Bude, in northern Cornwall was the most perfect setting for a slower paced holiday that catered for all generations on our Bude family holiday.
Bude is a laid back small coastal town with plenty going on and numerous beaches, play parks and great eateries. The other great thing about it is its location… being the most northern town in Cornwall meant it was less of a drive than to the bottom!
What’s the weather like in Bude?
Easter week was always going to be hit and miss weather wise but we were surprised at how varied it was! Definitely need to pack for all seasons. Day one was misty, blowing a gale and we were wrapped up in woolly hats and dry robes. Day five we were on the beach, applying suncream and soaking up the sunshine!
Which is the best beach in Bude?
Summerleaze Beach
The beach is obviously the main draw for a Bude family holiday to this coastal resort. Summerleaze is the main beach which is a huge sandy bay where the River Neet meets the sea. There are sand dunes, beach huts, shipwreck playground and a flat expanse of sand in the sheltered bay for families to set up for the day. Further down is the actual sea where you can watch the surfers or brave a dip. However, this certainly wasn’t possible when we were there as the waves were huge.
Another amazing addition in this area is the sea pool which is a protected pool ideal to swim in without the waves. There’s also a shallower section for the kids too. Bonus, it’s free.
We had a fab day on the beach here having sandcastle building competitions, digging the biggest hole, ball games and chilling.
Overlooking the beach is ‘Life’s a Beach’ cafe which we frequented on numerous occasions throughout the week. Food was really really good and the views were exceptional, made even better with a cold drink in hand. The ice creams were delicious too, the creamiest proper vanilla whippy ice cream we have ever had.
Crooklets Beach
The next beach across is Crooklets beach. Another sandy smaller bay which is linked to Summerleaze when the tide is out. Plenty of rock pools between for trying your luck with the net. Safe to say we didn’t find anything.
Here you will find a couple of cafes, of which we would definitely recommend Rosie’s. We didn’t eat a meal here but the food coming out of the kitchen, American diner inspired, looked epic.
There’s also a playground at Rosie’s plus another shipwreck playground by the beach huts.
Widemouth Bay
Widemouth Bay is a small village next to Bude, where we rented a cottage for the week. The main beach is vast with a couple of small car parks and is well known for surfing. At each end there were lots of rocks perfect for a spot of rock pooling.
The beach is pebbly at the top and then sandy on the flat when the tide is out. Great for ball games. We did pick some pebbles to take back to the cottage to paint one very cold and windy afternoon.
One thing about this stretch of coastline is that it is the Atlantic so exposed to pretty great waves. This makes it a fab place for surfing (watching in our case). But also being on the west you can watch the sunsets going down over the sea which was pretty spectacular.
Where’s the best place to walk around Bude?
Summerleaze and Crooklets beach are linked by Summerleaze Down which is lovely green expanse of land on the cliff tops making a lovely short walk from beach to beach. It’s part of the South West coastal path and is great area for the kids to run around.
South West Coastal Path
The South West coastal path goes all the way around Cornwall with the section between Bude and Widemouth Bay 3.5 miles long. This section was walked by us on numerous occasions. I was surprised at how up and down the coastal path was, naively thinking it was relatively flat. So I was genuinely happy to find a lot of undulations and bits of hill walking involved. Even happier to find a trig point on this section! The views all the way along are spectacular. To get on to the coastal path in Bude you can either head down on to the beach past the canal sea lock, over the breakwater and up the path to the Storm Tower or nip up some steps behind the canal sea lock behind the houses and again head up to the Storm Tower.
Bude Canal
Another interesting engineering point of interest in Bude, which obviously I found fascinating, was the presence of a canal. This one however was built to take sand from the beach inland to the farmers to add to the soil. The canal has a beautiful tow path walk from the sea up to near Marhamchurch where there is a great cafe called The Weir. A playground is here obviously, the Cornish definitely cater for kids!
