Area guide
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.
Here’s how to keep all ages happy, rain or shine.
On site, and free
The valley itself is the adventure: eleven acres to roam, with woodland along the edges and the river running through the middle.
It’s a low-density site: 21 camping pitches spread out along the valley. Entry is through a number plate recognition barrier, so there is very little traffic moving about. Younger ones get room to be fairly free-range.
A kickabout and the swings
There are football goals set up on the grass and swings for the smaller ones — enough to fill the gap between breakfast and the beach, and to burn off whatever is left in them before bed.
Both are free to use and open whenever you are. Bring a ball if you have a favourite one, though we usually have a spare knocking about.
Beach days
Rockpooling at Sandymouth, bodyboarding at Widemouth and a paddle in the Bude Sea Pool — the beaches are all a short drive, most of them under ten minutes.
Surf lessons and board hire run through the season for older children, and the sea pool at Summerleaze is the calmer option for anyone not ready for the open water. Ask us in the morning and we’ll tell you which beach the tide and the wind suit best.
Rainy days
Cornwall does occasionally rain. When it does, Bude has indoor options within a couple of miles, and the bigger towns are an easy drive.
We keep a little list of current favourites rather than printing one that goes out of date — so just ask us and we’ll point you the right way.
The practical bits
There’s baby changing in both the male and female toilets, and the toilets and site facilities stay open 24 hours — which matters more than you’d think at two in the morning with a small child.
The shower blocks are open 24 hours, there’s a laundry for the inevitable, and a vending machine on site for cold drinks. The machine is soft drinks only; snacks, ice creams and the essentials are in the shop in reception.
The dog comes too
Dogs are welcome in every stay, so nobody gets left behind. We ask that they’re kept on a lead no longer than two metres, exercised in the area provided and never left unattended — including in the stay while you’re out for the day.
The breeds we can’t accept are Rottweiler, Doberman, Bull Mastiff, Pit Bull Terrier and their crosses. There’s a dog wash behind reception for the state they come back from the beach in.
At a glance
Highlights
Distances and times are from the park.
Football goals and swings
Distance from the park: On site
Goals on the grass and swings for the smaller ones, free to use whenever you like.
Bude Sea Pool, Summerleaze
Distance from the park: Under a ten-minute drive
A semi-natural tidal pool beside the main town beach, sheltered from the swell and far calmer than the open sea.
Widemouth Bay
Distance from the park: Under ten minutes
A long, wide stretch of sand south of Bude — bodyboarding, rockpools at low tide and room for a proper beach day.
Sandymouth
Distance from the park: About fifteen minutes
A National Trust beach to the north with cliffs behind it and some of the best rockpooling near Bude when the tide is out.
Surf lessons
Several beaches along this stretch offer board hire and lessons through the season — this is one of the best coasts in England to learn on.
Questions & answers
Yes — there are football goals and swings, plus eleven acres of valley and woodland to explore. It’s a low-density site, so it stays calm.
Bude has indoor options within a couple of miles and there’s more in the nearby towns. Ask us when you arrive and we’ll point you at the current favourites.
No — nobody is allowed in the river. It runs through the middle of the park rather than anywhere out of the way, so keep an eye on little ones near the bank. Children remain your responsibility here at all times.
Yes, in both the male and female toilets. The toilets and site facilities are open 24 hours.
Entry is controlled by an automatic number plate recognition barrier and CCTV covers the park 24 hours a day, so through-traffic is minimal. There’s no security guard on site, but we walk round the park ourselves.
Camping and touring: arrive between noon and 6pm, leave by 11am. Glamping and the lodges: arrive from 3pm, leave by 10am.
The vending machine sells soft drinks only. The shop in reception has snacks, hot drinks, ice creams and the essentials, and Bude is a couple of miles away for anything more.
Yes — dogs are welcome in every stay. Keep them on a lead no longer than two metres, exercise them in the area provided and don’t leave them unattended. We can’t accept Rottweilers, Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, Pit Bull Terriers or their crosses.
Make the valley your base
Live availability and prices, booked direct — no booking fees, no middleman.