Black Rock Beach, Widemouth Bay

Black Rock is a west-facing beach at the rockier, southern end of Widemouth Bay, Bude, with its own car park and café. It is generally quieter than the main beach at the bay. The fabulous news? It is dog-friendly all year round, so no one will be fazed by a visit from Fido. A perfect spot for lovers of a wide open beach, which is also super-friendly towards dogs. Here’s everything you need to know…

WIDEMOUTH BAY WEATHER

Beach Overview

On the southern end of Widemouth Bay, Black Rock is a wilder, rockier slice of this two‑mile strand, named for the big outcrop that rises from the sand. At low tide it opens into an enormous playground of firm sand, rock ridges and pools; at high tide sections can be cut off beneath the cliffs, lending the cove an untamed feel. It’s popular with families exploring the rockpools, dog walkers making the most of the year‑round access, and surfers eyeing the punchier banks when a swell marches in.

Lifeguards & Safety

RNLI lifeguards patrol Black Rock in season, flagging the safest place to swim. This is an exposed north‑coast beach: rip currents are common around gutters and near the rocks, and the shoreline can shelve at higher tides, producing a fast shorebreak. Only swim between the red‑and‑yellow flags.

Black Rock Beach Lifeguard patrol dates 2025

Patrol times: 10am – 6pm

• 17 May – 28 September (Daily)

Surf & Watersports 

Black Rock offers a mix of beach‑break and reef‑influenced peaks, with faster, hollower waves than the main Widemouth banks when conditions line up. Intermediates relish clean, mid‑tide sessions; beginners are better on smaller days or with a lesson up on the main beach or at Summerleaze. Bodyboarders will find quick, fun sections on a pushing tide. SUP and kayaking are best kept for calm days — launch well away from the flagged swim zone and give the headlands a generous berth.

Tide tips: Mid to low tide usually brings the best balance of space, sandbank shape and easier paddle‑outs. By high tide the beach narrows and dumpers thump onto the upper shingle/pebble bank — great for wave‑watching, less forgiving to ride. Always check tide times to avoid being cut off around the rocks.

Dog Rules

Black Rock is dog‑friendly all year. It’s a popular walking beach, so please keep dogs under close control around families and wildlife, and tidy up to keep this spectacular bay pristine.

Facilities & Accessibility

Black Rock has its own car park (£8 per day) at the south end of Widemouth (postcode EX23 0AG) and a beach café just above the sand. Access is via sloping paths/steps and a short stretch over pebbles and uneven rock, so it’s not ideal for wheelchairs or buggies. There are no public toilets directly on the beach but there are some at the café.

Coast Path & Nearby Walks

Black Rock sits on the South West Coast Path. Head north for an easy, view‑packed amble to the main Widemouth car parks and on towards Bude (breakwater, canal and cafés). For a wilder outing, strike south towards Millook over dramatic folded cliffs — steeper, more committing terrain with huge Atlantic views.

Places to Eat Nearby

Right above the beach, Black Rock Café handles coffees, cream teas and seaside classics (dog‑friendly). Bude — a short drive — brims with pubs, bakeries and restaurants for sunset suppers after a salty day.

Rainy‑Day Options

If the weather turns, trade sea spray for The Castle in Bude (galleries, a small heritage centre and a café with storm‑watch views), or explore the canal’s indoor exhibits before dashing out for short, dramatic coast‑path bursts between showers. Or head to the local flicks, Rebel Cinema, which is a five-minute drive away.