Bude’s wonderful beaches

Summerleaze Beach, with its Blue Flag and Seaside Award is a much loved destination for locals and visitors alike, conveniently located just off the town centre and offering a wealth of attractions and activites for all to enjoy.

With its expansive sandy shores and convenient large car park, Summerleaze Beach provides ample space for leisurely strolls, beach games, or simply soaking up the sun. The iconic Bude Sea Pool adds to its allure, offering a safe haven for swimmers of all ages, overseen by seasonal lifeguard patrols from the RNLI.

Adventure seekers will delight in the array of activities available, including surfing, kayaking, and Stand Up Paddleboarding, with options suitable for every skill level.

Summerleaze Beach has good accessibility, with facilities such as a Changing Places toilet and beach sand wheelchair ensuring everyone can enjoy the coastal experience. The seasonal Beach Office and Shop offers convenient services such as beach hut hire and a variety of beach essentials for purchase.

Explorers will find plenty to discover along the coastline, from the historic Bude Breakwater to the famed Bude Sea Pool, a semi-natural sea water pool dating back to the 1930s. The surrounding area boasts scenic sand dunes, providing a vital eco-system and offering opportunities for peaceful walks and wildlife observation.

Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the sandy shores, exploring coastal paths, or enjoying water sports, Summerleaze Beach offers something for everyone to enjoy, making it a must-visit destination in Bude.

Crooklets Beach with its Blue Flag and Seaside Award beckons with its expansive stretch of golden sand and intriguing rock pools waiting to be explored at low tide. While the pebbly top adds a touch of character, once the tide retreats, it reveals a vast sandy playground for beachgoers. This award-winning beach proudly boasts a Blue Flag designation, a testament to its cleanliness and quality.

Connected to Summerleaze Beach, Crooklets offers easy access to the renowned Bude Sea Pool during low tide, with a leisurely 15-minute stroll across the sand.

Popular among surfers, families, and beach enthusiasts alike, Crooklets Beach provides a safe and picturesque setting for seaside activities. The abundance of activity companies ensures there’s no shortage of outdoor pursuits and water sports to enjoy.

Crooklets Beach’s inviting sloped promenade offers level access and a flat viewing area, ideal for leisurely strolls and taking in the coastal scenery. Beach huts dot the landscape, available for daily hire, adding to the charm and convenience of this beloved seaside destination.

Located on the southern edge of Widemouth Bay, Black Rock Beach boasts an abundance of untamed beauty.  Its namesake, a prominent rocky outcrop adds to the rugged allure of this coastal gem.

Be mindful of the powerful tides, as Black Rock Beach can become isolated at high tide, adding an element of adventure to your visit. Surfers are drawn to the challenging waves created by the point and reef breaks, providing exhilarating rides for wave enthusiasts.

For nature lovers of all ages, the beach reveals a treasure trove of delights at low tide.  Explore the myriad rock pools teeming with marine life, offering fascinating insights into the coastal ecosystem.

Duckpool Beach is a cherished retreat, treasured for its untamed charm and secluded atmosphere nestled at the base of the Coombe Valley.  Here, visitors are welcomed by the pristine beauty of a tranquil cove, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Families will find endless delight in the expansive open space, where children can roam freely and discover the wonders of nature.  The beach’s large rockpools promise hours of exploration and excitement, providing a playground of discovery for young adventurers.  While the entrance may be lined with imposing pebbles, the reward of a vast expanse of sand revealed at low tide is well worth the journey.

For those with a spirit of adventure, we recommend ascending the cliff path in either direction, where panoramic vistas await, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding coastline.  The Coombe Valley also offers a variety of scenic walks, each unveiling its own hidden treasures.

Tucked away in an almost secret location, Millook Haven Beach is a hidden gem that stands out even among the region’s renowned coastal treasures.  Venturing to Millook Haven Beach, however, requires caution. With no lifeguards present and a narrow, steep road leading to its shores, safety must be a priority for any explorer.

While it may lack the swathes of sand found on other beaches, Millook’s rugged charm, adorned with pebbles and shingles, offers a serene escape from the bustling summer crowds, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its natural tranquility.  Beyond its surface allure, Millook Beach is a sanctuary for wildlife, its shores teeming with the diverse inhabitants of Cornwall’s coastal ecosystem.

It’s not just its natural beauty that sets Millook apart; the beach also boasts a captivating geological landscape, characterized by the famed zigzag folds etched into its towering cliffs, a testament to the earth’s ancient forces at work.

For those seeking to delve deeper into the splendor of Millook and its surroundings, the Millook Circular presents an enchanting journey. This picturesque walk guides adventurers through verdant valleys, ancient woodlands, and along the rugged Coast Path, offering glimpses into the rich tapestry of Cornwall’s countryside.

Escape the crowds and enjoy the serene beauty of Northcott Mouth Beach, a secluded sanctuary offering a peaceful alternative to the busier town center beaches.  Carved into the rugged coastline, Northcott Mouth greets visitors with a rocky shoreline that gracefully transitions into a vast expanse of soft sand.

The cliffs that tower above are adorned with intricate geological folds, hinting at the ancient forces that have shaped this captivating landscape.  Amongst the sands lies the mysterious remnants of a shipwreck, a poignant reminder of the sea’s untamed power, occasionally revealed by the shifting tides.

Nestled within the embrace of these towering cliffs, Northcott Mouth exudes an enchanting allure, and children will delight in the expansive marine playground that awaits, with endless opportunities to explore rock pools and create dams along the stream.

A hike along the South West Coast Path towards Sandymouth unveils breathtaking vistas at every turn.  If the tides align, the sandy shores offer a more accessible route, providing a tranquil pathway for coastal exploration.  Be sure to consult with a lifeguard to ensure safe passage before venturing forth.

Nestled just 15 minutes north of town by car lies the stunning Sandymouth Bay Beach, a gem under the care of the National Trust.  When the tide recedes, it reveals a vast expanse of pristine sandy shores, often offering a quieter retreat compared to the bustling main beaches.  Its allure captivates families and surfers alike, with the addition of towering cliffs as a picturesque backdrop.

Access to this coastal haven isn’t particularly convenient, theres a steep walk down from the National Trust car park.  There’s a seasonal café, and a mere 10-minute walk leads to the year-round Holiday Park, boasting a bar, coffee shop and restaurant.

During low tide, embark on a captivating coastal journey, tracing the two-mile stretch from Crooklets Beach to Sandymouth, where hidden treasures like a buried shipwreck await discovery, alongside the intricate honeycomb structures of the sandcastle worm.

Just a stone’s throw from the heart of Bude, a mere five-minute drive or short bus ride, lies the irresistible allure of Widemouth Bay with a vast two-mile expanse of sand.

This Blue Flag and Seaside Award-winning beach proudly boasts a Blue Flag designation, a testament to its cleanliness and quality and promises all the amenities necessary for a memorable family day at the beach.

While it may appear as one expansive shoreline, it’s actually divided into two distinct sections.  Venturing to the southern end of the beach where the shoreline transitions into rocky terrain takes you to Black Rock Beach.  This rocky expanse presents an ideal opportunity for rock pooling enthusiasts, with an abundance of marine life waiting to be discovered during lower tides.