Waterside camping near Bude, Cornwall

Popular for its romantic views and sunny climate, the seaside town of Bude beckons campers to surf, swim, sail, and beachcomb along the north Cornwall coast. Beachgoers love the sandy landscapes of Summerleaze and Crooklets Beaches for their proximity to the centre of town, while surfers flock to popular Widemouth Bay. Stay in beachside cottages or glamping pods for a luxurious camping trip to remember. Other Bude attractions, such as Bude Canal and Tamar Lakes Country Park offer opportunities for hiking, bird watching, bicycling, and camping. Helpful amenities in local campsites include full bathrooms with showers, dog parks, and on-site shops before a day spent at the beach in Crackington Haven or along the South West Coast Path.

95% (742) • 30 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Bude

Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

1. Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

97%

(147)

32km from Bude · 168 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping

Wake up to the sound of birdsong, go swimming before breakfast in the clear water of a secluded lake. Cook your bacon and eggs over an open fire while you plan your day, or just laze it away in the peace and quiet of your own personal tipi. You can always go fishing tomorrow, and walk along the cliffs the day after that… The site is a unique woodland valley folded around a clear, spring-fed lake created from the old Tregildrans Quarry. Our tipis and tent pitches are dotted about this secret 20 acres full of ferns, bluebells, oak and meadowsweet. Left in peace for many years there's been no modern chemicals or poisons on the land, meaning we've got bluebells, dormice, Red Admirals and shy woodland Jays for you to spot. It’s a place set apart from the rush and clutter of the modern holiday experience, with an atmosphere that makes you forget the world outside, and just lounge, ramble, or potter about in a boat. We're committed to giving you a genuinely individual service from first contact to your time staying with us. We established CTH in 1996. This was the first and we believe still is the best tipi holiday site in the UK. We know our area inside out and can always help with local knowledge or contacts if you need them. We want to offer our guests a sustainable holiday. A return to real camping means the lowest possible impact on the land and environment - our tipi poles don’t even break the surface of the earth. Your footprint while here could only be bettered by a survival expert. You don't have to fly! a major bonus, and we source all our wood, fish and canvas locally and work with local people wherever possible.

Campfires

Showers

Potable water

from

£25

/ night

Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

2. Pleasant Streams Farm Camping

91%

(70)

62km from Bude · 67 units · Tents, Glamping

Lakeside camping with streams, rope swings and farmyard animals in rural Cornwall

Campfires

Showers

Potable water

from

£15

/ night

Cilrath Wood Camping

3. Cilrath Wood Camping

100%

(42)

111km from Bude · 15 units

Off-grid eco camping with campfires in a patch of Pembrokeshire that time forgot

Campfires

Showers

Potable water

from

£21

/ night

Rhydfach Valley Camping

4. Rhydfach Valley Camping

100%

(12)

122km from Bude · 1 unit · Tent, Motorhome

An exclusive-hire campsite with its own wild swimming pond in Pembrokeshire

Campfires

Showers

Water hookup

from

£20

/ night

Wellstone Camping

5. Wellstone Camping

100%

(16)

125km from Bude · 21 units · Tents, Glamping

Authentic Mongolian yurts and camping in a laid-back Pembrokeshire site with scenic views and friendly alpacas.

Pets

Campfires

Showers

from

£25

/ night

Elmar's Place

6. Elmar's Place

60%

(5)

9.7km from Bude · 2 units

Nearly wild camping on the border of Devon and Cornwall

Campfires

Potable water

from

£10

/ night

The Secret Garden

7. The Secret Garden

100%

(5)

62km from Bude · 3 units

A peaceful little space to stay in your tent away from the hustle in a countryside and farm location This secret garden is surrounded by the fields and tall hedges, a magical place, it’s in a world of its own and will certainly make those memories. * Private spacious tent camping in a very peaceful and beautiful space just for you and your favorites ! * A very special gated garden to spend time out with your favourite people. Family friendly You may spot wild pheasants, chickens, indian runner ducks, our super friendly Bengal Cats! full use of gated large garden, fire pit and picnic bench, outdoor chairs and table hammock. tree swings A peaceful little space to stay in your tent away from the hustle in a countryside and farm location. full use of garden pitch anywhere, hammock, tree swings, fire pit, picnic bench, outside table and chairs. portaloo and privacy tent. OPTIONAL ADD ON - paddle boards for the river at high tide OPTIONAL ADD ON IF AVAILABLE- The cabin - king size bed, heating, bathroom, hot shower, flushing toilet, large fridge, kitchenette - electric hobs, utensils, heater, sofa, tv, is smart if you have data to connect to the tv, netflix, prime, :) OPTIONAL ADD ON IF AVAILABLE- the hot tub! 6 minute walk to new esso garage/budgens/greggs for necessities, 24 hour off license. 3 min drive to lidle, morrsions, mcdonalds There is a bus stop right at the bottom of the lane around a 4 min walk to the stop which takes you straight into Newquay town Center and back again. Lovely country walk from lane entrance from pitch down the bottom of the lane to the river gannel or crantock beach if you keep walking! paddle boarding, , kayaks, bikes, take yourself for a wild swim :) From the river gannel if you walk to crantock beach and enter the quant village of crantock , two 2 local pubs the cornishman and the old albian pub - worth a visit if your into local history. closet pub family friendly lovely garden area the tavern inn - 10 min walk Newquay town Center is accessible by foot along the back lane down across the river gannels bridge to the boating lake and then up the hill to town or bus at the bottom of our lane. Any small van will be ok , the storms have made it a very difficult for space now unfortunately

