Bude Beaches

Bude sits on Cornwall's dramatic north coast, and this guide now runs the full length of the Heritage Coast from Stanbury Mouth, just short of the Devon border, down through Bude's own town beaches and on past Crackington Haven, Boscastle and Tintagel to Port Isaac and Port Quin - 19 beaches in all. Few stretches of the Cornish coastline pack in such variety - family-friendly beaches with cafes and lifeguards sit within a few miles of quiet National Trust coves, dramatic waterfall inlets and near-deserted hamlets that see only a handful of visitors even in August.

Bude itself grew up around its canal, built in the 1820s to carry sand and lime inland to improve farmland, and the town retains a relaxed, unpretentious character quite different from Cornwall's more commercialised resorts further south. Three of its beaches - Crooklets, Summerleaze and Widemouth Bay - hold Blue Flag award status for 2026, while Crackington Haven, a little further south, holds a 2026 Seaside Award. Further south again, the coast turns wilder and more dramatic still, taking in the chevron-folded rocks at Millook, the National Trust's remote Strangles beach beneath High Cliff, the waterfall cove at Pentargon, Boscastle's historic harbour, the beach below Tintagel Castle, and finally the working fishing harbour at Port Isaac and the near-deserted hamlet of Port Quin.

Each beach below has its own dedicated page with a full visitor guide - parking, facilities, Blue Badge and disabled access information, a precise map, nearby things to do and places to stay - researched and kept up to date. Use the buttons above or the list below to jump to any beach.