The walk along the canal to The Weir cafe and back will take you a couple of hours, it’s 2.5 miles each way. The kids took their scooters and balance bikes which did make one way a little easier and faster. Expect a couple of canal locks, a nature reserve with bird hide plus a stunning little bluebell wood.
Alongside the tow path there is a cycle path that runs around the nature reserve. On the return leg we added on a little loop by walking around a section on the way back. But the cycle path carries on further. The nature reserve area is beautiful with grasses blowing in the breeze and lots of birds to spot. Another playground at the opposite end of here can also be found.
Where would we recommend to eat on our Bude family holiday?
Eateries in Bude
In Bude we can definitely recommend:
Life’s a Beach overlooking Summerleaze beach. They serve up fresh seafood with a bit of a twist . The place has a really cool atmosphere and is a great place to go day or night. Exceptionally busy in the summer I can imagine with the best view in town. As already mentioned, great food, great ice cream and cold bevvies.
Bank at Bude is a unique tapas restaurant set amongst the nature reserve. The food here was mega, the best meal of the week without a doubt. Every dish was tasty, fresh and packed a lot of flavour. The kids menu was fab, build your own which they loved. This restaurant is one that you want to save for a special evening. You can also visit in the day where they have little outdoor shed serving up ice creams, milkshakes and lunches. They also were offering up easter eggs for the kids too on easter weekend which was a lovely touch.
Eateries in Widemouth Bay
In Widemouth Bay we sampled the majority of eating establishments:
Bay View Inn is a posh pub with a very relaxed feel. Serving up fresh locally sourced proper good pub grub. It was a great spot for a tea time tipple and also had a kids playground which is always a huge draw. Amazing views out over the ocean which was even better enjoyed with an Aperol spritz at sun set.
The Beach House offers views direct on to the beach where you can sit out on picnic benches. Inside there is plenty of seating. We booked in for Sunday Lunch, a roast on the coast if you will. Very good cocktails, beautiful food and again, a gorgeous view.
On our final night we went to the opposite end of Widemouth Bay and ate at Widemouth Manor. This venue specialised in carvery on a Sunday and Grill nights on a Thursday. Top notch grub (service a bit slow) with the sunset in the background. There was also a playground here and a huge beer garden.
What is there to do in Bude with kids?
Bude Haven Recreation Ground
The centre of Bude is pretty packed with activities for how small it is. Bude Haven recreation ground is ideally situated just behind Summerleaze beach. Here you can find crazy golf (2 courses), tennis courts, bowls, pitch & putt plus an indoor sports hall.
There are plenty of independent shops, outdoor clothing shops (with great sales on!) and a few charity shops for picking up cheap bits.
Bude Castle
Next to Bude Haven is Bude Castle. It is very small and not overly castle looking from the outside (or inside) but it is free entry. Inside you will find a very very interesting museum about the town. From the geology, to sea disasters, army men stopping off, the rise of Bude as a coastal seaside resort, an art gallery, the making of the Storm Tower that overlooks the town and a very interesting room on Goldsworthy Gurney a local engineer who invented different types of lights. There are interactive bits for the kids, a driving boat game and a small trail around.
Bude Canal
Next to the Castle is the start of the Bude Canal. Here you can hire pedalo car boats, rowing boats or kayaks and sail up the canal. Apparently hard work on the legs especially when the wind is in the wrong direction! But luckily there is a banging cafe right there serving up fresh donuts as a reward for when you get off.
Extra things to do on your Bude family holiday
Playgrounds are a plenty in Bude. Lots of the eateries have their own, the shipwreck ones on the beaches and the council ones dotted around. Download the Playground App to easily locate them all.
Other things to do on your Bude family holiday is obviously the beach. From trying the rock pools, swimming in the sea pool, trying out surfing or coasteering (for the more adventurous of you). There is also The Venue which is a bowling alley, soft play and arcades. Next door is Bude Leisure Centre with a swimming pool with slides.
