Camping in Bude

There are 23 campsites published on BritStays in and around Bude, and every single one of them is listed as Camping — no lodges, no cottages, no glamping-by-another-name. That makes this a straightforward set to work through, but it also means the differences between sites come down to the details: what's on the ground, what's flagged as a facility, and what sort of trip you're actually planning.

Where the sites are

Of the 23, 22 sit in Bude itself and one — Camping Field — is on Lundy Island. That single outlier aside, you're choosing within one area, so the decision isn't really "which town" but "which kind of pitch".

Several of the listings are working-farm sites in name and character: Lower Pennycrocker Farm, Poole Farm, Trebyla Farm Campsite, Headon Farm Caravan Park and Stroke Barton Campsite. These tend to suit people who want space, quiet evenings and a slower pace. At the other end, Pentire Haven Holiday Park and Sandparks Campsite read as more conventional holiday-park style set-ups, and Rising Sun Inn Campsite is attached to a pub — useful if you'd rather not cook every night. Roadford Lake sits apart again, with a cafe, takeaway food and a gift shop on site, which makes it an easier option if you're arriving late or travelling with people who get hungry on a schedule.

Matching the site to the trip

Families. Look first at the sites with a pool: Headon Farm Caravan Park and Efford Downs Campsite both list a Swimming Pool, which is worth a great deal on a changeable week. Headon Farm Caravan Park also lists Indoor Areas, the sort of thing you stop taking for granted after two wet afternoons in a tent. Poole Farm lists a Restaurant, Picnic Area and Guided Tours, which gives you a built-in activity without getting back in the car.

Couples and small groups. The barer listings — Campground Otterham, Tamar campsite, and the simply named Camping and caravan site — suggest quieter, less structured stays. Fewer facilities listed isn't a mark against a site; it often just means a field, a view and little else, which is exactly what some people are booking for. Take your own stove and water carrier and check what's actually on site before you commit.

Dog owners. Only four of the 23 are flagged Pet Friendly, including Efford Downs Campsite. That's a small share, so don't assume — confirm dogs are welcome, and ask about rules on leads, fields with livestock and whether dogs can be left in a tent or van.

Accessibility. Headon Farm Caravan Park and Pentire Haven Holiday Park both list Disabled Access. Ask specifically about the route from parking to pitch and the surface underfoot, which matters more on a campsite than almost anywhere else.

What the facility data really tells you

The most common facility across the whole set is EV Charging Nearby, listed at seven sites including Lower Pennycrocker Farm and Trebyla Farm Campsite. Toilets appear on five listings — among them Camping Field on Lundy Island, Efford Downs Campsite and Stroke Barton Campsite. That doesn't mean the other sites have none; it means facilities aren't consistently recorded, so a quick email before booking is always worth the five minutes.

WiFi is listed at four sites, including Rising Sun Inn Campsite. Parking is listed at four. Sandparks Campsite is the one flagged as Near a Bus Stop, which is the detail to note if you're arriving without a car.

Things to do once the tent's up

• The Milky Way Adventure Park, a theme park, is the obvious big day out with children.
• Upper Tamar Water Sports Centre is in Bude itself, and Flowrider Cornwall offers another water-based option.
• Screech Owl Sanctuary and The Tamar Valley Donkey Park near Looe both suit younger children and short attention spans.
• For a wet day, there's the Museum of British Surfing and Braunton and District Museum at Woolacombe, and Combe Martin Museum at Ilfracombe.
• Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre is another Cornwall theme-park option if the first one's been done.

When to book

With only 23 sites and a handful offering pools, pub food or guaranteed pet-friendly pitches, the distinctive ones go first. Aim to book school holidays and bank holidays several months ahead, particularly for Headon Farm Caravan Park, Efford Downs Campsite and Camping Field on Lundy Island, where capacity is limited by nature. Shoulder-season weeks are far easier and often available a few weeks out.

Before you pay: confirm toilet and shower arrangements, whether pitches are hardstanding or grass, arrival and departure times, whether campfires or BBQs are allowed, and the cancellation terms. Camping bookings are frequently non-refundable, and British weather being what it is, it's worth knowing that in advance rather than on the morning you leave.