Accessible Bude
Bude is an ideal destination for accessible and disabled friendly holidays in Cornwall. This page is intended to offer some handy advice, locations and contacts in the area, from level paths and pitches with some fantastic views, to mobility solutions.
- Two Transit Wheelchairs are available to hire from the Bude Tourist Information Centre
- A Sand Chair is available to hire from Big Blue Surf School 01288 331764 for use on Summerleaze Beach
Please see this page….
Bude-Stratton Town Council maintain several public conveniences in Bude. The accessible toilets require a Radar Key to unlock the door – but you’ll certainly have one of these already!
The toilets at Summerleaze Beach are classed as a ‘Changing Places WC‘, so they have an electric hoist.
Accessible toilet facilities can be found at:
- Bude Tourist Information Centre (The Crescent)
- Summerleaze Beach (Changing Places facility)
- Crooklets Beach
- Widemouth Bay Beach
Cornwall Council offer a scheme which allows those who have a Blue Badge to park for free in their Pay and Display and Pay on Exit car parks for a year.
The registration fee is £10 per year, and you must register before arriving in Cornwall. To be eligible for the scheme you must have a vehicle registered for NIL/Disabled tax.
If you have not registered for the scheme, your Blue Badge will give an extra hour for free when purchasing a Pay and Display ticket.
There are two large Beach Huts at Summerleaze Beach, just a few metres from the car park and accessible/Changing Places toilet.
Many other Beach Huts are accessible, depending on individual needs.
More info here…
Widemouth Bay
- A ramp and railing provide wheelchair access onto the beach
- Accessible cafe
- Accessible toilets
Summerleaze Beach
- Accessible beach huts
- Special Beach Sand Chair (a special wheel chair for use on sand), which can be hired at Summerleaze beach
- Changing Places toilet facility at with an electric hoist
- Accessible cafe/restaurant
Crooklets Beach
- Accessible beach huts
- Level access to the promenade from the car park
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible cafes
See our beach guide for more information
The scenery in and around Bude is fantastic, but it can be difficult for the less able to enjoy. There are several view points from which you can enjoy the landscape from your car.
Bude Canal
- Wharf car park, good view of the Canal with level access to shops and cafes.
Widemouth Bay
- Several free parking areas along the coast road with far-reaching views. The beach car parks offer a good view of the beach and sea with level access to the cafe.
Penhalt
- Turn right before the Widemouth Manor, follow the narrow road to the view point – you’ll have amazing views of Bude looking north.
Duckpool Beach
- A wild and remote beach where you can see the sea from your car.
There is a great route along Bude Canal and the River Neet which is suitable for wheelchair users. See the Bude Circular Walk…
The stretch of South West Coast Path from Summerleaze Beach to Crooklets Beach is perfect.
At Upton, between Widemouth Bay and Bude, there is also a level all weather surface track which runs from the free car park to the cliff edge, and gives great views of Devon and south to Pentire.
The Lower Wharf area from the Bude Tourist Information Centre (Crescent Car Park), across to the harbour is level and perfect for wheelchair users.
The path (although gravel) around the Tamar Lakes is good and level. A wheelchair accessible wheelyboat is available to hire at Tamar Lakes for pleasure boating. The boat can carry a maximum or 8 passengers or 5 wheelchair passengers.
The entrire path along the Bude Canal inland from the Bude Tourist Information Centre to Helebridge and the cafe at Whalesborough is level and has occasional slopes. It’s perfect for wheelchair users.
The entrire off-road cycle path through the Bude Marshes from the Bude Tourist Information Centre to Helebridge and the cafe at Whalesborough is level and has occasional slopes. It’s perfect for wheelchair users.
There is also a tramper buggy at Tamar Lakes and Whalesborough Farm (for use along Bude Canal). See this page for information…
- Well laid out and the grass kept short enough to use your electric chair to chase and play with your children
- A wheelchair accessible roundabout that is flush to the ground so you can get on as a child wheelchair user but also it can be pushed from a chair
- A nett swing which means even a child with little mobility can enjoy a swing when transferred from their chair. A disabled adult can push it easily, too
- Two spinners that are easy to use and even a smaller disabled child with poor mobility could be able to enjoy
- The smaller area for toddlers is not very accessible, but you can still move around well enough
- Two picnic benches
- Plenty of space to lay a blanket out and have a picnic on the grass
Matthew Emo lives and Bude and wrote this blog for us…
https://www.visitbude.info/blog/accessible-bude/
There’s a Facebook Group called Accessible Bude – have a look for handy hints and tips!