Words by Tam
Being a huge fan of wild swimming in tidal pools or sea pools, I had often heard great things about the Bude Sea Pool on the North Coast of Cornwall. So when I was near Bude in November 2021 I knew a trip to Bude Sea Pool was a must.
There's something about the calm and tranquil waters of a tidal pool which has always been a huge draw for me. I love that they can be a safer option than swimming in the sometimes rough and fierce sea, especially during the winter months when there are no lifeguards on duty.
Check out the video below where I visit Bude Sea Pool.
Bude Sea Pool is a part natural and part man-made tidal swimming pool in the rocks at Summerleaze Beach, Bude, North Cornwall. It was built in the 1930’s in order to provide a safe place for locals to swim in. It is the perfect spot if you are starting on your wild swimming journey and are not quite ready for the currents and waves of the wild waters of the sea.
Bude Sea Pool is approximately 91m long and 45m wide, there is a deeper end where I couldn’t stand up but other parts of it were shallower. So if you are an open water swimmer looking to get in those distances, this is a great place to swim lengths in.
It is open throughout the year, free to use but we recommend making a donation as it is managed by the Friends of Bude Sea Pool, a local volunteer-run charity.
Twice a day at high tide the sea rushes into the tidal pool which refreshes the water. I was there around low tide and the tide was quite a way out, so you should be able to get into the pool at least an hour either side of low tide.
You can get to it from walking along the coastal path and down some steps or I walked across the beach to it.
There is a lovely little shop at the entrance to the car park where they sell some great gifts and branded clothing, it’s well worth a visit whilst you are there.