Our guide to Bude, and its beautiful coastal and countryside neighbourhood.
Whatever your holiday dreams, North Cornwall has much to offer.
Activity, tranquility, entertainment and excitement or peaceful retreat, there is space (and pace) for everyone.
Scroll down to take a look through our sample of places to visit. Then browse our holiday lets and find your dream holiday package!
Beaches
Walks, & Places of Natural Beauty within walking distance
Bude Wharf, including the recently repaired Sea Lock and tidal bridge. Very recently regenerated now offering a level walk along the Bude Canal path to Marhamchurch with its choice of tearooms and the Bullers Arms public house and restaurant.
Coastal Paths toward Northcott Mouth and Sandymouth to the north, and Upton, Widemouth, Black Rock and Millook beaches to the south, with delightful points of interest and watering holes at either end.
Northcott Mouth - a splendid National Trust family beach with giant pebbles, fine sand at low tide, lively rock pools, and a tearoom caravan serving amongst the best ‘cream tea’ in the southwest!
A Short Drive (or walk for the robust!)
Sandymouth - National Trust cove with extensive sandy beach at low tide and crashing high tides.
Crackington Haven - immense cliffs and pebble cove with a stream, tearoom and the Coombe Barton Inn and restaurant.
Boscastle - nationally newsworthy in 2004 during torrential flooding (as was the less reported Crackington Haven). Now fully reconstructed with new bridges over the pretty stream, and flood protection measures in place. An idyllic village with craft shops, pubs, restaurants and museums, and a truly impressive walk to the natural harbour lined with colossal cliffs.
Tintagel - legendary home of King Arthur, and now home to numerous cream tea shops, pasty bakeries and craft/gift shops. The steep climb up English Heritage’s stone staircase is worth every step - the island offers breathtaking views and some remaining walls of King Arthur’s castle, where the Knights of the Round Table once met.
Port Isaac - a pretty and thriving fishing village nestled into a steep valley which is best walked down into (although parking is available in the harbour at low tide!). Seafood galore in the various pubs, cafes and restaurants. Now famous, of course, for its association with Doc Martin, whose cottage can be seen on the south side of the village.
Further Afield (easily reached from Bude for a day trip)
Padstow/Rock - another lovely town with a bustling harbour, quirky shops, and some of the best restaurants in Cornwall. Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver to choose from, amongst a host of very special inns and restaurants. A lively harbour, multitudinous shops, and splendid coastal walks and scenery. A swift trip by foot ferry to the opposite banks of the Camel Estuary takes you to Rock, with a few simple shops and eateries, and a lovely walk along white sands to the sea.
Camel Estuary - offers delightful walks along the Camel, or you could take a bicycle ride along the Camel trail from Bodmin (a range of cycles are available for hire). There are beaches nearby at Daymer and Trevone Bay, coves at Harlyn Bay and Mawgan Porth, and the inspiring stacks at Bedruthan!
Bodmin and Bodmin Moor - Visit the fascinating market towns of Bodmin and Launceston, wander onto the wild, untamed Bodmin moor with its dominating granite rocks or experience the thrilling courtroom experience at the jail. Enter the castle in Launceston or take a captivating glimpse into history at Lanhydrock, with everything from opulent splendour in the main house, to stark simplicity of the kitchens and servant’s quarters. With steam trains running from both towns, it’s an exciting journey into the past and the future. Just along the road from the famous Jamaica Inn you’ll find Dozmary Pool, legendary home to The Lady of the Lake, and a longish walk around its perimeter will lead you to Roche Rock, a hermit’s chapel perched on a treacherous granite outcrop.
A Little Further - but well worth the effort
St Ives, picturesque and exhilarating all at once, with quaint, narrow streets full of interesting shops, beautiful sandy beaches, and where a visit to the Tate Gallery is not to be missed.
The Eden Project - ‘a dramatic global garden housed in tropical biomes’. Eden is probably the best known attraction in Cornwall, and lives up to expectations. Incredible diversity and scale, and a truly remarkable feat of engineering. At times, you really do believe that you are deep in the midst of a tropical rainforest.
Minack Theatre - the remarkable little theatre under the stars, carved into the very rock of Cornwall’s coastal cliffs, and host to a superb range of theatre and music. An unforgettable experience!
Flambards - with something for everyone - really! The theme park has everything from children’s rides to big thrills, there are indoor and outdoor play areas, and plenty of fun. But that’s not all! The exhibitions are amongst the best you’ll see, including Britain in the Blitz, and the amazing Victorian village. Then of course there are the landscaped gardens, and much, much more!
Land’s End - where the might of the Atlantic meets the towering cliffs of Cornwall, with five fascinating family attractions on site.
This is just a small sample of the delights of Cornwall. For example, there are over 125 well-known beaches around the coastline, some rugged and rocky, others smooth and sandy. We will be adding more to our Guide as time goes by. Come back soon!
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