Local Beaches
Duck Pool
What3words.com location is ///chuckling.mountains.backed
is only 10 mins away and sits at the mouth of the Coombe Valley, in an area steeped in history and surrounded by coastal grasslands and ancient woodlands.
A river flows down the valley and emerges at the top of the beach, giving Duck Pool its name. Like other beaches in the area such as Sandymouth, Duck pool is very tidal with pebbles lining the top of the beach and sand becoming exposed around low tide.
There are great opportunities to enjoy a walk here, both along the South West Coast Path for exhilarating sea views as well as inland. A circular walk along the valley takes in Stowe Barton farmstead, and woodland trails in Stowe Wood can be explored too.
There is much history and wildlife to discover here. Anti-tank blocks installed before WW2 can be found scattered along the beach. King William’s Bridge built by Parson Hawker in 1836 crosses the river at the top of the access road. Nearby sheltered woodlands are dripping in lichens and the maritime grasslands are strewn with flowers such as thrift and squill. Rock pools offer an array of sea life.
Sandymouth Bay
What3words.com location is ///options.whizzing.tight
Sandymouth Bay is only 5-7 minutes away from Penstowe Park. When the tide is at its lowest, it is possible to take in the spectacular coastline between Bude and Sandymouth by walking the two miles along the beach. Returning by the coast path makes it a very pleasant, circular walk. Sandymouth is a National Trust beach and has a large, manned, car park with 200 spaces at the top of the cliff. The walk down to the shore leads you through a quite steep and narrow path, with some steps, which makes Sandymouth unsuitable for those who are less mobile. This lovely beach has its own waterfall and is serviced by a seasonal café, toilets and surf-hire.
Northcott Mouth
What3words.com location is ///fuzzy.departure.crisps
Ruggedly beautiful, Northcott Mouth is a rocky cove, but a sandy beach emerges when the tide is out. At low tide, the wreck of the SS Belem is revealed. Wrecked in November 1917, the propeller shaft was salvaged and used as metal support for Barrel Rock at the end of Bude Breakwater! Children will delight in the little stream crossing the beach and the rock pools, while surfers will enjoy the waves created by rocky reefs. This National Trust beach has a small car park adjacent to it with an “honesty” box for contributions. There are no toilet facilities. In the summer months, there is a delightful tea caravan with a rustic garden set back from the beach.
Summerleaze Beach, Bude
What3words.com location is ///sharpens.observer.served
has a unique appeal, not least because it is less than five minutes’ walk from the centre of Bude and the large car park leads directly to the sand dunes. The river, with its bobbing fishing boats, flanks the wide, sandy beach that is sheltered by the impressive breakwater, making the beach particularly popular with families and surfers. Beach Huts are bookable daily or weekly from £10 - £20 per day. Contact the Bude Tourist Information Centre on 01288 354240.
Level access with a flat viewing area, toilets, RNLI shop, sandy play area and beach café all add to the charm of Summerleaze. Another gem is the sea pool nestled at the foot of the cliffs. Part man-made and part natural rock pool, the salt-water pool, cleaned daily by the tide, has enticed swimmers since it opened in 1930.
Crooklets Beach, Bude
What3words.com location is ///tastier.rail.monkeys
is a wide expanse of golden sand, exposed at low tide and bordered by rocky outcrops making it ideal for rock-pooling. Crooklets is on the north side of Bude and can be reached by a short walk over the Summerleaze Down or down the hill from the town centre. Crooklets is very popular with surfers and is home to the Bude Surf Life Saving Club. The beach has great facilities including a large car park, level access and viewing area, a play area, skate park, beach cafe, showers, amusements and pubs close by. There are various beach huts available for daily hire, reasonably priced per day. Please call the Tourist Information Centre on 01288 354240 to book.
Widemouth Bay
What3words.com location is ///witty.slot.roses
is a very long open bay popular with families and surfers and at low tide, there are hundreds of rock pools to explore. Situated just 3 miles south of Bude and accessible along the South West coast path, Widemouth Bay offers fantastic conditions to learn surfing or body-boarding, which is why many of the local surf schools are based there. It has also received the Blue Flag Beach Award 2017.