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To Do... Or Not to Do
Your holiday agenda is beautifully blank…
be as active or as idle as you wish. Enjoy lazy days in front of a
roaring log fire or brave the Atlantic and scream down the barrel of
a seven foot wave on one of Bude’s unspoilt beaches...
At Venn we understand the luxury of just doing nothing. Sit on the
deck, watch the deer, read a book, or just exert your right to be
downright lazy… However, if you want to milk your time in the
South West, here’s a selection of what’s on offer.
The Beaches
Bude plays host to some of the country’s most breathtaking
beaches and caters for all levels of surfers. It is also a short drive to
North Devon’s surfing beaches such as Croyde, Woolacombe and
Sandymere. Please check www.RNLI.org.uk for details of Lifeguards
patrol times and dates.
Surfing
| The Big Blue Surf School |
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| Mike Raven Surf School |
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Summerleaze
Summerleaze beach is the closest beach to Bude town. It has
plenty of parking and is close to all the facilities. Summerleaze is
ideal for families, with sand dunes for young adventurers to play
hide and seek in, and a huge expanse of clean fine (perfect for
sandcastles) sand. At low tide you can also explore Bude’s famous
Breakwater, with “Tommy’s Pit” and the landmark of Barrel Rock. It
has a sea-washed swimming pool near the cliffs which is perfect for
a dip. There are lifeguards on patrol on the beach from May through
to September.
Summerleaze is also one of Cornwall’s premier surfing beaches.
The harbour gives shelter from strong south westerly winds, and
offers great surfing at high or low tides. When the surfs got the
better of you head to Life’s a Beach for the best fish supper in town.
Crooklets
Crooklets, Bude’s other town beach… was nicknamed the “Bondi of
Britain” where the country’s first life-saving club was formed in 1953.
Crooklets often provides ideal conditions for surfers and there are
regular surf and life-saving demonstrations throughout the year. It
has great parking and good facilities.
Another great beach for families, there is a licensed café, surf shop,
public conveniences and beach hut, deckchair and windbreak hire.
Crooklets Beach is also good for beach fishing and rock pooling.
Lifeguards patrol May til September.
Sandymouth
A couple of miles north of Bude is Sandymouth, a dramatic beach
which offers excellent surfing. The approach to the beach is simply
breathtaking. At low tide there’s a huge expanse of sand, and you
can walk over the cliffs to Northcott Mouth and Bude.
There is a café from which dolphins have been spotted so take the
bins. The car park is a National Trust car park, so remember your
membership card. Beware of the tides here. Lifeguards patrol from
May until September.
Widemouth Bay
We love Widemouth beach. A vast expanse of over two miles of
open sand at low tide perfect for surfers of any ability. The waves
can be quite spectacular. Widemouth, fantastic for families, has excellent
parking, and facilities, including surfing lessons PLUS a café
for the obligatory ice creams. Widemouth Bay is an ideal starting
point for walking the Cornish coast towards Black Rock or
Upton Beach. Lifeguards patrol from May until September.
After a long day on the beach why don’t you stop at the Wet fish
shop for some locally caught mackerel for the BBQ... or if that’s
simply too much effort, pull in at the fantastic Bay View Inn for a
burger. There’s a small kids playground outside, and if they’re
happy, you’re happy.
There’s only one rule… don’t leave before the sunset.
Crackington Haven
Crackington Haven is a short drive to the south west of Bude. It is a
stunning idyllic cove, flanked by dramatic steep cliffs. Crackington
Haven offers a pub & restaurant, beach café, public conveniences
and excellent parking. It is ideal for families. The sand is bordered
by low a reef which provides numerous little rock pools to explore.
Nets and buckets compulsory. Lifeguards patrol from May til September.
Northcott Mouth
Our favourite beach. Northcott is, at low tide, a beautiful sandy
beach which can extend 3 miles to Crooklets beach at Bude.
Don’t leave before… sampling one of Margaret’s Cream Teas.
(Green caravan behind the beach) …walking up the cliff and taking
in a few deep breathes at the top.
