Our road trip to Cornwall: 2 days in Bude
Our first road trip of 2021 took us to Cornwall where we spent
2 days in beautiful Bude.
We were recently touring the North of Cornwall for the week in our van and were constantly blown away with its turquoise waters, quaint villages and sandy shores.
We had both been to Cornwall before but when we were much younger, our busy minds had forgotten its beauty and how full of charm this beautiful part of the UK is. Luckily for us we were blessed with a week of sunshine and could have easily mistaken our road trip for somewhere far more exotic.
Cornwall, you are truly special.
We didn’t actually plan to stop off in Bude, but when we arrived and begin to explore, it became clear why a holiday in Bude is a popular choice. We didn’t want to leave!
Bude is in North East Cornwall and sits on the border of Devon, it is still somewhat set out on it’s own which helps it keep its charm. This stylish seaside town packs a punch thanks to its spectacular views of the Atlantic Coast as well as rolling luscious countryside.
You’ll find glorious beaches, a huge tidal pool, rugged cliff line and a canal - yes a canal, what UK beach town do you know that boasts its own canal! Not to mention Bude’s shops, its heritage castle, popular surf and array of places to eat and drink; you can see why it won ‘Best Coast Resort’ at the 2015 British Travel Awards.
Newquay is just over an hour away from Bude and whilst they have good surf in common, Bude is a lot less party vibes and way more chill. Which was exactly what we wanted.
In this blog post we cover how we spent 2 days there; we also share places to stay in Bude (we didn’t need accommodation as we live in our van!) as well as coffee spots and things to enjoy whilst staying in this pretty UK coastal town.
Beaches in Bude
If you’re a beach lover than a trip to Bude is the one for you - we couldn’t not cover the beaches at Bude first!
The main two beaches are Summerleaze (just love that name) and then Crooklets Beach. But if you’re spending longer than we did there then hop in the car and you’ll discover the likes if Breakwater Beach, Northcott Mouth Beach, Widemouth Bay, Sandymouth Beach, Duckpool Beach, Millook Haven Beach and Stanbury Mouth Beach.
For more information of all the beaches that surround Bude then check out this in-detail guide of Cornwall’s beaches.
Summerleaze Beach
Summerleaze Beach is somewhat unusual due to the fact that it sits at the mouth of the River Neet. You’ll notice colourful fishing boats dotted either side of the flowing river as well as grassy banks which line the back of the beach. This golden strip is only a 5 minute walk from Bude town and also has an easily accessible large carpark. So if you forget to pack lunch then you can nip into town in a jiffy for refreshments!
It was quite windy on the day we visited but that didn’t stop us from rambling across Summerleaze beach and watching the surfers. We found a rocky viewpoint too so we climbed the steps and managed to catch a glimpse of the Bude beach pool - more on that later.
You can book the beach huts out for a day too, but to do so need to call Bude Tourist Information Centre on 01288 354240. Although we can imagine they’ll be in demand!
BBQ’s are allowed on Summerleaze beach but you must make sure you use the dedicated fire-proof bins that can be found in the carpark when you leave.
You could spend all day at Summerleaze Beach; chilling, swimming, exploring its rock pools and enjoying the sun going down with a BBQ.
The sunset! Oh it’s worth mentioning… The first day we arrived we got there in time for sunset, there were lots of people on the grassy verge devouring their fish and chip takeaway whilst watching the sky light up pink. Totally magical and we recommend you do the same!
If you walk along the canal and through the harbour whilst the tide is out you’ll wander past the popular Efford Cottage in Bude.
A classic and well known view in the area - there are even postcards of this beautiful cottage sold in Bude town!
The cottage cellars was originally used for ships to store their cargo and fish before being turned into a family summerhouse in the 1820s.
Places to eat in Bude
Ok, well you’re in luck if you have a holiday in Bude coming up as there are plenty of great restaurants and coffee shops on offer.
Fish and chips are a must when you’re by the sea and the queue outside The Mermaid says it all!
