For all the talk of surf schools and boat trips, two of the finest things to do in Bude are completely free: swim in the sea pool, and walk the Coast Path. Between them they capture what makes this stretch of coast special — wild water safely tamed, and cliff-top views that go on for miles — and they cost nothing but the effort of turning up.
The sea pool is a Bude institution. Carved into the rocks at the edge of Summerleaze beach, this tidal lido fills with fresh seawater on every high tide and gives you the drama of swimming in the Atlantic without the rips and the reach of the open sea. It is free, unfenced and unsupervised, run by a charitable trust and beloved of locals who swim it year-round; go at low-ish tide for calm water, and bring a towel you do not mind getting sandy.
The Coast Path is the other great gift. The South West Coast Path runs right through Bude, and the cliff-top stretches either side of town are among the most spectacular and accessible on the whole route. Head south toward Widemouth for high cliffs and long sea views, or north toward Sandymouth for a wilder, emptier walk; either way you get world-class coastal scenery for the price of a pair of boots.
Combine them for the perfect Bude day. A morning walk along the cliffs, a pub lunch back in town, and an afternoon swim in the sea pool as the tide comes in is about as good as a Cornish holiday gets, and it will not cost you a penny beyond the pasty. Add a flask, a good book and a spot on the beach to dry off, and you have the whole day sorted.
A word on both. The Coast Path is glorious but genuinely cliff-top — keep to the path, keep dogs and children close to the inland side, and check the forecast before a longer stretch. And the sea pool, while calmer than the open sea, is still tidal and unsupervised, so swim within your depth and watch the state of the tide. Respect them and they are the two best free days out in Bude, bar none.