Beaches
In Devon and Cornwall we have some of the best beaches in the UK. If you drive to the north coast there is usually a lot of wind and therefore fabulous, regular and impressive waves; brilliant for surfing, boogie boarding and body boarding. However, the waves can be very strong and the rip tide deadly, please ONLY swim within flagged areas which are patrolled by RNLI lifeguards (dates and times vary - please check the RNLI website for more details) Please be very careful of your children; people die every year because they underestimate the power of the sea. All of the beaches listed below are amply supplied with cafes, pubs and shops – please see Places to Eat section to find out more details.
Widemouth Bay – Bude EX23 0AW (24 mins drive)
Connected at one end to Black Rock Beach which is dog friendly all year round both excellent swimming beaches with designated coastguard protected swimming areas (May-Sept).
You can hire or buy yourself a wetsuit/surf board or boogie board at the far end of Widemouth Bay at The Beach House Surf Shop (£7 for 4 hours) 01288 361256
Please do call 01288362900 to talk to our friends Rob and Andy or book online at OA Surf Club for surf lessons!
Summerleaze Beach - Bude EX23 8HN (25 mins drive)
Head into Bude and follow the signs for Summerleaze Beach, it’s a beautiful wide golden sandy beach with a newly revamped sea pool, excellent cafes and even some gorgous pastel beach huts for hire.
Summerleaze is an unusual beach with a large breakwater complete with tower protecting a small harbour and the mouth of the Bude canal with its massive lock gates. On the opposite side of the beach there's a sea-water bathing pool making for safe bathing whatever the conditions. Backing onto the beach are grassy downs and the River Neet.
Crooklets Beach - Bude EX23 8NE (25 mins drive)
The sandy beach is bordered to the north by Wrangle point and separated from Summerleaze beach to the south by a rocky outcrop. Stop off at Rosies Cafe for some dirty chips after your swim.
This small beach joins up at low tide with Summerleaze and Northcott Mouth forming a much larger golden sandy bay.
Crackington Haven - Bude EX23 9JG (35 mins drive)
A very popular beach with rock pools, a stony area for those who hate sand in their sandwiches and a sandy section at low tide for those all important sandcastles or games of beach cricket. Two cafes and a pub plus parking make this a perennial favourite.
Northcott Mouth (25 mins drive)
Northcott Mouth is the main stretch of sand that at low tide joins up with Crooklets beach in the south and almost as far as Duckpool in the north.
As with many of the beaches in this area there is a mix of pebbles at high tide and expanses of sand, punctuated by the distinctive fingers of rock known as the Bude Formation.
Trebarwith Strand (46 mins drive)
Trebarwith Strand is south of Tintagel and can be reached on foot along the coast path, or by car.
The beach is completely covered at high tide. Please check tide times before visiting the beach. At low tide the expansive beach is revealed. The Port William, which overlooks the beach and cliffs is a very popular local pub.
Strangles
The Strangles beach is quiet even in the summer due to a difficult climb down to the beach.
Parking is restricted and the beach is accessed via a foot path. The beach is completely covered at high tide. Please do check the tide times before visiting the beach. At low tide the beach is revealed.
