Bude has been a popular seaside holiday destination for centuries and it’s easy to see why. Alongside a spectacular coastline filled to the clifftops with winding paths, Bude boasts not one, not two, but three beautiful main beaches as well as a stack of nearby havens.
Bude’s top tally of sublime coastal spaces allows you to bask in the beachiest of holidays, encouraging everyone to spend some glorious downtime in, on, or near the ocean for a stay that epitomises seaside living.
From safe, family favourites chock-full of facilities to characterful, windswept stretches of sand, Bude presents a myriad of beaches to enjoy in your favourite way – not to mention a host of fun things to do alongside your day by the sea.
So whether you wish to swim, sail, SUP or surf the waters – or simply fancy sunbathing or walking alongside them, Bude’s beaches certify the town as one of Cornwall’s most treasured holiday destinations.
Summerleaze Beach
Lifeguards: Seasonal cover (May to September)
Dog-friendly: Year-round (must be kept on a lead between May and September, 10am to 6pm)
Facilities: Toilets, beach shop, and café
Accessibility: Level access to the beach from the nearby car park and there is a sand chair hireable from Summerleaze Beach Office
Bude’s main beach, which is within walking distance of the town centre, Summerleaze offers expansive sands, toilets, showers, colourful beach huts for hire, a café and shops – what a lineup! This beautiful beach is also dog-friendly all year round and provides disabled access along with sand chair hire, ensuring everyone can enjoy this sun-soaked locale.
One of the biggest draws to Bude’s premier beach is the famous Bude Sea Pool; a wonderful open-air, tidal pool that promises chilled-out swimming for those who want a salty dip in the Atlantic without the waves. Watersports are a common pastime here too, with equipment available to hire from the beachfront.
Sandymouth Beach
Lifeguards: Seasonal cover in the summer months
Dog-friendly: Year-round
Facilities: Toilets, beach shop, and café
Accessibility: Sloping path and steps lead from the National Trust car park to the beach
With two kilometres of golden sands at low tide, Sandymouth Beach certainly lives up to its name. One of the many beaches in Bude to welcome dogs year-round, Sandymouth is the ideal choice for families, boasting a café, parking, and toilets alongside stunning natural features such as a waterfall and a plethora of rock pools.
When the tide is out, it’s well worth exploring along the shore to neighbouring Crooklets Beach as many hidden secrets lie waiting to be discovered, from curious formations to a fascinating shipwreck. Lifeguards patrol in the summer but do take caution when entering the water as there can be strong undercurrents here.
Crooklets Beach
Lifeguards: Seasonal (May to September)
Dog-friendly: Seasonal restriction (15th of May to 30th of September, 10am to 6pm)
Facilities: Toilets, showers, beach hut-hire, shops, and café
Accessibility: Level access to Summerleaze Beach (which joins with Crooklets at low tide)
Part of a larger stretch at low tide and boasting several Blue Flag Awards, Crooklets Beach is a superb family-friendly spot. A host of facilities, including a play area, skate park, and a stunning wood-fired sauna, ensure everyone is well and truly catered for, while the beach’s reputation as a top surfing destination promises waves and fun for all.
The heady mix of expansive sands, grass-topped cliffs, and colourful beach hut creates a rather attractive setting for your beach day. Combine that with the host of watersports at your fingertips, from stand-up paddleboarding to surfing, and you’ve got an epic setting for your North Cornish beach day.
Widemouth Bay
Lifeguards: Seasonal (May to September)
Dog-friendly: Year-round on Black Rock and South Beach, the rest of the beach has seasonal restrictions (15th of May to 30th of September, 10am to 6pm)
Facilities: Toilets, showers, café and watersport equipment hire
Accessibility: Level access and a ramp onto the sand
Another of Bude’s Blue Flag beaches, Widemouth Bay boasts a large stretch of soft sand that feels like it’s a world away from the hubbub of everyday life. The wild setting makes it popular with walkers, while the excellent waves bring in the surfers.
With parking at both ends of the beach, along with rockpools, toilets, and a café, it offers oodles of convenience along with a heady dose of dramatic seascapes, perfect for those who want to escape to a rugged corner of Cornwall without losing access to handy amenities. It’s also only a 5-minute walk from the centre of Bude, giving you an easy route to the town’s many excellent eateries, perfect for a post-beach feast.
