to do
Escallonia Cottage is situated in Poughill, on the outskirts of Bude. It’s close to the beaches, and great for walkers, as its sits in front of two public footpaths. Poughill is also a great base to explore further afield and see what the South West has on offer.
Surfing
Beaches
Bude’s dramatic coastline is home to many stunning beaches.
The area is great for surfers and body boarders or all levels. Here’s a few of our favourites;
Northcott Mouth
Northcout Mouth is the nearest beach to Escallonia Cottage. It also happens to be one of our favourites. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from the cottage. At low tide you can walk along the beach into Bude and explore hidden shipwrecks. Children will love exploring the fine sand, many rock pools and stream, which runs down through the beach. Owned by the National Trust, it offers a slightly more secluded alternative to the main beaches.
Behind the beach there is Margaret’s Rustic Tea Garden. Don’t leave without sampling one of her cream teas. They’re legendary. As is Margaret.
Duckpool
Duckpool is a thrilling and romantic cove. Flanked by Steeple Point Cliff it’s a distinctly wild setting. Duckpool hosts a retro ice cream van in the summer.
Summerleaze
Summerleaze Beach is Bude’s main town beach. Great for families it’s spotless, safe and sandy. Summerleaze Beach is a big hit with surfers, and families alike.
The Natural Sea Pool is great for young children to have a paddle, or for more serious swimmers to get some lengths in.
You can hire beach huts for the day at Summerleaze. Just ask at the hit in front of the car park.
Crooklets
Crooklets offers a huge expanse of golden sand and rock pools to explore once the tide is out. It is popular with surfers, but also families who would prefer a beach without dogs. Head to Rosie’s for fish and chips or a marshmallow hot chocolate.
Widemouth Bay
Widemouth Bay (pronounced Wid-Muth) offers fantastic conditions to learn surfing or body boarding, which is why many of the local surf schools have their base there. Although it looks like one huge beach, stretching across almost 1.5 miles, it is actually divided into the North and South Beach (also called Black Rock) by a natural barrier of rock.
Sandymouth
A National Trust owned beach that starts with a dramatic cliff top view from the car park. It’s a wonderful beach, and one of our favourites – with a vast expanse of sand, particularly at low tide.
It also has a good café.
Crackington Haven
Crackington Haven is a spectacular scenic area. The beach at high tide is mainly pebbles, but a good area of sand is exposed at low tide. Crackington lies within the Heritage Coast area.
Welcombe Mouth
Welcombe Mouth is a very secluded and quiet beach just over the border in Devon. When the tide is low it reveals a small beach of golden sand with many rock pools to be found along the fore shore. There’s a lovely waterfall here. You can marvel at the rock formations. Close by is the super Welcombe pottery, and near that is the Smithy Inn, which is great for a Sunday lunch.
Port Isaac
Port Isaac is a beautiful and romantic fishing cove. Famed by the Fisherman Friends singers and Doc Martin. The place has a magical, enchanted feel to it.
At low tide there is a walkway along the beach to the jetty. This is great to go crabbing from.
Eat
Bude and the surrounding areas offer a wide range of places where you can eat for any budget.
The Beautiful and the Feast
NEW to the area….and seriously good food. Beautiful and the Feast turn the best of British produce that’s locally sourced, organic and lovingly hand-forged into unique, honest dishes straight outta Cornwall/Devon. Head down to their drive-thru at Widemouth Beach on Friday.
They also offer catering for anyone who has a special event or occasion to celebrate.
www.beautifulandthefeast.com
The Sea Green Canteen
NEW – Every Friday evening from June 3 to September, Sea Green Canteen will be serving barbecued local fish, shellfish and crustaceans with a selection of sumptuous salads at Northcott Mouth. Superb fish suppers at Northcott Mouth. Trust us… this food is superb.
www.seagreencanteen.co.uk
The Deck, Bude
01288 353846 thedeckbude.co.uk
Excellent for the family. Our childrens favourite place to eat. Kebabs, steaks, fish and burgers. A great family run restaurant. Very friendly and fantastic sea view.
Olive Tree, Bude
01288 359577
olivetreebude.co.uk
The best breakfasts in town. Try the eggs benedict.
Very good for lunches too.
The Beach Hotel, Bude
Head Chef, Joe Simmonds has a genuine passion for developing menus that use fresh local ingredients. Great for cocktails and sun downers on the terrace. Fantastc views across Bude Bay.
www.thebeachatbude.co.uk
Life’s a Beach, Bude
01288 355222
lifesabeach.info
Overlooks the beach at Bude.
