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Bude sits on a particularly rugged stretch of the North Cornwall coast, tucked just south of the Devon border where the River Neet meets the Atlantic. Unlike many Cornish towns that feel tucked away in steep valleys, Bude is relatively level and open, defined largely by its dual relationship with the sea and the canal. The Bude Canal, completed in 1823 to carry calcium-rich sea sand inland to local farmers, remains a focal point for the town, offering a calm, sea-level towpath that contrasts with the sheer cliffs of the South West Coast Path. The town’s beaches, Summerleaze and Crooklets, are known for their massive tidal range, which is why the iconic Sea Pool - a semi-natural swimming lake carved into the rocks in the 1930s - is so central to daily life here; it provides a safe place to swim even when the Atlantic swell is up. While it has grown steadily over the years, it retains the practical feel of a working coastal hub rather than a curated museum piece, with a high street that stays active year-round. You quickly learn to watch the pressure charts and the tide times, as the weather coming off the ocean dictates the pace of the day.