The 9 best beaches in Bude

Bude’s beautiful beaches are arguably some of the best in Cornwall, with their swathes of soft sand, clear sea and family-friendly facilities. The three most well-known – Summerleaze Beach, Crooklets Beach and Widemouth Bay – all proudly advertise their coveted Blue Flag status, awarded for clean water, safety and environmental awareness. 

Beyond the family-friendly, sandy beaches in Bude are several other stunningly rugged beaches, such as Breakwater, Millook Haven and Duckpool, all of which are well worth exploring for their breathtaking setting and interesting geology. The South West Coast Path runs north from Bude to Duckpool and south to Widemouth Bay, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking views across some of the more hidden coves along this section of the Cornish coast.

There are many things to do in Bude, but it is mostly the number of stunning beaches that draw visitors to this pretty little town; from first-time surfers and experienced boarders to families with young children and adventurous hikers. We’ve gathered all the key information you need about Bude’s beaches to confidently book your next stay in this spectacular part of Cornwall.

Skip to:

• Summerleaze Beach
• Crooklets Beach
• Widemouth Bay
• Black Rock
• Duckpool Beach
• Sandymouth Bay Beach
• Northcott Mouth Beach
• Millook Haven Beach
• Breakwater Beach

Summerleaze Beach

Bude’s main beach is a vast stretch of golden sand consistently popular with families, friends, walkers and surfers, and is large enough for everyone to enjoy without becoming overcrowded. 

Backed by an array of colourful beach huts available for day hire, the beach is also home to the famous Bude Sea Pool, a natural sea pool that fills with the incoming tide. Round off your day with a visit to the popular beach cafe, which has an extensive menu offering a wide choice of dishes from moules mariniere to cream teas.

Crooklets Beach

Connected to Summerleaze at low tide, lovely Crooklets Beach offers a slightly quieter alternative to its busy neighbour. With pebbles quickly turning to a soft, sandy swathe, there are also rock pools for exploring. 

Easily accessible from the adjacent car park for both wheelchair users and pushchairs, Crooklets is the ideal all-rounder beach. The beach cafe serves everything from Cornish cream teas to fresh lobster and is the perfect spot for some lunch or a drink outside with a view of the beach.

Widemouth Bay 

Just 3 miles south of Bude is another fabulous beach. Widemouth Bay is a 2-mile stretch of golden sands framed by rocky cliffs and dunes. 

Appealing to families and surfers alike, there are several surf schools along the bay that also arrange coasteering and SUP hire, making the beach popular for water sports. The cosy cafe that overlooks the beach serves coffee, cakes and all-day breakfasts.

Black Rock

Towards the south end of Widemouth Bay, the rugged cliffs split the beach in half and beyond, you’ll find Black Rock Beach. 

Named after the large rock that dominates the view rising out of the sea, the beach is easily accessible and popular with both surfers and families. As the tide goes out, a plethora of rockpools are revealed, providing magical little marine worlds for little ones to explore. 

Duckpool Beach 

A wild and unspoilt beach popular with dog owners for its year-round accessibility, Duckpool is owned by the National Trust and sits along the stunning Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast close to Morwenstow. 

Backed by dramatic cliffs, this mostly rocky beach reveals a stretch of sand at low tide. The freshwater stream that runs down the beach is ideal for thirsty dogs in need of a drink. For humans, there is a small mobile cafe that offers drinks and crepes for those in need of a bite to eat. 

Sandymouth Bay Beach

This beautiful, natural National Trust beach is located on the National Trust Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast. 

Backed by dramatic rock formations, the walk down from the car park is steep and rocky, but once the tide goes out, the stony pebbles on the beach give way first to a rocky plateau (perfect for rock pooling) and then to a broad sweep of sand. A popular surfing beach, there is a surf school next to the cafe just by the car park.

Northcott Mouth Beach

This particularly beautiful National Trust beach joins up with the south end of Crooklets at low tide. Famous for the Bude geological formations, rocks that date back over 300 million years, it’s backed by cliffs covered in beautiful wildflowers throughout spring and summer. 

There is a delightful cafe just behind the beach in a picturesque setting, with tables around a meandering stream that winds down to the sea. Bear in mind that the walk down to the beach is short but steep. 

Millook Haven Beach

This secluded, rocky, shingle beach which is 5 miles south of Bude, offers an escape from the busier, sandy beaches. Backed by rugged cliffs, it offers lovely views of the spectacular Cornish coast, but access is limited, with no car park and a steep walk down to the cove. 

Millook Haven Beach is popular with dog owners for its unlimited year-round access and walkers enjoying the coastal path, it also attracts experienced surfers.

Breakwater Beach

This wild and untamed beach is Summerleaze’s immediate neighbour, located just the other side of Bude Canal and the breakwater that was built in 1840 to protect the canal from the sea. 

Breakwater Beach is home to the unique Bude geological formations, unusual finger-like rocks that stretch out into the sea, the distinctive Whale’s Back rock, an unmissable and unique feature of the beach. Swimming is not advisable at this beach, but it’s good for rock pooling, and fishing off the breakwater itself is a popular activity.

Bude beaches map

Find all the best beaches in Bude mentioned above with the help of our handy map.

Stay with us near one of Bude’s beaches

With so many beaches to choose from you can be sure that wherever you stay in Bude, you will be within easy reach of several. Whether you prefer the wild and windswept bays of the Hartland Heritage Coast or the golden stretches of Summerleaze and Crooklets in Bude itself, we have the perfect place for your stay. 

From sprawling country houses perfect for large groups of friends to cosy town centre apartments set within easy walking distance to the beach, our selection of places to stay in Bude has you covered. Simply click below to browse and book, and start dreaming of salty hair and sandy toes. Be sure to check out our guide on the top places to eat in Bude before you visit here too!