Beaches near Bude
The valley sits a couple of miles inland, which means you get the shelter of the trees and the run of the North Cornwall coast. Most of Bude’s beaches are under a ten-minute drive.
Two miles inland from Bude
Explore Bude & North Cornwall
Two miles inland from Bude, you’re well placed for North Cornwall’s best beaches, the South West Coast Path and a string of day trips out along the coast.
- Beaches under a ten-minute drive
- Coast path two miles away
- Eleven acres to roam
- Dogs welcome in every stay
Where to go
Guides to this stretch of coast
The valley itself, with its eleven acres and woodland, keeps the children and the dogs busy for nothing. Here’s how to fill a week.
Bude — your nearest town
Bude is the friendly North Cornwall seaside town about two miles from the valley — beaches, a sea pool, a historic canal, independent shops and somewhere to eat after a day on the coast.
South West Coast Path walks
The South West Coast Path is England’s longest waymarked trail, and it runs along this whole stretch of North Cornwall. Cliffs and coves the whole way, and you can join it in Bude, minutes from the valley.
Days out from Willow Valley
When you fancy venturing beyond the beaches, North Cornwall and nearby North Devon are full of harbours, castles and characterful villages — all within driving distance of the valley.
Food & drink
From in-season doorstep deliveries of Cornish bread and bacon to the cook deck for glampers and the restaurants of Bude, you won’t go hungry in the valley.
Things to do with kids
Half the fun is on site: woodland to explore, football goals and swings. The rest is a short drive away on the beach.
Worth the drive
Places we send guests
Rough drive times from the gate. Lanes are slower in August, so give yourself longer than the map says.
Summerleaze & Bude Sea Pool
Under a ten-minute driveBude’s main town beach, with the semi-natural Bude Sea Pool tucked beneath the cliffs — sheltered water when the sea is rough.
Crooklets
Under ten minutesJust along from Summerleaze, a favourite with surfers and bodyboarders, with lifeguards in season.
Widemouth Bay
Under ten minutesA long, wide stretch of sand south of Bude — good for surfing, rockpooling and a proper beach day.
Sandymouth
About fifteen minutesA National Trust beach to the north, with dramatic cliffs and rockpools at low tide.
Crackington Haven
A short drive down the coastA smaller cove framed by some of the highest cliffs in Cornwall — wild, and worth the drive.
Bude Canal towpath
Two milesFlat and level from the sea lock inland, with cafés along the way — the easy walk or cycle when the cliffs feel like too much.
South West Coast Path
Two miles to the nearest access at BudeEngland’s longest waymarked trail runs straight through Bude; pick it up in either direction and turn back when you’ve had enough.
Padstow
Around an hourA working harbour on the Camel Estuary, known for its seafood and as the start of the Camel Trail cycle route.
Clovelly
A short drive north into DevonA privately owned, traffic-free village of cobbled streets running down to a tiny harbour.
Hartland Quay
A short drive northRaw cliffs and crashing Atlantic — some of the most dramatic coast in the country.
Charlestown
A scenic run southA Georgian harbour with tall ships, familiar from a long list of period dramas.
Tintagel & Boscastle
A clifftop castle with the Arthurian legend attached, and a sheltered harbour a few miles on.
Exploring the area — questions & answers
The park is about two miles inland from Bude, so Summerleaze, Crooklets and Widemouth Bay are all under a ten-minute drive. Sandymouth is around fifteen minutes.
Yes — Summerleaze in Bude has the Bude Sea Pool, a semi-natural tidal pool that’s calmer than the open sea and a favourite with families.
The coast path runs through Bude, two miles away, so most people drive in and pick it up there. From Bude you can head north towards Sandymouth and Duckpool or south towards Widemouth Bay and Crackington Haven.
Yes — football goals and swings, eleven acres of valley to roam and woodland to explore. The site is low-density and gated, so it stays calm.
Bude has indoor options within a couple of miles, and the bigger towns are an easy drive. We keep a list of current favourites — ask us when you arrive and we’ll point you the right way.
Dogs are welcome in every stay. On the park they should be on a lead no longer than 2 metres, exercised in the area provided, and never left unattended. Many beaches near Bude welcome dogs year-round, with seasonal restrictions on the busier town beaches in high summer — ask us which beach suits the time of year you’re visiting.
During the season, local producers deliver bread, sausages, bacon, honey and milk to the site, and Bude’s shops and supermarkets are two miles away. There is also a covered cook deck at the facilities.
Stay two miles from the sea
Live availability and prices, booked direct — no booking fees, no middleman.