Bude trip - with a 16 year old boy. Any tips?

[gerbo]

My husband is taking my son to Bude for a few days as a post GCSE break. He's not keen on surfing, so does anyone have recommendations of places to go/see/things to do?

He will happily walk, or visit heritage type places; he loves food.

Any ideas?! Thanks in advance!

is he interested in the legend of Excalibur, Merlin, Arthur and the knights? Lots of local folklore, the best one being the sleeping dragon at Northcott Mouth beach

Bude sea pool if he’ll go for a swim, but isn’t keen on being in the surf.

Boscastle for the witchcraft museum and have a cream tea in the tea room.

Tintagel Castle

Go up onto Bodmin moor for some walking

Davidstow airfield if they are into planes and WW2 sorta stuff, there is a museum there but check when it’s open.

Bude tunnel 😂 it’s a thing, read the Tripadvisor reviews and go take a funny photo

The Rick Stein restaurants are in Padstow, which is close enough, though I hear the fish and chip shop isn’t great. Life’s a Beach at Summerleaze in Bude is my favourite and has good seafood. There is another more high end one just as you exit up the hill from the Summerleaze car park, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it’s called now.

Thanks guys, some great ideas.

Is Bude Castle any good?

You can go paddleboarding on the canal if he prefers a more sedate/less wet activity on the water.

Temple, that’s the restaurant I was thinking of.

Bodmin Jail
Walk up to the viewing point in Boscastle
Sea pool at Bude
Eden project
Camel trail on bikes to Padstow
Cream tea at Crackington Haven beach

So body boarding would be more the thing if you'd never surfed. It's nice to just be at the beach for a few hours. Lots to do in Cornwall but not of the theme park or go ape variety.

I've not been to Bude so can't answer your question- but I wanted to say that I've started to ask ChatGPT to make itineraries for things like this.

@gerbo Bude Castle isn't actually a castle. It's difficult with a 16 year old... Bude is mainly about the beaches, and outdoor activities as a whole. Maybe riding? As in a horse? You can row a boat up the canal, and I think there is a good walk along the canal.

Apart from the well known Bude sea pool, there is also Sir Thomas's Pit, the original tidal sea pool which was built for men only in the 1800s and is in the breakwater rocky bit on the left of Summerleaze beach. On the opposite side to the sea pool and more difficult to get to... but more fun in my opinion. Much more like swimming in a rock pool.

I love it there as it was where I lived between 5 and 10 and it holds good memories.

I found the Bude Castle Heritage Centre unexpectedly fascinating.

I wanted to have a go on the car shaped pedalos on the canal but we didn't have time.

(I'm not chronologically 16 - psychologically is another matter!)