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Looking to travel to Bude in Cornwall? Here you'll find your best options, along with ways to travel around the town when you get here.
If you’re considering a trip to Cornwall, Bude is one of the easiest locations to get to thanks to its northernly location. Bude is one of the first Cornish towns you’ll reach off the main A30 dual carriageway; the main road into Cornwall.
The holiday resort Bude sits just off the A39 Atlantic Highway, between Bideford in Devon and Camelford in Cornwall. While it may be the closest by road, the nearest train station to Bude is Okehampton Railway Station, which is around 30 miles or Bodmin Parkway is slightly further, approximately 32 miles away.
The easiest way to reach Bude is by car. It is only 21 miles from the main A30 via the B3254, or you can reach it by leaving the M5 at Junction 31 Exeter, thereby skirting the north side of the dramatic landscape of Dartmoor as you head towards the A30.
If you’re driving to North Cornwall in a plug-in electric vehicle, see our list of charging locations here.
As mentioned, Bude does not have a train station (the station closed in 1966), but that doesn’t mean travelling here by train is out of the question, recently made more achievable by the opening of The Dartmoor Line in November 2021. The Dartmoor Line runs hourly trains seven days a week, between Okehampton, Crediton and Exeter St Davids, taking around 40 minutes. You can get trains direct trains from London, Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham to Exeter St Davids.
Alternatively, Bodmin Parkway is an option from London, and does avoid changing, but it’ll take almost four hours (versus just over two hours to Exeter St Davids).
The closest airport to Bude is Newquay Airport, which is 40 miles away. There are direct flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast. However, your onward journey to Bude would require a taxi or hiring a car.
If you’re staying in Bude, most places of interest can be reached by foot. Beware though, due to its coastal location it’s hilly in places. There are local buses which operate around the town centre and beyond.
The 95 service heads south stopping at Widemouth Bay, Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, Port Isaac and Port Gaverne. Alternatively head north on the 319, 219 or 217 to visit picturesque Clovelly.
Want to book your next getaway in beautiful Bude? Check out our collection of Bude’s very best luxury self-catering cottages and holiday homes for an unforgettable Cornish stay.
Categories: Travel & Parking
