Leave the M5 at Junction 27, and follow the road past Barnstaple, Bideford and straight into Bude on the Atlantic Highway. You can also spend longer on the M5 and leave the motorway at Exeter. If you don’t have SatNav, the AA route planner is a useful tool to plan your trip.
AA Route PlannerGetting to Bude
Overall, whether you choose to drive, take public transportation, or fly to Newquay or Exeter airport, reaching Bude is convenient and accessible, allowing you to start your holiday in this charming coastal town with relative ease. Better still, if you’re planning on exploring the wider area, many of the best places to visit are within an hours drive of Bude.
An ideal first port of call for many visitors is the Bude Tourist Information Centre, situated just off The Strand, right by the canal and a brief stroll from The Strand bus stop, our main beaches and the town itself.
Here are our travel recommendations:
By car
National Express coaches
By train
By boat
From the North, the London Paddington to Plymouth route is a fast and reliable service. Alight at Exeter Bus Station. From the bus station, the 6 and 6A service will take you to Bude, where you alight at The Strand, which is opposite TSB bank.
There’s also a National Express service to Okehampton, where you can get a bus into Bude.
Book ticketsFrom the North, the London Paddington to Penzance line is a fast and reliable service.
Alight at Exeter St David’s Station.
- At the train station, get the 6/6A service which runs throughout the day, every day to Okehampton and then a connection to Bude
- Get a connecting train to Okehampton, and then the 6/6A bus to Bude
View timetables and book tickets
Entry to the Harbour is made by leaving Chapel Rock (linked to the Mainland by a breakwater) to starboard. Head towards the lock in the channel marked by two pairs of leading beacons.
The outer pair of beacons, bearing 075 degrees 30′ (T) consist of: Front Mark – White spar with yellow diamond topmark. Rear Mark – White spar with yellow triangle topmark, placed half cable west of lock entrance.
The approach to Bude, either from the north or south, should be made from a south westerly direction in line with first pair of leading marks. Immediately on passing Barrel Rock (half cable north of Chapel Rock and marked by a beacon barrel) turn to starboard and pick up the inner pair of leading marks from which the lock is clearly visible.
Prior notification of arrival should be made to the Harbourmaster Paul Vincent via Cornwall council switchboard on 0300 1234 100 if possible.
View Cornwall Harbours