but also lots of rock and pebbles.
There are full facilities at Crackington Haven beach, including the Coombe Barton Inn pub, community-run toilets, and B&Bs further inland. You can reach the village by the 95 bus or driving – it takes about 20 minutes to travel between Crackington Haven and Bude.
Welcombe Mouth Beach
Over the border in North Devon, Welcombe Mouth Beach is a tiny cove where you may well be the only tourists! There aren’t any facilities here, but there is a pleasant stream running through. In the next cove (you will need to climb up and down the cliff to reach it), you’ll go past a sign marking the start of Cornwall.
You can park at Welcombe Mouth Beach, which is a few miles from the village of Welcombe (and the source of the Tamar, which marks the boundary between Cornwall and Devon!).
Best beaches around Bude!
This list of Bude beaches should show you various beautiful coastal spots in and around the Cornish town! So whether you’re staying in Bude and are after surfing opportunities, hidden coves or family-friendly bays, there should be something for you in this blog post!