Duckpool
Duckpool is a romantic little cove at the end of Coombe Valley,
favoured for its little sandy beach flanked by the spectacular peak
of Steeple Point. The surrounding cliffs offer stunning views of the
North Cornwall and Devon coast. Duckpool offers great surfing,
good rock pools and has ample parking. However, no lifeguards.
Welcombe Mouth
A secluded and quiet bay located at the end of a track. A small car
park at the end gives access to a lovely beach. Sandy from mid tide
onwards with great rock pools and waterfall.
Port Isaac
A pretty 14th century fishing village. Its narrow winding lanes are
lined with old whitewashed cottages many of which are listed , leads
down to the beach where you will find a great wet fish shop, some
pubs, cafes and a few shops. The wonderful Fishermens Friends
sing here most fridays from 8pm in the summer.
Gardens
| RHS Rosemoor gardens. Torrington |
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| The Eden Project. St Austell |
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| The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Megavissey |
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| Lanhydrock Estate. Bodmin |
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| Japanese Garden & Bonsai Nursery. Newquay |
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| Broomhill Sculpture Gardens. Barnstaple |
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Art, Culture & Heritage
| Cornwall’s Outdoor Theatre |
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| Tate St Ives |
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| Tintagel Castle |
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| Bude Jazz Festival |
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| Historic harbour at Charlestown |
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| Lundy Island |
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A Gentle Amble...
Cycling
The Camel Trail
Pedal from Wadebridge to Padstow. A flat easy ride, ideal for the
kids. Stop for lunch at Rick Stein’s Fish And Chip Shop, for the west countrys best fish and chips.
Bridge Bike Hire. 01208 813050
www.bridgebikehire.co.uk
The Tarka Trail
32 miles of trail through Devon’s beautiful countryside.
www.tarka-country.co.uk/tarkatrust
Sailing
Sailing courses available at Tamar Lakes.
01288 321712
Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club
www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Rowing
Row a boat down the Bude Canal.
Golf
Whether its’ crazy or links, Bude has it all.
The Bude & North Cornwall Golf Club provides a challenging links
golf at its very best, which has “The finest greens in the West”.
Visitors and societies are made welcome and its excellent bar and
restaurant are open all year round.
www.budegolf.co.uk
Fishing
Fishing for all attention spans, and a well stocked farm shop to boot.
www.blakewell.co.uk
The Adrenaline Junkie
For the hyper actives amongst you…
Eat
Food glorious food. Bude and its surrounding area offers a wide
range of cafes and restaurants, here’s a few of our favourites….
| The Bay View Inn, Widemouth. 01288 361273 |
| www.bayviewinn.co.uk |
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| The Bush, Morwenstow 01288 331242 |
| www.bushinn-morwenstow.co.uk |
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| The Tree, Stratton. 01288 352038 |
| www.treeinn.co.uk |
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| The Old Smithy, Welcombe 01288 331305 |
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| Life’s a Beach, Bude. 01288 355222 |
| www.lifesabeach.info |
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| Tiandi, Bude |
| www.tiandi.co.uk |
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| Rick Steins, Padstow |
| www.rickstein.com |
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| Fifteen, Watergate Bay. 01637 861000 |
| www.fifteencornwall.co.uk |
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| Castle Restaurant, Bude. 01288 350543 |
| www.thecastlerestaurantbude.co.uk |
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| Olive tree, Bude. 01288 359577 |
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| St Kew Inn, St Kew. 01208 841259 |
| www.stkewinn.co.uk |
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Rainy Days
The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth.
The National Marine Aquarium was the first aquarium in the United
Kingdom to be set up solely for the purpose of education, conservation
and research. It remains one of Britain’s foremost aquarium with
stunning exhibits and a reputation for excellence in education.
www.national-aquarium.co.uk
Bude Splash Leisure Pool.
A great indoor pool with waves and slides.
www.north-cornwall.co.uk/leisure/splash-leisure-pool.htm
The Milky Way Adventure Park.
Host to Devon’s largest roller coaster, a massive undercover
adventure play area and amazing live shows.
www.themilkyway.co.uk
The Big Sheep.
A great day out for the whole family.
www.thebigsheep.co.uk
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