Bude
Surftown in North Cornwall
It might seem like a small place at first. However, Bude has more to offer than what meets the eye at first. Charlie noticed that there are more coffee shops that you can work from as a digital nomad in Bude than in Newquay! The High Street has everything you need from pharmacists to outdoor gear. And you find plenty of restaurants and other shops. Especially if you are interested in art, you have a wide choice of galleries and art shops all around Bude.
Surf beaches in and around Bude
Being in Cornwall right by the coast, it is no surprise that Bude is a popular destination for surfers. There are multiple beach breaks in the area.
Summerleaze Beach
This is the most popular beach in Bude and you can easily access it from the town centre. There is a spacious parking lot, beach huts and a café. It is a sandy beach with big tidal differences. When the swell is big or the wind is strong, Summerleaze is better to surf at high tide as you will have shelter in the bay. As the tide moves, so does the break and you’ll notice that in the water. At low tide, the beach is quite exposed to the elements and the waves can become messy and dumpy.
There are rocks that separate Summerleaze from the neighbouring Crooklets beach that you should be aware of when you’re out surfing. They’re well visible at low tide and might become a hazard at mid tide.
Crooklets Beach
At low tide, both beaches, Summerleaze and Crooklets, become one. There can be strong currents and the beach break makes it at times hard to find the right spot. As the tide comes in, Crooklets too gets a bit more sheltered although not as much as Summerleaze and you should be aware of the rocks that become gradually more invisible under the water.
Crooklets is a sandy beach with some pebbles. At high tide, only the bit with the pebbles is not under water. There is a parking lot at Crooklets and two cafes. If you take the stairs along the beach huts, you get to a viewing point from where you can see Crooklets and Summerleaze. A beautiful sunset spot!
Widemouth Bay
Another popular surf spot, yet 15 minute drive outside of Bude. Widemouth Bay is a large beach break and very exposed to wind and weather. You can hire surfgear or take lessons right on the beach. There is also a car park, public toilets and a café.
Surf schools and surf hire in Bude
There are several surf schools and hire places in Bude and most of them also have a trailer right by the beach. Whenever Charlie is in Bude, she gets a board from Zuma Jay. Compared to all the surf shops she has seen around the world so far, this is the one with the best service and the most friendly staff. They really take time to understand what you are after and provide you with a board for your abilities or for the specific technique you want to practice.
If you are looking to buy a board, they will allow you to hire as long as you need until you’ve found the right board and then deduct what you paid for hire from the price of the board.
Their advice even goes beyond surf gear. The last time Charlie went there, Nigel, one of the employees, pulled up the surf forecast on screen and gave plenty of tips where to go and when. He then got a paper map and a pen out to give Charlie other tips for things to do in and around Bude. She couldn’t have gotten better information in the tourist office!
If you follow Zuma Jay on social media, you get every morning a fresh picture of Summerleaze beach and they analyse the forecast for the day with a recommendation when to go in and with which type of board. A great place that certainly deserves a visit!
Things to do in Bude apart from surfing
As you walk through the picturesque town centre, you quickly realize that most visitors there do mostly two things: have lunch or have coffee. Therefore, you’ll find a wide range of coffee shops and restaurants around town.
Bude has something that is quite unique for the area: the Bude Canal. If you walk down to the Wharf, you can hire a kayak or pedal boat to explore the canal. You can also find SUP Yoga classes.
Next to the wharf is every Friday an arts and crafts market where you could get your holiday souvenirs.
Bude Castle
Directly next to it is the castle which has been converted into a museum and heritage centre. The entry is free and there is a café inside too. You can enjoy stunning views over the canal and Summerleaze beach. During the summer, there are open air events at the square in front of the castle.
Yoga in Bude
If you would like to take Yoga classes whilst in Bude, Charlie recommends Bude Yoga & Therapy Space. The teachers are very knowledgeable and experienced and immediately make you feel part of the group. The classes are suitable for every level and contain everything that should be in a Yoga class, including chanting and meditation.
Accommodation in Bude
Bude is a popular holiday destination in Cornwall and there is plenty of tourist accommodation available. There is a big hotel right by the wharf and several guest houses and AirBnBs in the city centre. Just outside Bude is camping available and there is a holiday park at Widemouth Bay too.
How to get to Bude
The best way to get to Bude is by car. If you want to travel by public transport, there is bus number 6 that goes to the train stations in Okehampton and Exeter from where you can get a connection to London.
There is also a frequent bus from Bude to Wadebridge and from there to Newquay which passes by the airport in Newquay.
Day trips from Bude
For day trips too, a car is certainly the best option. It is possible by public transport too. The bus that goes to Wadebridge, passes by Tintagel Castle and St. Nectan’s Glen – both worth a visit.
Tintagel Castle and St. Nectan’s Glen
Tintagel Castle is the place where King Artus was conceived and the castle ruin is on an island that is connected to the land by a beautiful bridge. An instagrammable spot!
St. Nectan’s Glen is a waterfall in the woods and a spiritual place. The rock formations around the waterfall give it a special shape and you can enjoy special ceremonies with druids from time to time. Charlie joined for the summer solstice ritual.
South West Coast Path: Boscastle and Crackington Haven
Bude is also well connected to the South West Coast Path in either direction. Simply pick a destination and get outdoors! Charlie walked the bits between Tintagel and Boscastle which also passed by a waterfall, and from Boscastle to Crackington Haven. The latter got here to quite remote areas of the coast and revealed a landscape she would not have expected and somehow reminded her of Madeira. Charlie reached the start and end points for her walks easily by bus. Both Boscastle and Crackington Haven have cafes, tea rooms and pubs to get some rest whilst waiting for the bus.
Clovelly
This place is already in Devon and can be reached too by bus from Bude. However, busses are less frequent and you should plan your route carefully. Clovelly is a village by the coast where history and tradition still remain. You can walk down to the harbour and a waterfall over cobbled streets that no vehicle can take on. The South West Coast Path also connects Clovelly and Hartland and offers stunning views.
