| Bude on the north coast of Cornwall
is a sea-side town. In the 18th century it was a busy port shipping
goods to Ireland, Bristol and Wales. With trade so good, cottages
were built to house the many tradesmen etc. There is a mixture of
architecture to be found ranging from 16th century through to the
present.
Walking, cycling, horseridng, fishing, golf, skateboarding, surfing,
rowing, canoeing, watersports, sightseeing, or just lazing about
on the beach there is something for everyone.
Bude Canal
Originally built for transporting sand, coal and limestone to rural
North Cornwall and North Devon, it stretched to the Tamar Lakes
and as far as Launceston. It was opened in 1823, over the last century
it fell into disuse and now only the section from Bude to Helebridge
is navigable. Bude Tourist Information and Canal Interpretation
Centre gives more information about the canal, walks, canoeing,
kayaking and rowing on or along the canal.
Bude Castle Heritage Centre
Built by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney in the 1800's and recently restored,
it houses exhibition and displays about local heritage.
Hartland Abbey & Gardens
Bideford, Devon. Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and consecrated
in 1160. The Abbey remained a monastery until 1539, it was the last
monastery in the country to be dissolved by Henry VIII. From the
gardens you can reach the wild Atlantic Cove through woodlands and
cliff scenery.
The Abbey and Gardens have been used as the film location for Antiques
Roadshow and Sense & Sensibility. Open to the public.
Nature Reserve:
Bude Marshes
Declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 1983, covers 22.5 acres.
The reed bed is the main feature, ideal for wintering and breeding
birds. Migrating birds have included bittern, glossy ibis, Baillons
crake, night heron, gargany duck and the more regular sandpipers,
warblers, etc. The reserve also supports many other animals and
plants. Otters are also known to use the reserve.
Bude-Stratton Museum
Once the Old Forge, it now houses items and information about the
canal, maritime heritage, salvage from vessels, photographs, tools
and information about the Castle and Sir Goldsworthy Gurney.
Bude Jazz Festival
One week annual festival held in August. Music, dancing, street
parades, buskers and workshops.
Golf:
Bude & North Cornwall Golf Club in the town centre, 21 holes,
has excellent drainage enabling play through all seasons, practice
ground, club/trolley and buggy hire, bar, restaurant and a function
room. Visitors are welcome.
Ivyleaf Golf Course
2300 yard, par 32 course, no handicap or booking required, open
7 days a week. Floodlit driving range, club and trolley hire.
Bude Cricket Club operates a 9 hole Pitch and Putt.
Crazy Golf at the Recreational Centre.
Horse riding:
Efford Down Stables
Off road trekking on our 100 acre farm with coastline, town and
countryside views.
Broomhill Manor Stables
All levels of experience are welcome.
Beaches:
Summerleaze Beach
With the prominent features of the breakwater, barrel rock, canal
lock gates, and the River Neet flowing into the sea. Beach Huts
(are available for hire), open air sea pool. Large car park adjoining
the beach. RNLI Lifeboat Station, public toilets, beach office and
cafe, lifeguard cover from the beginning of May to the end of September
between the hours of 10am – 6pm
Crooklets Beach
Golden sand and rock pools when the tide is out. Popular with surfers,
the Bude Surf Life Saving Club is located here and give weekly demonstrations.
Car park with level access, toilets, cafe, outdoor shower, beach
huts for hire, lifeguard cover from the beginning of May to the
end of September between the hours of 10am – 6pm. There is
a dog ban.
Widemouth Bay
3 miles south of Bude, divided by a barrier of rock into the North
and South Beach (also known as Black Rock). Car park, toilets, cafe.
Lifeguard cover provided May until the end of September. There are
several surf and body-boarding schools located here.
Northcott Mouth
3 miles north of Bude, quite pebbly at the top, has a large sandy
beach when the tide is out, with cliffs on both sides, it has many
rock pools and a stream running down the beach. National Trust owned
there is a small car park halfway down the hill. There are no facilites
here. Lifeguard cover July and August.
Sir Goldsworthy Gurney
Born near Padstow, Cornwall in 1793. He invented among other things
the oxyhydrgen blowpipe, the principles of which he was to use in
the creation of illumination, the Bude light. Bude lights replaced
candle light in the House of Commons and were used until the arrival
of electricity.
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