Kilkhampton, Near Bude
The Curates Wing @ The Old Rectory
Enchanting grade II listed holiday cottage
From £440 / week
Family-Friendly Cottages in Bude
Arrive in Bude and the Atlantic announces itself before you've even parked the car — that deep, rolling swell, the wide sky, the smell of salt on a westerly wind. For families, few places in Cornwall make the transition from car to beach quite so effortlessly, and family-friendly cottages in Bude put you right in the middle of it: surf lessons, rock-pooling, coastal walks that small legs can actually manage, and an evening ice cream that becomes a ritual by day two. The town has a genuine, unhurried friendliness to it, and the beaches here are made for children — broad, sandy and forgiving. A self-catering stay lets you keep your own hours, dry your own wetsuits and eat when everyone is actually hungry.
Not sure which of these in Bude?
Nr Widemouth Bay
Stoneleigh Knowle
A charming converted barn, surrounded by Cornish countryside
From £795 / week
Launcells, nr Bude
Ravenscourt
An impressive former rectory, set in beautiful gardens offering a tranquil retreat
From £1,995 / week
Bude
Ocean Edge at Penarvor
A luxury Bude beachfront apartment with unrivalled sea views
From £995 / week
Kilkhampton, nr Bude
The Old Rectory
Stunning large period property with gorgeous expansive gardens
From £860 / week
Bude
Ocean House
A large coastal retreat, moments from Bude's beaches
From £1,360 / week
Kilkhampton, nr Bude
The Old Rectory Estate
Exclusive use of three stunning period properties with gorgeous gardens
From £1,610 / week
St Gennys, Crackington Haven, Nr Bude
Trevigue Cottage
A large and spacious character coastal cottage
From £800 / week
Crackington Haven, nr Bude
Brock’s Beach House
A beautifully restored welcoming home with fabulous sea views and blissful hot tub
From £1,595 / week
Bude
Halekulani
Short walk from beautiful Bude beaches
From £1,000 / week
Marhamchurch, Bude
Court Farm Cottages
A collection of family-friendly cottages near Bude
From £595 / week
Widemouth Bay, Nr Bude
Dolphins Beach Retreat
Spacious and bright contemporary retreat
From £1,600 / week
FAQs
Common questions
Bude's main beaches are among the more sheltered on Cornwall's Atlantic coast, with large sandy expanses that suit paddlers and younger swimmers. That said, Atlantic surf can be powerful — always swim between the lifeguard flags when they're flying, and check flag colours before letting children in the water. Lifeguard cover is seasonal, so confirm patrol dates before you travel.
Many properties in the area welcome dogs, and Bude has good year-round walking for them. Cornwall's beaches operate seasonal dog restrictions — typically early May to late September on the main bathing beaches — so dogs are often welcome outside those hours or on designated stretches. Check the listings and filters on this page to find dog-friendly options, and review local beach rules before you arrive.
School-holiday weeks in July and August offer the warmest water, reliable lifeguard cover and the full range of surf schools and activities. Shoulder seasons — late May, June and September — mean quieter beaches, lower holiday traffic and often settled weather, which many families prefer. Winter visits suit those after dramatic coastal walks and a slower pace; just pack for all weathers.
Bude sits in the far north of Cornwall, close to the Devon border, reached via the A39 Atlantic Highway from the north or the A30 and connecting roads from the east. Journey times vary considerably depending on where you're travelling from and the time of year — summer weekends on Cornish roads can add significant time. Check current travel conditions and plan to arrive outside peak hours if possible.
