Cornwall


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nbsp">WHY?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Cornwall’s most northerly coastal town and while it can be overlooked so is a bit of an under the radar gem, Bude was voted best place to live in Cornwall 2024 by our readers. If you like the idea of a north coast harbour town like Newquay but want something less obvious, the town is worth a gander. More off the beaten track, and on a glorious stretch of Cornish coastline (is there any other kind?), Bude first gained popularity with the Victorians who arrived on the railway, and is now popular with creatives and families, along with a smattering of famous residents including Tori Amos (who <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/superflashy-newsflash-cornwall-september-2021/">recorded her 16th album</a>, <em>Ocean to Ocean</em>, during one of the lockdown’s from her studio in Bude).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n.jpg" alt="Chicken wings Temple Cornwall in Bude" class="wp-image-35022" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n-685x800.jpg 685w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n-856x1000.jpg 856w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n-768x897.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/454753896_18327195904182724_8681741652417793625_n-1315x1536.jpg 1315w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Temple</figcaption></figure>



<p>Locals love <a href="http://www.thebeachatbude.co.uk/">The Beach at Bude</a>, and the queue for Scandi-inspired <a href="https://www.electricbakery.co/location">Electric Bakery</a>, for pastries, donuts, bread and other baked goods from Wednesday to Sunday, is legendary. Next-door The Crust Pizza Co is also worth checking out. <a href="https://pottersbude.co.uk/">Potters</a> was a firm favourite with the locals but are closing, relaunching as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/budestreetkitchen/">Bude Street Kitchen</a> where they will be hosting a series of evening pop-ups through the winter. The fish and chip van remains (find their daily spot on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pottersfishnthings/">their IG page</a>). </p>



<p>Another favourite, <a href="https://www.templecornwall.com/">Temple</a> was rewarded with a listing in the Michelin guide – if you can’t get a seat in the restaurant downstairs, try the wine bar and small plates, <a href="https://templecornwall.com/bar-and-roof-terrace/">Temple Up Top</a>, you’ve guessed it, upstairs. Pubs wise, The Barrel is a tiny pub with a big personality; a favourite with the locals, featuring a host of local producers as well as showcasing local musicians. The Cornish Distilling Co ferment and distill all sorts of great drinks including Mooncurser Spiced rum. Bude is also home to a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thebargebude/?locale=en_GB">floating tea room</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="1920" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n.jpg" alt="Rooted Ocean sustainable fashion brand shops and studio Bude Cornwall" class="wp-image-35024" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/452200369_1038858151377712_190331950164676750_n-1229x1536.jpg 1229w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rooted Ocean</figcaption></figure>



<p>Bude is full of little independent shops including a <a href="https://www.ncwine.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specialist wine shop</a>, a yoga shop and microbrewery as well as the more usual larger supermarkets on the outskirts. We like <a href="https://rootedocean.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rooted Ocean</a> for bags, blankets and all manner of British made outdoor kit and <a href="https://spencerthorn.com/">Spencer Thorn</a> is lovely for books and gifts. <a href="https://budeful.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Budeful</a> is the place to look for bits for your home. Just outside the town is <a href="https://theartisanfoodvillage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norton Barton Artisan Food Village</a>, home to award-winning charcuterie and rum, among other things. The high street is typical for a Cornish town including surf shops, Fatface, Mountain Warehouse, Saltrock, Boots, and Holland &amp; Barrett.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Black-Rock-beach-Widemouth-Cornwall-RB-image-1000x667.jpg" alt="Black Rock beach widemouth" class="wp-image-33824" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Black-Rock-beach-Widemouth-Cornwall-RB-image-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Black-Rock-beach-Widemouth-Cornwall-RB-image-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Black-Rock-beach-Widemouth-Cornwall-RB-image-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Black-Rock-beach-Widemouth-Cornwall-RB-image.jpg 1499w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Black Watch beach</figcaption></figure>



<p>The beaches are beautiful, with something for everyone, from surfers to families – and surf schools like <a href="http://www.freewavesurfacademy.co.uk">Freewave Surf</a> who will get you standing up in no time. The Pepperpot stands on the clifftop (fun fact – the 188-year old coast guard tower has now been rebuilt 100m inland after being painstakingly dismantled, to save it from coastal erosion) and down below is the town breakwater and ‘Tommy’s Pit’, an old bathing pit built by Sir Thomas Acland. Bude Canal is also worth a walk (or cycle) or for a different view, try hiring a pedalo or rowing boat.</p>



<p>Just down the coast you’ll find the sandy Widemouth Bay and Black Rock beach, with café and board hire – and also a Monster Slip and Slide in the summer months. Both Summerleaze and Crooklets are lined with brightly coloured beach huts, some of which are available to hire. And, according to some, you can’t miss Bude Tunnel!</p>



<p>Boscastle and Tintagel are not far away to the south and head north up into Devon to the steep pedestrianised cobbled village of Clovelly. <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor">RHS Rosemoor</a> is just over the Devon border inland. Keep an eye out for the next location for <a href="https://neetfield.co.uk/">Neetfield Market Garden</a> – Tom and Rosie’s pizzas and veg growing is worth the visit.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfxG3ToU0fDuu9W39XTNsmmZhmbFHGiHAI4I81bG8KgNlR_eXbeYrpkJrxG8IOgWRCuwzO5crAJHdKcnKZvdW6SOs82kfbVU6IR4dOtzbVoyzlT0cIr6AWTgh0WGxurezl9A77e4CiO9YW9XTbRBO-lQ23i?key=QcFsRQNxQkDNwdXHVwCK6g" alt="Bude seapool" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bude Sea Pool</figcaption></figure>



