Lifeguarded beaches in Bude

We’re extremely lucky in Bude that our main beaches have professional lifeguard cover at various times throughout the year.

There are many more beaches and coves in Bude, but these are not lifeguarded. Please do visit them, but we strongly advise that you only swim under the supervision of the lifeguards.

2017: Following a public consultation, it is very likely that beaches dog ban times and dates across Cornwall will be aligned so that all dog bans cover the times of 9am to 6pm from 1st May to end of September.

Photo credits: Emma Jane Lee.

Fancy a beach hut for your day on the beach? Click here…

Summerleaze Beach

Clean, safe and easy on the eye, Summerleaze Beach is a big hit with surfers, beach bums and families. However, it is the sheer variety of activities that mark Summerleaze as arguably the best beach in Cornwall for outdoor pursuits and water sports. Read more…

Lifeguard Cover:

Easter school holidays
25 March-10 April

Weekends and Bank Holidays Only
16-24 April

Daily
30 April-25 September

Weekends and Bank Holidays Only
1-16 October

October Half Term
22-30 October

Sandymouth
Beach

A National Trust owned beach that starts with a dramatic cliff top view from the car park. The walk down to the beach leads you through quite a steep ravine, which is why we wouldn’t recommend it for the less mobile or families with very young children. However, once there, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely quiet beach with its very own waterfall. Read more…

Lifeguard Cover:
16 May-27 September

Widemouth Bay Beach

Just a little distance from Bude, this is popular with bathers and surfers alike. Although it looks like one huge beach, stretching across almost 1.5 miles, it is actually divided into the North and South Beach (also called Black Rock) by a natural barrier of rock. Widemouth offers fantastic conditions to learn surfing or body-boarding, which is why many of the local surf schools have their base there. Read more…

Lifeguard Cover:

Easter school holidays
25 March-10 April

Weekends and Bank Holidays Only
16-24 April

Daily
30 April-25 September

Weekends and Bank Holidays Only
1-16 October

October Half Term
22-30 October

Crooklets Beach

Although a little pebbly at the top, Crooklets offers a huge expanse of golden sand and rock pools to explore once the tide is out. It is popular with surfers, but also families who would prefer a beach without dogs. Read more…

Lifeguard Cover:
21 May-25 September

Northcott Mouth
Beach

With towering cliffs on both sides, Northcott is a hauntingly beautiful beach that feels a little like a cove. Children will love exploring the fine sand, many rock pools and stream, which runs down through the beach. Owned by the National Trust, it offers a slightly more secluded alternative to the main beaches. Read more…

Lifeguard Cover:
4 July-6 September

Black Rock Beach

On the south side of Widemouth Bay, Black Rock beach has wild beauty in abundance. Look to the south and you’ll spot a prominent rocky outcrop which gives this beach its name. Watch out for big tides here (Blackrock Beach becomes isolated at the height of the tide). Some major point and reef breaks draw the surfers, while nature lovers of all ages will enjoy looking through the abundance of rock pools at low tide. Read more…

16 May-27 September

About the RNLI

RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, highly trained, strong and fit. They must be able to swim 200m in under 3½ minutes, and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds.

However, a good lifeguard rarely gets wet – 95% of a lifeguard’s work is preventative. The lifeguards monitor sea conditions and set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through our education programmes.

Most RNLI lifeguards are paid by the relevant local authority to maintain patrols on our busiest beaches. But we also have volunteer lifeguards. Some are young or newly qualified lifeguards gaining experience, while others just enjoy helping out in their spare time.

We also have Lifeguard Support Volunteers, who help the lifeguards with land-based duties, such as lookout, radio communications and casualty care.

Click here to read about the Bude RNLI.