Great for breakfasts, Fish lunches and dinner.
The Old Smithy, Welcombe
01288 331305 theoldsmithyinn.co.uk
Sunday Lunch, Great Pub Food
St Kew Inn, St Kew
01208 841259 stkewinn.co.uk
Our favourite pub. Excellent food and a superb beer garden.
The Bush, Morwenstow
01288 331242
bushinn-morwenstow.co.uk
Olde World pub with huge beer garden and views to the sea.
Elements, Widemouth
01288 352386 elements-life.co.uk
Good family friendly restaurant. Pizza and pasta.
Rosies Kitchen
01288 354 238 rosieskitchen.co.uk
Good café on the beach. Burgers and fish and chips.
Rick Stein’s, Padstow
rickstein.com
Fifteen, Watergate Bay
01637 861000
fifteencornwall.co.uk
Nathan Outlaw at The St. Endoc Hotel
01208 862 737
nathan-outlaw.com
Outlaws Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
01208 881183
nathan-outlaw.com
Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park
01647 432367
gidleigh.com/restaurant
Rainy Days
Don’t panic, there’s still plenty to do if the rain descends.
The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth
If you visit the UK’s largest Aquarium, prepare to be amazed by their fascinating underwater world and how they all play a part in conserving it. Children won’t be able to get enough of it and even the range of sea-life creatures the Aquarium holds will fascinate you. National-aquarium.uk
Why not take lunch at the Royal William Yard in Plymouth after visiting the Aquarium. www.royalwilliamyardharbour.co.uk
Some Royal Naval buildings have been renovated and now form cafes, bars, restaurants, museums and art galleries. Here are just a few favourites:
Wagamama’s
The River Cottage Canteen & Deli
The Royal William Bakery
From the first Sunday of March onwards, the best local food and drink in the South West is provided with over thirty stallholders from Devon and Cornwall. This event takes place between 10am and 3pm on The Green.
The Big Sheep
A great family day out www.thebigsheep.co.uk
The Milky Way Adventure Park
For a truly out of this world experience, don’t miss out on the fun at the Milky Way Adventure Park. It’s designed to be fun for parents as well as children. www.themilkyway.co.uk
Bude Splash Leisure Pool
Splash leisure pool in Bude is a large swimming centre with a 33 metre, 5-lane pool that also has a wave machine and flume.
Running
Some of the best trail running in the country. Just head for the coastal path,or to the moors.
Cycling
The Tarka Trail
Over 30 miles of the Tarka Trail is available to cyclists between Braunton and Meeth, using the old railways of North Devon. www.tarka-country.co.uk/tarkatrust
The Camel Trail
One of the most popular cycle routes in the country, the Camel Trail runs from Padstow to Wenford Bridge. The Camel Trail provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside. Eight miles of flat cycle path with stunning scenery – great for any ability. You can also hire ‘tag alongs’ or buggies for babies. Try Fish and Chips from Rick Steins in Padstow.
Bridge Bike Hire 01208 813050
bridgebikehire.co.uk
Bude also has some great cycle paths
budebikehire.co.uk
Archery
We highly recommend Dragon Archery. It’s a great family day out and would be fine for Dragon Archery is set in the heart of the Devon countryside in a picturesque setting. It is the perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon learning the ancient skill of archery under expert tuition and supervision. You will need to book in advance. www.dragonarcherycentre.co.uk
Sailing
Courses in sailing are available at Tamar Lakes
Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club
www.swlakestrust.org.uk
01288 321712
Rowing
Enjoy a lazy afternoon rowing down the Bude canal.
Golf
Bude Golf Club is an 18-hole links course in North Cornwall.
www.budegolf.co.uk
Fishing
www.blakewell.co.uk
The Adrenaline Junkie
Atlantic Pursuits
www.itsadventuresouthwest.co.uk
Gardens
RHS Rosemoor Gardens, Torrington rhs.org.uk
The Eden Project, St. Austell edenproject.com
The Lost Gardens of Heligan,
Megavissey heligan.com
Lanhydrock Estate,
Bodmin nationaltrust.org.uk
Art, Culture & Heritage
Cornwalls Outdoor Theatre minack.com
Tate St. Ives tate.org.uk/stives
Tintagel Castle english-heritage.org.uk
Bude Jazz Festival budejazzfestival.co.uk
Lundy Island lundyisland.co.uk