Where else can you visit in the area?
Tintagel Castle – English Heritage
One day we headed down the coast to Tintagel Castle. It was a beautiful area with stunning views over the sea. The bridge across to the ‘island’ is impressive and was one of the main drawers from photos I had seen. Once walking over the bridge and around the ‘castle’ you then head down a LOT of steps to the cafe, shop and toilets. From here you can head further down on to the small beach. There’s a cave to enter if you time it right with the tide times.
This is one of those places that you kinda need to tick off however I was a little disappointed. I was expecting a little bit more… I mean there wasn’t even a castle! It was just ruins and the footings grassed over in most places. So £50 for a family ticket for an hour wandering around was a little steep I thought.
Boscatle – harbour village
On the way back we stopped in Boscastle at the harbour… a lovely little walk down from the car park following the river to the sea. You can walk up on to the headland to enjoy the views but the winds were too strong on the day we visited.
Padstow – iconic fishing harbour village for foodies
Can’t visit without going to Padstow, the home of Rick Stein, who has really put this village on the map.
Padstow is a traditional fishing village which still retains some of that charm. Now though it is a bustling vibrant coastal foodie destination packed with independent shops and eateries. There are also plenty of high end establishments including Rick Stein’s Michelin star restaurant . We didn’t get to sample that one but we did eat in at his fish and chip shop on the front and really enjoyed the sharing fish and chip platter. Expensive but a tick that needs to be ticked I think when visiting here for the first time.
Cornish ice cream, exceptionally creamy is also another thing that needs to be sampled and my boys obviously had their fair share. Trying a lemon one here he declared this the best yet!
Padstow – exploring
Parking in Padstow in the summer I imagine would be a nightmare but there is a huge car park at Link Road which is only a short walk down the hill then to the harbour. Bonus here was an awesome playground and skate park.
We had a little walk around the harbour, stopping for a spot of crabbing. You can buy everything you need for crabbing here or just loiter like us and take over from someone who got bored and left! 10 minutes later we had caught a crab and the novelty had worn off so we passed the bucked and net on to someone else to carry on. It’s a good spot though for crabbing and all around the harbour families were trying it out.
Following the coastal path out of the harbour it headed out to the headland to a monument which overlooked the estuary. Stunning views out watching the fishing boats and passenger ferries that headed across to Rock. In the other direction you can get on the Camel Trail which is cycle route from Padstow to Wenfordbridge along a disused railway line which is 18 miles long. A beautifully scenic route perfect for a day out. Bring your own bikes or hire them along the route. Maybe next time we might try this for the full route. We were going to do it from Wadebridge into Padstow but for 5 miles of cycling we thought £22 per adult bike was a bit steep for a little bike ride.
Padstow – Lobster Hatchery
The other activity that I did pay for was entry to the National Lobster Hatchery. Educational conservation places like this I will pay for as it’s important that we educate our little ones. It was only small but had lots of interesting facts, displays and lobsters to see. Shame we didn’t get to see any up close or the boys able to handle any to reinforce that learning. Upstairs there was a craft room with plenty for the kids even being able to weave lobster pots – a dying art. The kids spent a while on here which was great.
So Padstow was definitely a cute little stop off and lovely to see. Just make sure you beat the crowds!
Eden Project
Giving the parents a break we sent them off for the day to the Eden Project. They had a fab full day here exploring the domes, gardens and all the interesting diverse plants and animals. We decided not to go with them as admission was really expensive and the kids wouldn’t have appreciated it. They would have enjoyed the playground and marble run I’m sure but not for that price. Some times you got to choose wisely! Next time we will go and leave the kids with the grandparents!
Where was our accommodation on our Bude family holiday?
Location – Widemouth Bay
We stayed in a holiday cottage called Dolphins. A 3 bedroom beach chalet style house with open plan living. It was in Widemouth Bay, on a private road set back from the beach. A really quiet area which felt really safe and had plenty of space for us all.