Pets

Showers

Campfires

from

£30

/ night

Wild Wellingtons Glamping

8. Wild Wellingtons Glamping

100%

(1)

142km from Bude · 3 units

60%

(5)

9.7km from Bude · 2 units

Nearly wild camping on the border of Devon and Cornwall

Campfires

Potable water

from

£10

/ night

The Secret Garden

7. The Secret Garden

100%

(5)

62km from Bude · 3 units

A peaceful little space to stay in your tent away from the hustle in a countryside and farm location This secret garden is surrounded by the fields and tall hedges, a magical place, it’s in a world of its own and will certainly make those memories. * Private spacious tent camping in a very peaceful and beautiful space just for you and your favorites ! * A very special gated garden to spend time out with your favourite people. Family friendly You may spot wild pheasants, chickens, indian runner ducks, our super friendly Bengal Cats! full use of gated large garden, fire pit and picnic bench, outdoor chairs and table hammock. tree swings A peaceful little space to stay in your tent away from the hustle in a countryside and farm location. full use of garden pitch anywhere, hammock, tree swings, fire pit, picnic bench, outside table and chairs. portaloo and privacy tent. OPTIONAL ADD ON - paddle boards for the river at high tide OPTIONAL ADD ON IF AVAILABLE- The cabin - king size bed, heating, bathroom, hot shower, flushing toilet, large fridge, kitchenette - electric hobs, utensils, heater, sofa, tv, is smart if you have data to connect to the tv, netflix, prime, :) OPTIONAL ADD ON IF AVAILABLE- the hot tub! 6 minute walk to new esso garage/budgens/greggs for necessities, 24 hour off license. 3 min drive to lidle, morrsions, mcdonalds There is a bus stop right at the bottom of the lane around a 4 min walk to the stop which takes you straight into Newquay town Center and back again. Lovely country walk from lane entrance from pitch down the bottom of the lane to the river gannel or crantock beach if you keep walking! paddle boarding, , kayaks, bikes, take yourself for a wild swim :) From the river gannel if you walk to crantock beach and enter the quant village of crantock , two 2 local pubs the cornishman and the old albian pub - worth a visit if your into local history. closet pub family friendly lovely garden area the tavern inn - 10 min walk Newquay town Center is accessible by foot along the back lane down across the river gannels bridge to the boating lake and then up the hill to town or bus at the bottom of our lane. Any small van will be ok , the storms have made it a very difficult for space now unfortunately

Pets

Showers

Campfires

from

£30

/ night

Wild Wellingtons Glamping

8. Wild Wellingtons Glamping

100%

(1)

142km from Bude · 3 units

Eco-friendly glamping 10 minutes from the beaches of Cardigan Bay, with great facilities for parents and acres of wild space for kids

Showers

Campfires

Potable water

from

£110

/ night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Wild Camping - Communal Meadow Tent Pitch

N

Nick

August 2025

Tent

With kids

4 nights at Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

An interesting and wonderful spot that is a superb location for cornwall adventures and an incredible campsite with the lake and restaurant! They need to sort out the hot water and when they do it will be 5/5!

M

Mark

August 2025

Tent

4 nights at Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

I stayed in Gosels as a private pitch and absolutely loved it. The campsite was perfect blend of eco/modern (compostable/flushable toilets and hot showers) within a tranquil setting. I liked how the campsite was used in a traditional sense for escape keeping noise and disturbance down to a minimum. The quarry lake was a great area for a splash around and cool down. Though used heavily by young families, had enough space for all. I already miss my chicken and rabbit friends seen daily on my pitch. The location of the site was perfect for me to make some visits out to North Cornwalls surrounding beaches and beauty spots. Well worth the trip.

Wild Camping - Private Pitch - Bluebell Bank

a

anna

August 2025

Tent

With kids

4 nights at Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

This is wonderful. The private pitches for wild camping are perfect for a family holiday. What a beautiful place teeming with wildlife and beautiful swimming.

