Our guide to Bude and North Cornwall for residents and prospective residents. You’ll find local information below, and ideas for places to go and things to do on our Visitors’ Guide page.

Bude has so much to offer, whether as a holiday destination or a place to make home. You’ll find stunning views, sunsets, walks and beaches, and a host of restaurants, bistros, cafes and bars. Everything is within walking distance, and every walk is a distinct pleasure, with a new outlook on familiar landmarks at every corner!

It isn’t just about natural beauty, however. Bude has everything you need on hand. A wide range of shops (and only a short drive to nearby towns if you need an anything unusual!), plentiful leisure opportunities, excellent local schools, two doctors’ surgeries and a hospital, numerous churches, and a wide range of professional services and trades!

Photo Gallery: Bude

Starting at Bude Castle Gardens, via Bude Light to the River Neet just before Summerleaze.

Along to the Sea Lock, with some studies of the lock machinery, and a view of small fishing boats across the harbour, protected from Atlantic storms by the Breakwater.

And on to Summerleaze Beach, with soft sand, dunes, river flow, rock pools, surf, tidal sea pool and lifeguard watches all through the summer. Finally, a sunset at ‘The Pepperpot’.

Bude is a popular, welcoming, seaside resort in the north of Cornwall surrounded by  several beautiful beaches, with excellent waves for surfers.  There are incredible cliffs which offer interesting walks along the 600+ mile Cornwall coastal path and are also ideal to cycle along. At Summerleaze beach there is a sea water pool and a play area for children, there is also ‘Life’s a Beach’, which is open in the evenings as well as during the day. and a beach shop. At Crooklets beach, there is a cafe, skate park, car parking, and the Bude Life Saving Club is also situated here. Upton, Widemouth Bay and Black Rock to the south, and Northcott and Sandymouth to the north, are further beaches near to Bude, with over five miles of sandy shores at low tide between them. Widemouth is the local surf nirvana, and looks out towards Lundy Island and 3000 miles of Atlantic Ocean!

Bude also has a canal, which runs alongside the river Neet for a stretch. It was built in 1823 and was originally used for carrying sand to Launceston, 20 miles away. These days, the canal reaches inland a few miles, and is used for pleasure boating, or fishing. The local adventure centre also use the canal for kayaking. Following a recent regeneration project, the canal also offers a delightful walking area, and a bird hide overlooking the marshland reserve is a short way along the path. The canal wharf has also been redeveloped and now offers a range of workshop style retail outlets, cafes and ice-cream vendors, fishing, open air seating and parking.

There is a splendid golf club right in the centre of Bude, surrounded by many restaurants and pubs. There is also a leisure centre which houses a swimming pool and cafe. There is a sports centre, which has a gymnasium and squash court. Of course, Bude also has a crazy golf course, tennis courts, crown green bowling and a multitude of other activity bases, including indoor bowling and a children’s activity play centre.

About Bude

Street Map of Bude

Bude has two dental surgeries, and two medical centres, one of which is right next to the hospital. There are two popular schools in Bude, a primary and a secondary, with a number of other choices nearby, in Stratton, Marhamchurch and Jacobstow. There are two veterinary surgeries, and several shops, including seaside and beach shops, selling souvenirs, buckets and spades and so on. There are also art galleries, clothing stores, surf shops, jewellery shops, newsagents, bookshops, and post offices. There is a large department store, several chemists, toy shops (including the unique Toy Museum experience!) and a host of other stores catering for everyone.

Bude also offers supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and the Co-op. There are a number of banks, law firms, architects and other services.  There are regular buses, which travel to local towns and across the UK. Annual events include the Carnival, Lifeboat Day and the increasingly famous Jazz Festival. All in all, Bude is a thriving and active town with a great deal to offer, yet it has the feel of a retreat, where tranquillity and natural beauty meet.

.... Footpath

P    Car Park

… Church

PO Post Office

T    Payphone

↑   One way

     Cornish Bay Homes & Holidays

Your Guide to Living in Bude

Street Map courtesy of Bude Tourist Information Centre

Sitemap

Home  |  Find my new home  |  Find me a holiday cottage  |  Tell me about Cornish Bay |  Residential Lets

Living in Bude  |  Holidays in Cornwall  |  Contact Cornish Bay