Book direct for the best price
We booked direct with Court Farm Holidays who also have another group of cottages in the next village (Marhamchurch) with a central play area, games room and swimming pool which we could also access if we wished. We did try the pool one day when it was raining, booking a slot to have it all to ourselves.
The cottage was really cool (said the boys!), decorated with bold colours, a huge octopus on the wall and hanging star lights.
The kitchen was a great central point. It meant that cooking dinner was a family affair. We ate in quite a few nights as it was so easy and everything you needed was there. Morrisons, in Bude was less than a 10 minute drive away. We also had a shop delivered when we arrived.
The boys loved sharing a bedroom, and we were all super comfy in our beds, sleeping like logs every night with all the sea air.
What else was included?
Extras were provided such as a bed guard for the little one, toilet seat, black out blinds plus cot etc if required.
There was a garden front and back plus car parking for 2 cars. Also a large utility room with a washer so I managed to get my washing done before we got home.
We had an awesome week and have already booked our Bude family holiday for next year.
What we loved about Bude
- Bude is unique in its features – there is a lot going on in a small space. It’s spread out across different areas which meant that it didn’t feel overly busy.
- There was lots of car parking spaces and it wasn’t expensive (we found a great car park at £1 an hour!).
- The beaches were superb and very family friendly.
- The coastline is stunning.
- The town is laid back, independent and not at all commercialised.
- It has a charm to it that feels homely and cosy and where you want to be.
Travel details for our Bude family holiday
Having been to Cornwall before and declared never again after doing the early morning drive down last time… we decided that this time we were going to break the journey up and stay overnight half way.
A Premier Inn in Tewkesbury was located approx. half way. It meant we could get on the road after work, stop for tea then get to the hotel for 9pm ready to crash out before doing the final leg in the morning. Arriving in Bude at lunch time refreshed was the best decision we made.
On the way home we did it in one as its always shorter on the way home isn’t it! Stopping off at Gloucester Services (best in the country) for lunch and Crewe for a leg stretch.
My top tips to enjoy a Bude family holiday
- Don’t over pack – use the washer in the cottage and wash a few times during the week
- Get a supermarket shop for when you arrive. Enjoy meals in, make packed lunches and always have snacks in your bag for the kids
- Keep days simple, choose one main activity for the day
- Make the most of the beach whatever the weather
- Take plenty of board games
- Park on Ergue-Gaberic Way by Bude Haven Recreation Ground
- Book tables for dinner in advance (Bank at Bude, Widemouth Manor, Life’s a Beach, Bay View Inn, The Beach House)
- Don’t bother with crabbing, we couldn’t find any spots in Bude even though I had read it was good
Itinerary for our Bude family holiday
So a quick summary of our itinerary as I feel like I’ve jumped about a bit!
Day 1: Arrive lunch time having stayed overnight to break the journey up. Explore Bude town centre. Check in accommodation
Dinner: Eat in
Day 2: Swim at indoor pool at Court Farm. Explore Bude, walk on Summerleaze beach to Crooklets. Coastal path walk back to Widemouth Bay
Dinner: Eat in
Day 3: Bude canal walk to The Weir Cafe. Widemouth beach play.
Dinner: Sunday lunch at The Beach House, Widemouth Bay
Day 4: Tintagal Castle visit. Boscastle harbour explore. Widemouth Bay to Bude and back walk along coastal path.
Dinner: Eat in
Day 5: Day at Summerleaze Beach.
Dinner: Bay View Inn, Widemouth Bay
Day 6: Explore Padstow.
Lunch: Rick Steins fish and chip shop
Dinner: Bank at Bude (tapas)
Day 7: Explore Bude – pedalos, castle and ice cream
Dinner: Widemouth Manor (grill night)
Thanks for reading my Bude family holiday blog. If you have any questions then drop me a message on Instagram and I would love to help you plan your next visit to Bude!
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