<p>At nearby Marhamchurch you’ll find <a href="https://www.wclubwhalesborough.co.uk/">Whalesborough</a> and the W Club, with its gym, spa &#8211; they use GAIA products, and locals love the spa days, plus pool and restaurant, or you can walk or cycle there alongside the canal. <a href="https://www.budeseapool.org/">Bude Sea Pool</a> is probably one of Cornwall’s most well-known tidal pools, accessible when the tide is out at Summerleaze Beach</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>The UK’s first surf life-saving club was founded on Crooklets beach, where golden sand is accessible from the town centre, and it is still home to Bude Surf Life Saving Club, nearly 70 years on. Also don’t miss <a href="https://thepearlexchange.org.uk/">The Pearl Exchange</a> – a social enterprise that started running from the Pitch n’ Putt Building and has now moved into the Joy Editions gallery space, that aims to improve the lives of 18-30 year olds in the area through creative practices and cultural experiences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Just outside the town is music venue <a href="https://www.thewyldescornwall.com/whats-on">The Wyldes</a>, host to one off events (like Jess Glynee and Idles, who are among others who played there this summer) and was home to one of Cornwall’s favourite festivals, Leopollooza – new things are afoot for 2025. Bude also has its own <a href="https://www.budejazzfestival.info/">Jazz Festival</a> (29 Aug-1 Sep), Folk Festival (returns 2024), Food Festival, and in May a Literary Festival too.</p>



<p>Film buffs love <a href="https://www.rebelcinema.co.uk/">Rebel Cinema</a>, – a smidge outside the town. Keep an eye on the barns at Stowe Barton where there used to be an occasional art and music pop-up, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cruelandcurious/">Cruel and the Curious</a>. Although 2023 was intended to be the last one, the organisers never say never to a re-run. Bude was also home to American soldiers training in 1943 ahead of D-Day, and at big anniversaries the town puts on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BudeAtWar">events to commemorate</a>.</p>



<p>In the late 1950s the author Jean Rhys spent five years living in Bude writing Wild Sargasso Sea, before moving to Cheriton Fitzpaine in <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/best-places-to-live/devon/">Devon</a> in 1960.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Detached properties sold for an average price of £446,131. Semi-detached homes sold for an average of £376,820, with flats fetching £257,307.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/11/Bude-redwood-grove-1000x750.jpeg" alt="This large detached, four bed family home in the centre of Bude on Redwood Grove is on available for the first time on the open market for £799,950." class="wp-image-35341" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/11/Bude-redwood-grove-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/11/Bude-redwood-grove-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/11/Bude-redwood-grove-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/11/Bude-redwood-grove.jpeg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This large detached, four bed family home in the centre of Bude on Redwood Grove is on available for the <a href="https://colwills.co.uk/property/redwood-grove/">first time on the open market for £799,950</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>St Petroc’s may have closed their primary school but they have retained their Early Years setting, reforming as <a href="https://www.stpetrocs.com/">St Petroc’s Early Years</a> offering independent education for up to 4 yrs old during term time, and also to children up to the age of 8 yrs during the school holidays at their <a href="https://www.stpetrocs.com/holiday-club">Holiday Club</a>. <a href="https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/daynursery.cfm/searchazref/50002010EARA">Early Birds Nursery</a> is open 8am &#8211; 5pm, Mon – Fri.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>If you’re after independents you’ll have to head (just) over the border. The nearest independents are all in Devon now St Petroc’s has closed their primary offering. Head for <a href="https://www.shebbearcollege.co.uk/prep-school/">Shebbear Prep</a>, <a href="https://www.shebbearcollege.co.uk/">Shebbear College</a> (or SEN specialists <a href="https://www.hhhschool.co.uk/">Highgate Hill House School</a>) – otherwise it’s a bit of a trek further up into Devon or down into Cornwall, with<a href="https://www.stjosephscornwall.co.uk/"> St Joseph’s School</a> in Launceston the nearest.</p>



<p>State primaries nearby that are currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted include <a href="http://www.st-marks.cornwall.sch.uk/">St Marks in Morwenstow</a> and for secondary, <a href="http://www.budehaven.cornwall.sch.uk/">Budehaven Community School </a>was rated Good, although it should be noted that these are consistently oversubscribed, such is the growing popularity of the town. Just outside of Bude, <a href="https://www.stratton.cornwall.sch.uk/">Stratton Primary School</a>, <a href="https://www.kilkhampton.cornwall.sch.uk/">Kilkhampton Junior and Infant School</a> and <a href="https://www.marhamchurch.cornwall.sch.uk/">Marhamchurch CofE Primary School</a> were also rated Good.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Benches made from the local landmark Monterey Cypress tree that fell in Storm Eunice in 2022 have been unveiled; three are sat where the tree stood, Bude Triangle, with three further elsewhere in the town. Data geeks will enjoy knowing that <a href="https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/united-kingdom/our-grace-hopper-subsea-cable-has-landed-uk/">Google’s transatlantic 16 fibre pair data cable</a>, called Grace Hopper (after the American computer scientist) that connects the UK to New York via a subsea cable, meaning superior 4K streaming capability, comes ashore at none other than Bude.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>The beauty of Bude is that it is tucked away on an isolated part of the Cornwall/Devon coastline, which is also a bit of a downside if you need to commute. It’s more than an hour’s drive to Exeter, which is also the nearest mainline station to travel to London or Bristol.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Bude

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