Bude is a charming north Cornwall town, known for its stunning beaches, rugged coastline and rich history. Here are ten fascinating facts that reveal what makes this seaside destination so special.
- Amazing beaches & surf spots – Bude boasts award-winning beaches Summerleaze Beach and Crooklets Beach, making it a top destination for surfing, sun-soaking and seaside walks.
- Unique tidal sea pool – The Bude Sea Pool at Summerleaze is a partially man-made tidal swimming pool, filled by the sea and open year-round, a rare facility wonderfully perched on the edge of the Atlantic.
- Historic canal with a twist – The Bude Canal was originally built in the early 19th century to transport lime-rich sand for fertiliser and is one of Britain’s more unusual canals thanks to its use of inclined planes for tub-boats.
- Coastal landmark that moved – The cliff-edge octagonal structure known as the Storm Tower (sometimes called the “pepper pot”) has been rebuilt twice and moved inland as the cliff eroded, it’s a picturesque witness to Cornwall’s wild coast.
- Connectivity in the digital age – Bude is more than just coastline: near the town is a data and communications hub featuring subsea cable landings and a major site of GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) at Morwenstow.
- One of the sunniest spots in the UK – Despite being on the northern coast, Bude enjoys relatively mild temperatures and was officially recorded as the sunniest place in the UK during summer 2013.
- Thriving independent town centre – The town centre is characterised by independent stores and cafés rather than big chains, giving Bude a distinctive, local-flavour atmosphere that complements its natural surroundings.
- Rich wildlife & geology – Bude’s coastline is designated in places as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and its cliffs expose the “Bude formation” geological sequences. Nearby nature-reserves like Maer Lake support waders and waterbirds, so it’s a great spot for wildlife watchers too.
- Tragic Shipwreck – Bude’s most infamous shipwreck involved the Bencoolen, a cargo vessel named after the Indonesian city, which set sail from Liverpool in 1862. Caught in a violent gale, the ship was driven onto Summerleaze Beach, resulting in the tragic loss of 27 sailors. Despite being so near the shore, rescue efforts were largely unsuccessful, with only six men surviving. In the aftermath, much of the salvaged timber from the Bencoolen was repurposed in local buildings, and its legacy lives on in the names of a nearby pub and a road.
- Surf life saving – The British Surf Life Saving movement began in Bude, founded by an Australian who brought the concept to the UK. Combining voluntary lifeguarding with competitive surf events, the Bude Surf Life Saving Club remains one of the country’s most active and respected.