Bude

About

Bude (, locally /buːd/ or /bɛwd/; Cornish Standard Written Form: Porthbud) is a seaside town in north Cornwall, England, in the civil parish of Bude-Stratton and at the mouth of the River Neet (also known locally as the River Strat). It was sometimes formerly known as Bude Haven. It lies southwest of Stratton, south of Flexbury and Poughill, and north of Widemouth Bay, located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France. Bude's coast faces Bude Bay in the Celtic Sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. At the 2021 census, the built-up area as defined by the Office of National Statistics had a population of 7,350. Its earlier importance was as a harbour, and then a source of sea sand useful for improving the inland soil. This was transported on the Bude Canal. The Victorians favoured it as a seaside resort. With new rail links, it became a popular seaside destination in the 20th century. Bradshaw's Guide of 1866, Section 2, described Bude as "a small port and picturesque village in the north-eastern extremity of Cornwall". It described the town as having the dignity of a fashionable marine resort with excellent facilities for bathers. The harbour bed consists of fine bright yellow sand consisting of small shells. "The sea view is of a striking, bold and sublime description – the rocks rising on every side to lofty broken elevations." It also describes Bude as a romantic retreat.

Coordinates

50.8240, -4.5420

District

Cornwall

Parish

Bude-Stratton

Postcode

EX23 8TD

Parliamentary constituency

North Cornwall

Sources

• wikipedia: Bude (CC BY-SA 4.0)