Beaches
There is a great choice of local beaches within 10-15 mins drive of Ivyleaf Barton Holiday Cottages, offering vast expanses of clean, sandy beaches, often backed by rugged cliffs.
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Summerleaze Beach, Bude
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With the prominent features of the breakwater, barrel rock, canal lock gates, and the river Neet flowing into the sea, it is probably the most picturesque beach of Bude. There is a large car park adjoining the beach, with level access to the beach. Within the car park is the RNLI lifeboat station, public toilets and a beach office where sand wheelchairs, windbreaks, deckchairs and beach huts can be hired and general beach goods can be purchased. Full toilet and shower facilities are available.
The nationally acclaimed open-air sea pool is popular with families. The beach has RNLI lifeguard cover from the beginning of May to the end of September between the hours of 10am - 6pm and during this time all dogs must be on leads.
Overlooking the beach is a popular café Life's a beach, which doubles up in the evening as a lively restaurant.
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Crooklets Beach, Bude
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Although a little pebbly at the top, a wide expanse of golden sand and rock pools is exposed at low tide. It is popular with surfers and home to Bude Surf Life Saving Club
The beach has great facilities including a large car park, a play area, skate park and there is a café right on the sea front and Rosie's diner. There are public toilets and an outdoor shower.
The beach has RNLI lifeguard cover from the beginning of May to the end of September between the hours of 10am – 6pm. There is a dog ban.
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Sandymouth, 5 miles north of Bude
When the tide is at its lowest, it is possible to take in the spectacular coastline between Bude and Sandymouth by walking two miles along the beach. Sandymouth is a National Trust-owned beach and has a large manned car park at the top of the cliff. The walk down to the beach leads you through quite a steep and narrow path with some steps, which makes it unsuitable for those who are less mobile but once there you will find a lovely quiet beach with its very own waterfall! There is a café with public toilets, which are open during the main summer season. Lifeguard cover is provided from the middle of May until the middle of September. Dogs welcome.
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Widemouth Bay, 3 miles south of Bude
Widemouth Bay is very popular with bathers and surfers alike. 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. Widemouth offers fantastic conditions to learn surfing or body-boarding, which is why many of the local surf schools have their base there. A big car park, public toilets and Widemouth bay café are available, together with the family run Trelawney Tea Rooms (which also offers wet-suit & surfboard hire right opposite the car park. . Lifeguard cover is provided from the beginning of May until the end of September (North Beach). Cover on Black Rock is from the middle of May until the end of September. Dogs welcome on Black Rock beach.
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