By the Down The Cove editorial team in Cornwall
Crooklets is a broad, west-facing sandy beach on the northern edge of Bude, within easy walking distance of the town centre. Exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, it is a favourite with surfers and bodyboarders, while the retreating tide reveals wide sands and a maze of rock pools. It links to Summerleaze along the shore at low tide.
Read the guideBeach and cove guide
A simple guide to the feel of the place, how to arrive, and what to keep in mind before you go.
Crooklets Beach is the kind of place where the day is shaped by simple things: tide, weather, a picnic, and time to notice the coast properly.
Families, beach days, coast paths, rock pools and relaxed exploring.
Read straight through, or use the planning notes above to shape an easier coastal day.
Lifeguard cover changes by beach and season. Check the RNLI's current patrol dates before travelling, then follow local signs, flags and lifeguard advice on the day. Do not rely on a previous year's timetable.
Fresh air, good food and a bit of headspace. Here are two places to start.
Places and practical tips for days by the sea.
Ideas for preparing, cooking and enjoying seafood.
Editorial illustrations; explore the guides for place and recipe details.
Plan the final walk from the car park and check whether the beach is easy with pushchairs, tired legs or beach bags.
A useful read before visiting with children, especially for tides, paths, facilities and simple beach expectations.
Look up tide times, swimming guidance and weather before you go, especially on wilder beaches.
Crooklets is a broad, west-facing beach on the northern edge of Bude, fully open to the Atlantic and edged on either side by rocky outcrops. It is a sandy beach with pebbles gathered near the top, and when the tide drops it reveals a wide stretch of firm sand together with a maze of rock pools among the rocks, which makes it a rewarding spot for younger explorers as well as surfers.
The exposed swell has long made it a favourite for surfing and bodyboarding, picking up a little more wave than nearby Widemouth Bay, and the beach is home to the Bude Surf Life Saving Club. Shifting sandbanks across the tidal range tend to produce a mix of rights and lefts for those in the water.
Crooklets is easy to combine with its neighbours. As the tide falls it merges with Summerleaze beach next door, opening up a gentle walk across the sand towards the much-loved Bude Sea Pool, the sheltered tidal bathing pool set against the rocks. The town centre is only a short stroll away at the top of the beach.