C

Charliejale

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cilrath Wood Camping

WOW! We have just returned from a 3 night stay, and I’m hesitant to write this… only because I don’t know if I want the world to discover this little haven we will now forever adopt as our own, BUT that would be selfish, and Peter deserves all the recognition for the pure love that has been poured into every detail of this little, beautiful campsite. The site is well taken care of with little trails that lead you to little secluded spots and to the larger field that is immaculately conserved with trees surrounding the space. We recommend you use an app that helps you identify all the birds because the bird song there is truly wild, loud and varied. There is a lovely little lake at the bottom of the site that is being preserved for the wildlife, with so much activity to be witnessed even in the short time we spent walking around it. The toilets are regularly maintained and super clean. The showers were hot, clean and in a separate block to the toilets. All brought together with a really well designed aesthetic as well as made incredibly functional. Both carry through the eco ethos and are stocked with environmentally considered products in case your own dont fit the bill. Peter (aka Grumpy Farmer who is an absolutely beautiful soul) was always on hand to come and help if need be, always seemingly working on the site on more beautiful features, projects that work with the campsite, like food banks, community growing and forest school. We will return. Yearly.

W

Wiktoria

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at Cilrath Wood Camping

Sooo nice, and highly recommended! Great for kids and adults! Amazing hosts!

A

Anjali

August 2025

Tent

With pets

2 nights at Rhydfach Valley Camping

Lovely patch of tranquility with the sound of the water and nextdoor horses neighing every so often. A very quiet area with minimal traffic so you can fall asleep to the sound of nature every night✨ The camping area itself is well kept with lots of space for all sorts of configurations for all your camping set up needs. The pond is gorgeous too for those brave enough for a dip but there's also a bench for those of us who simply enjoy just looking at them. Dennis was a wonderful host throughout it all I cannot credit him more for being so fabulous and patient! He went out of his way multiple times for us just because he's a great bloke and gave us some great recommendations for local things to do. We will be back again for sure! I had the most wonderful birthday trip in this little slice of heaven :)

C

Callum

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cornish Tipi Holidays & Camping

The lake was amazing - even better than the pictures. Beautiful private wooded sites running down the hill and a lovely set of open pitches at the top. The site staff were really friendly and helpful, with an excellent on site cafe for brunch and dinner. My daughter says her caramel cookie was the best she had ever eaten - high praise!

L

Luke

April 2025

1 m pop-up camper

2 nights at The Secret Garden

A perfect little hideaway – ideal to stay whilst cycling, surfing & recharging! I stayed here as part of a bikepacking trip and couldn’t have asked for a better spot. The location is peaceful and secluded, surrounded by greenery with a lovely fire pit, hot outdoor shower, and plenty of space to relax. It’s just a 15-minute cycle to Newquay and Fistral Beach, which made it ideal for surfing and exploring the coast. The host, Sheryl, was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She provided super clear directions with photos, was quick to respond to questions, and even left out firewood and matches. On top of that, there were friendly chickens roaming about, a couple of chilled cats, and paddleboards available too. She also gave great local recommendations and was very flexible on request. The price is very reasonable for what you get – this place is a hidden gem. I was also really grateful to be able to book on the same day — something quite rare / almost impossible with the campsites in the area. Would absolutely stay again – thanks Sheryl!

N

Nicholas

April 2025

Tent

1 night at Rhydfach Valley Camping

Excellent spot, highly recommend it for a peaceful get away. Dennis and Susan are fantastic hosts too, very helpful and friendly.

R

Runa

October 2024

With kids

3 nights at Wild Wellingtons Glamping

Lovely place to visit. Beautiful beaches nearby. The dome was comfortable and the kids loved it. Communal kitchen and fire pit were everything we needed. Sinead and Tom exceptional hosting.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Waterside campsites near Bude guide

Where to go

Crackington Haven

Crackington Haven is the scenic culminating point of the South West Coast Path, a popular hike that offers glimpses of sea views from its grassy cliffs. Crackington Haven is also part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that’s revered for its nature-inspired beauty. Visit medieval castles, surfing beaches, and the Crackington Formation. Then spend the night near the path at nearby private campsites and camping parks that offer bathroom access and water hookups for motorhomes.

Bude Canal

Canoe or kayak Bude Canal to enjoy views of pastoral Cornwall. Built in 1823, the canal begins at the sea and stretches for roughly 35 miles between its two locks. Innovative incline planes like Hobbacott Down, the highest incline plane in England, makes Bude Canal a Great Britain novelty. Campsites, holiday parks, and fishing spots are available near the canal as it passes rural sections of the landscape on its way to town.

Tamar Lakes Country Park

A short 20-minute drive from Bude brings visitors to family-friendly Tamar Lakes Country Park. Upper Tamar and Lower Tamar lakes offer an attractive setting for picnics, boating excursions, fishing, and strolling the grounds. Dog-friendly cafes have light lunches and drinks, and a local ice cream shop provides cool treats on warmer days. Campsites and camping pods located nearby feature convenient amenities like water and electric hookups.

When to go

With its mild maritime climate, Bude attracts campers during all seasons. Daily summer temperatures hover around 16°C. Expect winter temperatures to remain around 6°C. Some campers prefer to visit between June and September when conditions are driest. This is also when the ocean water at the beaches is warmest.