Guidebook for Widemouth Bay

Alison
Guidebook for Widemouth Bay

Food Scene

It is within easy walking distance of our house. The new owners are developing a really good menu and the sunsets (on clear nights) are wonderful! We are told that they also have an unbeatable range of gins, but we drink beer - they have real ale on offer too!
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Bay View Inn
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It is within easy walking distance of our house. The new owners are developing a really good menu and the sunsets (on clear nights) are wonderful! We are told that they also have an unbeatable range of gins, but we drink beer - they have real ale on offer too!
This is the home of the famous 'widdy' cooked breakfast. Locals come here for their breakfast - "I could not come to Widemouth (pronounced widmouth) without having a widdy!"
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Widemouth Bay Cafe
Marine Drive
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This is the home of the famous 'widdy' cooked breakfast. Locals come here for their breakfast - "I could not come to Widemouth (pronounced widmouth) without having a widdy!"

Sightseeing

You can walk the canal tow path into the countryside, or row /canoe on the canal. There are coffee houses at both ends of the few miles that remain navigable. The Bude canal is unique - it has a sea lock through which ships brought coal from South Wales, and other cargo - but the canal was built into the countryside to carry sand from the Bude beach (Summerleaze) to enrich the acid moorland of North Cornwall and West Devon. Sand was carried miles inland by pack-horse from Medieval times, and until the canal was built.
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Bude Canal
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You can walk the canal tow path into the countryside, or row /canoe on the canal. There are coffee houses at both ends of the few miles that remain navigable. The Bude canal is unique - it has a sea lock through which ships brought coal from South Wales, and other cargo - but the canal was built into the countryside to carry sand from the Bude beach (Summerleaze) to enrich the acid moorland of North Cornwall and West Devon. Sand was carried miles inland by pack-horse from Medieval times, and until the canal was built.
Even if you do not believe that King Arthur was conceived here, it is a wonderful place to visit. The recent archaeology is revealing some amazing facts about what turns out to have been a 'port' and trading centre, way back into the dark ages!!
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Tintagel
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Even if you do not believe that King Arthur was conceived here, it is a wonderful place to visit. The recent archaeology is revealing some amazing facts about what turns out to have been a 'port' and trading centre, way back into the dark ages!!
A very unusual round Norman motte and bailey castle. Well worth a climb to the very top, for the views over towards the foreigners in Devon. (my little joke)
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Launceston Castle
Castle Dyke
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A very unusual round Norman motte and bailey castle. Well worth a climb to the very top, for the views over towards the foreigners in Devon. (my little joke)

Parks & Nature

Guide book says "Popular sandy stretch featuring a saltwater rock pool, beach huts (fee), a cafe & ample parking." But this undersells this beach. The Salt water swimming pool is filled twice a day - by the tide, the beach is huge and has many aspects that make it worth a visit - if you can get into the car park. Better to walk there along the coast path - 3 miles from us)
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Isibhede saseSummerleaze
Summerleaze Crescent
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Guide book says "Popular sandy stretch featuring a saltwater rock pool, beach huts (fee), a cafe & ample parking." But this undersells this beach. The Salt water swimming pool is filled twice a day - by the tide, the beach is huge and has many aspects that make it worth a visit - if you can get into the car park. Better to walk there along the coast path - 3 miles from us)
We are 500 yards from this wonderful path that goes all around the west country coast of Britain. We are on the North Cornwall Bude to Tintagel stretch. It is over 60 miles and is maintained by the excellent www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk From us you can walk the 3 miles north into Bude, or south around other beaches as far as you like, the south path is less travelled. Some people do the whole path and use bed and breakfast places like us as they go.
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South West Coast Path Association
Royal William Road
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We are 500 yards from this wonderful path that goes all around the west country coast of Britain. We are on the North Cornwall Bude to Tintagel stretch. It is over 60 miles and is maintained by the excellent www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk From us you can walk the 3 miles north into Bude, or south around other beaches as far as you like, the south path is less travelled. Some people do the whole path and use bed and breakfast places like us as they go.
A lovely little old fishing village on the coast (and the coastpath) that has a lovely harbour wall and a few short walks.
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Boscastle
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A lovely little old fishing village on the coast (and the coastpath) that has a lovely harbour wall and a few short walks.

Arts & Culture

They often have good exhibitions.
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I-Bude Castle
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They often have good exhibitions.
A North Cornwall Museum.
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Lawrence House Museum
9 Castle St
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A North Cornwall Museum.

Shopping

The cafe has a view over the Summerleaze Beach - you can watch the world go by! The selection of things they sell include camping and walking gear (top end) , ladies clothes e.g. White Stuff, Joules, etc, shoes like Skechers, kitchen stuff to die for, (crockery like Portmeirion etc) You get the idea. But eat home-made cake in the cafe on a wet day and watch the waves crashing over the Breakwater at high tide...
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Wroes Department Store, Bude
13 Belle Vue
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The cafe has a view over the Summerleaze Beach - you can watch the world go by! The selection of things they sell include camping and walking gear (top end) , ladies clothes e.g. White Stuff, Joules, etc, shoes like Skechers, kitchen stuff to die for, (crockery like Portmeirion etc) You get the idea. But eat home-made cake in the cafe on a wet day and watch the waves crashing over the Breakwater at high tide...
If you need a surf board...
Ann's Cottage Surf Shops - Bude
35-37 Queen St
If you need a surf board...
Surfing dudes in the know, go here.
The Cabin
7 Morwenna Terrace
Surfing dudes in the know, go here.
If you need a wet suit / surf board....
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Zuma Jay Surf Shop
20 Belle Vue Ln
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If you need a wet suit / surf board....
Sells local items as well as a good range of books
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Spencer Thorn
Belle Vue
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Sells local items as well as a good range of books
The 'village store' for Widemouth, all essentials can be found here - and wet fish for your barbecue!
Beach House Shop & Wet Fish Ltd
Marine Drive
The 'village store' for Widemouth, all essentials can be found here - and wet fish for your barbecue!

Essentials

The local go-to supermarket - though you really do not want to do this sort of shopping when you are on holiday!! Cheap cafe for wet days, but slow service...
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Morrisons
Stucley Road
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The local go-to supermarket - though you really do not want to do this sort of shopping when you are on holiday!! Cheap cafe for wet days, but slow service...
A smaller Coop, that sells the essentials. Bread, milk, tea, coffee...... all that sort of thing (as you would expect)
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Co-op Food - Bude
Burn View
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A smaller Coop, that sells the essentials. Bread, milk, tea, coffee...... all that sort of thing (as you would expect)

Getting Around

Run by locals, they will find teh right bike for you. There are many bike paths and trails.
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Bude Bike Hire
Whalesborough
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Run by locals, they will find teh right bike for you. There are many bike paths and trails.