Bude

[MWestie]

We're going to be staying near Bude at the end of August and whilst we've been to Cornwall several times, we're not familiar with this area and so want to make the most of it.

Any recommendations for best beaches, coast walks, places to visit and nice places to eat? We have two young teens.

Conscious that it will be busy so would like make any bookings now.

Thank you!

I love Boscastle and Tintagel. Crackington Haven often has good surf.

There are great cliff walks around Bude - the area by Widemouth (pronounced wid-e-mouth, not wide-mouth) is lovely.

I'm a big fan of Sandymouth beach too.

Life's a Beach used to be good, and the Olive cafe (by the canal).

You say you're staying 'near' Bude - do you mean in a village close by, or just on the outskirts of town? The area used to be riddled with lovely village/country pubs, but some may have fallen victim to covid/lockdowns.

It's a lovely part of the world - I grew up very close to there, so it was a staple day out in the holidays (a few times a week!) and I used to visit every time I went home to see my parents after I left home. I love it.

The Weir is roughly a five-minute drive from Bude or a twenty to thirty minute walk along the canal path. It overlooks a lake and is ideal for a sunny day.
Tommy Jacks is good fun. Last time we went, they served Mexican-style burritos, stone-baked pizzas and grilled burgers. It has a laid back surfer vibe.

Little Pig Farm shop is great for stocking up on nice things to eat and drink. They have a really good cafe too.
Rosie’s Kitchen is a great place to take teens. It’s got everything from waffles and ice cream sundaes to milkshakes and burgers. The sister restaurant, Starboard, serves wood-fired pizza, ribs etc…
Rebel Cinema is a sweet independent cinema about 5 miles out of Bude. Usually have all the big latest films, with discounted tickets before 7pm.
The busiest beaches will probably be Crooklet’s and Summerleaze. Sandymouth Bay is a gorgeous National Trust beach 15 minutes (by car) north. The beach is just a short walk down from the National Trust car park, where there are toilets and a café.

We are doing this (not in holidays though) so following for ideas.

Summerleaze beach sea pool
Cycling the tarka trail
My kids are younger but enjoyed the Milky Way Adventure park

I stayed there for a weekend last year, lovely place. Had I wanted to eat in a restaurant (allowed at the time) I would have had to book several weeks in advance, but takeaway food and pasties were available.

Lovely walks along the coast and the canal. That weekend there was live music in the bandstand, I don’t know whether that’s a regular event. I loved the tidal swimming pool carved out of the cliff on the beach.

We holidayed there every year until our sons hit their teens. Out of the town beaches we found Crooklets and Middle to be the quieter ones. Crooklets looks stoney when the tides in but once it’s out it’s a lovely sandy beach.
This is one of our boys on Crooklets during August one year.

Oh, and I follow a few Bude pages on Facebook and one posted about a new burger place that’s just opened on The Strand called Barney’s which looks like it’d appeal to teenagers.

Tasty Pasties at the top of the town is great for pasties, they have various different fillings and sizes available, and Mermaid fish and chips have never let us down.

Oooh lots of replies, thank you so much

@ReviewingTheSituation lots of info, thank you. Great to hear how to pronounce Widemouth, exactly the thing which would catch us out.

We're staying north of Bude near Kilkhampton so am v happy to hear Sandymouth is recommended as think that will be our nearest beach.

@Fivemoreminutes1 thanks for the tip about The Weir, will definitely check that out.

And for also recommending Sandymouth. We usually like quieter places but of course in Cornwall in August that's all relative! Will check out the farm shop and Rosie's too, sounds like they would appeal to my two.

@GiantToadstool happy to come back on here after we've been to let you know how we got on.

@Calmestofallthechickens @NoBetterthanSheShouldBe the tidal pool is definitely on our list, can't wait to go

@MadisonAvenue Crooklets sounds lovely and that is a fab photo. Will check out Facebook pages for Bude, great idea.

Clicked in error as was hoping for a naughty limerick thread

😁

I think Sandymouth will be pretty quiet - it's hard to find! You have to go through Poughill (pr Puff-il) And the other beaches are in the town centre (not Widemouth) so are much more accessible.

Seeing as you're out that side, you could go to Hartland/Hartland Quay - a great option for coastal and cliff-top walking. Or Clovelly (sensible shoes are a must), going through Woolfardisworthy (pr woolsrey) on the way! (nothing to see there, but it's a great place name).

There are bound to be great, proper, village pubs around there as you're slightly off the tourist trail. Maybe look at Bradworthy- used to have a good pub back in the day.

There are some nice restaurants in Widemouth Bay, Widemouth Manor, The Bay View Inn, The Beach House. There’s a nice cafe that does breakfasts, burgers etc on Widemouth Beach. In Bude several nice fish & chips shops, 2 eat in, 1 takeaway. The Falcon hotel does nice food.
There’s a nice pub in Poughill (Puffle) too. Elements Pizza/Italian restaurant on the road from Bude to Widemouth. Also nice Pizza takeaway in Bude next to the Carriers Inn. I’ve been holidaying in this area several times a year since 1987. Lots of lovely beaches and it also doesn’t take long to get to places like Clovelly or Tintagel/Boscastle.
Will probably need to book restaurants well in advance as it will be busier than usual this year due to less people travelling abroad.

There’s a pub at Kilkhampton which is good for food, I think it’s called The London Inn.

The Molesworth Arms at Pyworthy is definitely worth a visit too.

Ah yes - the Molesworth Arms! Haven't been there for about 25 years, but used to visit with a friend when we were home from uni. This thread is like a trip up memory lane for me. And is making me hanker for a visit 'home'.

@ReviewingTheSituation all these pronunciation tips are very welcome! Had thought about Clovelly but not Hartland so will look into that too.

@Dreamscomingtrue@MadisonAvenue am going to google all these food recommendations and get hopefully get some bookings made in advance.

Can't wait to be back by the Cornish coast.
Hope you make it "home" for a visit sometime too @ReviewingTheSituation 🙂

Ahhh - thanks! My parents moved away 10 years ago now, so I have no links to the area any more. I did make it 'home' 2 years ago when I was in the area with friends for a weekend, and took myself off for a trip down memory lane. And we holidayed in Cornwall a few years ago, so stopped in Bude on the way back.

Please do update the thread when you come back - it would be lovely to know what you enjoyed!

Little bump in case anyone has been to the Bude area recently and has any good tips or recommendations? 🙂