Summerleaze, Crooklets and Maer – Bude
Heavily used sand dunes bordered by the River Neet and the main car park, indicate this is a popular sandy beach location. The river, breakwater and rocky sections add diversity. The main beaches are extremely popular with families and dog walkers and so has limited wildlife value. However, this changes as soon as you reach the rocks at each end, the pools here are excellent. The breakwater is a man-made wall that separates the Atlantic from the fishing boats on the river, the area past this is rich in life as it contains estuary, rocky shore and cliff habitats. North of Crooklets is a section of almost vertical (on end) rocks that mark the start of the Maer cliff habitats. At low tide, the sand forms a continuous link between Bude and Northcott and so the rocky section here is in the high and mid tide zones (low water species are absent). Under the cliffs lie cobbles but between these and the sand, there are plenty of pools. This is an easy section to reach at low tide via the beach or at high tide via one or two places on the cliff. Parking is at either end (Northcott or Bude).
Maer should be avoided on an incoming tide, it is easy to get cut off. But the rest of the area is safe, family friendly and has all the facilities for a great day out. Lots of honeycomb worms and plenty of rock pool creatures to discover. There are easily over 100 species you can find in a few hours. Most you will not identify as they are tiny but the fun is in the finding.
Heavily used sand dunes bordered by the River Neet and the main car park, indicate this is a popular sandy beach location. The river, breakwater and rocky sections add diversity. The main beaches are extremely popular with families and dog walkers and so has limited wildlife value. However, this changes as soon as you reach the rocks at each end, the pools here are excellent. The breakwater is a man-made wall that separates the Atlantic from the fishing boats on the river, the area past this is rich in life as it contains estuary, rocky shore and cliff habitats. North of Crooklets is a section of almost vertical (on end) rocks that mark the start of the Maer cliff habitats. At low tide, the sand forms a continuous link between Bude and Northcott and so the rocky section here is in the high and mid tide zones (low water species are absent). Under the cliffs lie cobbles but between these and the sand, there are plenty of pools. This is an easy section to reach at low tide via the beach or at high tide via one or two places on the cliff. Parking is at either end (Northcott or Bude).
Maer should be avoided on an incoming tide, it is easy to get cut off. But the rest of the area is safe, family friendly and has all the facilities for a great day out. Lots of honeycomb worms and plenty of rock pool creatures to discover. There are easily over 100 species you can find in a few hours. Most you will not identify as they are tiny but the fun is in the finding.