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En Route Attractions - Bude

After many miles of coast path Bude provides a sizeable town and facilities (the first in Cornwall) or for those starting their walking a gateway to the sands of Widemouth bay and your climb up into the cliffs of Smuggling Country. Whilst not the most in vogue location, (try Fowey or Port Isaac for that), it retains appeal for its excellent beaches and lively (for Cornwall) town which has developed a strong surfing connection.

The Bude canal is certainly worth a look, opened in 1823 it runs through the lower end of town and has its own unique sea lock. It's a surreal sight to follow it to the Atlantic and see the canal meet the ocean on a beach! For those wanting to know more about this significant engineering feat you can learn loads more at the Town Museum housed in the Old Blacksmiths forge on the Lower Wharf. At the end of the canal there is plenty to occupy you on an evening stroll over the cliff top and out along the breakwater to the barrel rock at low tide. Bude castle, its gardens and the rather surreal Bude Light are also close by. For those needing to refresh those feet, you have the tidal swimming pool or if that's too much effort consider hiring a rowing boat to explore the canal. Bude has some of the UK's best surfing beaches and culture and for those keen to immerse themselves in the Atlantic then this is the place to do it, consider a rest day option here with a surfing lesson built in.

For the overnight walker you are blessed with good range of accommodation, restaurants, café's and bars to choose from. Some of the more atmospheric are to be found close to the surfing haven at the Summerleaze beach end of town. All in all with its locally run shops and businesses Bude has a pleasant and laid back feel about it and as a launching pad for the wild walking to come is a stress free and hospitable stop with pristine golden sands stretching in all directions.

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