Black Rock Beach
Lifeguards: Seasonal (May to September)
Dog-friendly: Year-round
Facilities: Toilets and café
Accessibility: Level access from the car park to the beach
The southernmost end of Widemouth Bay, Black Rock Beach is a dog-friendly haven that’s ideal for sandy zoomies and wave-watching. The beach gets its name from the rugged outcrop of rocks that paints quite the dramatic backdrop, creating a wild and untamed pocket of sand, sea, and cliff to enjoy.
You can access Widemouth Bay at low tide, but do keep an eye on the tide times as you can get cut off quickly. Black Rock Beach is another popular surfing spot, with reef breaks promising a host of waves to catch to shore.
Northcott Mouth Beach
Lifeguards: Seasonal cover in the summer months
Dog-friendly: Year-round
Facilities: Seasonal toilets and café
Accessibility: It’s a 5-minute walk from the car park, but there is a drop-off area next to the beach too
Bude really does boast a tail-wagging selection of dog-friendly beaches! Connecting with Crooklets and Duckpool at low tide, this hidden gem is perfect for quiet beach days with the dog in tow. The surrounding coastal paths have some lovely walks, while low tide reveals a medley of rockpools for curious eyes to explore.
The mammoth sweep of golden sands that appear at low tide are great for sandy strolls but beware of the tides if you plan on returning to your starting point along the beach. Offering gorgeous scenery, there’s also a stream and striking rocks known as the Bude Formation, making this a great spot for budding geologists.
Duckpool Beach
Lifeguards: No
Dog-friendly: Year-round
Facilities: Toilets
Accessibility: An uneven path from the car park to the beach
Boasting a spectacular mix of woodland and coast, Duckpool Beach is a firm favourite with those wanting to escape into nature. Access to the beach is via a beautiful, dappled trail through Coombe Valley, making this a wonderfully secluded cove. Large rockpools spread over the beach, promising days upon days of exploring for little ones, while the surrounding cliff paths offer up some truly incredible views.
While Bude boasts many great beaches for swimming, it’s best to avoid entering the sea here as no lifeguards patrol the beach and strong undercurrents are found beneath the surface. With many fascinating rockpools on offer and the balmy setting, there is plenty to enjoy here.
Millook Haven Beach
Lifeguards: No
Dog-friendly: Year-round
Facilities: No
Accessibility: Moderate/difficult access to the beach from the parking area
Another of Bude’s hidden gems, Millook Haven Beach is a haven indeed, with ancient woodlands, rugged cliffs, and rich valleys surrounding the cove. With pebbles and shingle underfoot and Penalt Cliff at its back, it’s easy to forget about the outside world for a while as you bask on the sun-warmed stones - especially as the mobile reception here is next to none, perfect for switching off!
With such stunning scenery on the doorstep, Millook Haven is a favourite for a mid-walk pitstop, with the dog-friendly beach offering up an idyllic picnic destination. It’s a hotspot for experienced surfers, providing a bit of waterside entertainment as you tuck into your sarnies.
Crackington Haven
Lifeguards: Seasonal cover in the summer months
Dog-friendly: Seasonal restrictions (May to September, 10am to 6pm)
Facilities: Cafés, shop, toilets, pub and surf hire
Accessibility: There is a slipway onto the sand and shingle beach
Although a rocky cove at high tide, more and more sand is unveiled as the tide retreats back to the sea, creating a family-friendly mix of things to explore, from rockpools amidst the curious rock formations to sea caves. There’s also a stream running to the sea, which is always popular with children (and adults) looking for a dam good time.
The imposing cliffs that line the beach make for a lovely sheltered aspect, while also providing an epic stretch for a stroll – just down the coast path sits High Cliff, Cornwall’s highest cliff (the Cornish definitely call it as they see it). As beautiful as this unspoilt spot is in the height of summer, it’s also a firm favourite in the winter, when storms crash against the cliffs in a mighty show of natural power. There’s a great storm-watching viewpoint up on the bluff so you don’t need to go anywhere near the water.
Excited to visit Bude’s many beaches for yourself? Explore our collection of beautiful coastal cottages in Bude, whether you’re after sea views or dog-friendly escapes.
Tags: Beaches | Bude | North Cornwall | Surfing |