Bude

The Atlantic hammers this stretch of north Cornwall relentlessly, carving out some of the most dramatic coastal scenery you'll find anywhere in Britain. Bude sits right in the thick of it, a proper surf town that doesn't try too hard to be anything else.

Summer sees the place heaving with families and board riders, but come autumn the crowds thin out and you get a proper sense of what this coast is really about. The beaches are genuinely spectacular - wide expanses of golden sand that stretch for miles when the tide's out. Surfing's the obvious draw, but even if you've never set foot on a board, watching the waves roll in from the clifftops is worth the trip alone.

Walk north and you'll hit some of the highest sea cliffs in Cornwall. High Cliff lives up to its name at over 700 feet, while the Artists Chair viewpoint gives you the sort of panoramic coastal views that make your phone camera seem utterly inadequate. The South West Coast Path threads through here, offering walking that ranges from gentle strolls to proper leg-burners.

Inland, there's more to discover than you might expect. Cornwall at War Museum tells the story of the county's wartime role, while RAF Davidstow Moor Memorial Museum pays tribute to the airfield that once dominated the nearby moors. The Davidstow Creamery Museum might sound niche, but it's actually quite fascinating if you're into local industry.

Getting here's straightforward enough from the A39, though it's a fair trek from anywhere major - Exeter's your nearest big city at about 90 minutes. But that remoteness is part of the appeal. Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area makes perfect sense - you're close enough to nip into town for supplies or a pint, but far enough out to properly unwind.