Northcott Beach

Northcott Mouth lies a few miles north of Bude, near the village of Poughill, on a wild and largely undeveloped stretch of the north Cornwall coast. Reached by a short walk down from a small National Trust car park, it is a beach of pebbles and shingle at high water that transforms as the tide draws back, revealing a broad expanse of sand and a generous spread of rock pools. With few facilities to speak of, it keeps a remote, unspoilt feel even at the height of summer.

A little stream crosses the beach to meet the sea, and the rock pools left behind by the falling tide make it a fine spot for slow exploration. Offshore reefs shape the incoming Atlantic swell into a powerful beach break that tends to suit more experienced surfers, and the exposed setting means the sea here demands respect. It is a place that rewards those who come prepared and read the conditions carefully.