Then you’ve got Temple Restaurant which focuses of creating dishes from local Cornish suppliers. Whether it’s a 2 course meal, a weekend salad box or one of their daily bakes, this is definitely a foodie spot to check out.
We enjoyed a delicious pub dinner in The Brendon Arms in Bude. Whilst walking along the harbour we got chatting to a fisherman who told us he sells his catch of the day to The Brendon Arms and had dropped off his delivery that very morning. It seemed rude to not eat there after hearing that! We can confirm it was really tasty.
The Olive Tree in Bude is also another popular spot, sat on the historic canal it serves up Cornish and Italian dishes in a casual relaxed environment. Every time we walked past, all the tables were packed and everyone looked very happy to be enjoying good grub in the sun overlooking the canal. Now who doesn’t want that exact scenario on their holidays!
On one of our strolls we grabbed a coffee from The Split Bean and it was delicious - a good coffee means a lot to us so we were happy to come across this award winning local company.
Then on our final morning we grabbed grab some pastries, Cornish pasties and coffee from The Cornish Bakery on the high street to fuel our journey through into Devon.
Things to do in Bude
There are plenty of things to keep you or your families occupied in this laid-back town, so whether you’re a day tripper or you’re lingering a little longer, there’s something for every kind of trip!
Here are our top 5 things to do in Bude…
Summerleaze Beach
This wide sandy beach is a huge hit with surfers, holiday makers and locals out on their daily dog walk. It’s clean, it’s safe and it offers plenty of water sport activities.
Bude Beach Pool
Bude’s tidal pool is a must see. The sea pool is a part natural, part man-made swimming pool created back in 1930 in the rocks at Summerleaze Beach. It’s open all year round and is free to enjoy. You can watch a reel we posted on Instagram of the sunsetting at this magical spot.
The Castle Bude
Built back in 1830 this Grade II listed building sits amongst the sand dunes and backs on to Summerleaze Beach. The Castle Bude is free to enter and is open between 10am - 4pm.
Hire a boat up the Bude Canal
A fun way to experience the Bude Canal is by hiring a rowing boat. From 11am to 6pm you can hire canoes, boats and pedalows and enjoy a a sunny (well fingers crossed!) afternoon leisurely taking in Bude’s sights by boat.
The Bude Canal is over 200 years old and was originally built to aid the transportation of the mineral-rich sand from beaches around Bude to farming land for fertilizer. You walk along the canal and out of town where you’ll see postcard-perfect hillsides, dreamy cottages and Bude Marshes.
Bude Shops
Bude town centre is great for a mooch as it’s full of small independent shops, beautiful boutiques and larger retail chain stores such as Fat Face and Trespass. There is also a farmer’s market on during summer in Lower Wharf where you can buy arts, crafts, artisan foods and coffee. Why not start you day with a coffee, pasty and a little shop supporting all the fantastic independents before hitting the beach to surf or work on your tan.
Places to stay in Bude
Now as we travel in our converted Sprinter van we didn’t stay any of the Bude accommodation but we have heard there’s plenty on offer. Our next visit we will be staying for longer and will definitely be keen to enjoy some of the beachside hotels, holiday parks and self catering cottages that Bude has to offer.
Here are a few that caught our eye…
Hoeseasons - Burn Coastal Retreat
The Nook in Bude - a restored fisherman’s cottage on the beach
Wooda Farm Holiday Park in Bude - A 5 star holiday park
The Falcon Hotel - The oldest coaching hotel in North Cornwall (and it has a secret garden!)
So that was our 2 days in Bude, it’s just a snippet of what’s on offer but we hope this post has inspired you to visit this beautiful coastal town in North Cornwall.
It’s worth saying that Cornwall is such a precious part of the UK and the locals fight hard to protect it. When you visit just be mindful it’s their home and whilst most of Cornwall relies on tourism (Bude in particular so shop local where you can!) just make sure to leave no trace, whether you’re holidaying like we did in our home on wheels or in hotels.
We can’t wait to go back again and if you have been before let us know in the comments below!
Oh, we nearly forgot! If you head over to our YouTube channel you can watch all of our UK travel videos as well as our Cornwall road trip.