Summerleaze Beach

The moment you walk down onto Summerleaze, you're struck by how much beach there actually is here. Bude's main strand stretches properly long - golden sand that doesn't disappear at high tide thanks to the sea pool built right into the beach itself. This tidal pool is the real draw, honestly. It's a proper Victorian engineering feat, filled fresh by the tides, and families can splash about safely while the serious swimmers tackle the Atlantic swells beyond.

The beach itself works for everyone. Surfers head out with boards; dog walkers claim the edges; toddlers are content for hours with buckets in the shallows. The cliffs behind give some shelter and there's a decent stretch of flat sand at low tide if you're after that bucket-and-spade experience. The water gets cold - this is Cornwall in the Atlantic - but that's rather the point. Come in summer for water that's almost tolerable, spring or autumn if you're happy in a wetsuit.

If you're basing yourself at one of the holiday parks nearby - Wooda Farm is excellent if you can get in, Atlantic Surf Pods less so - Summerleaze is your go-to beach for a proper session rather than a quick dip. Two hours minimum, longer if you've got kids. The promenade has cafes and ice cream spots, though nothing fancy. It's honest, well-used, and never feels contrived. On a decent day, particularly a quiet weekday, it's thoroughly worthwhile.