Northcott Mouth

Northcott Mouth is a small rocky beach just north of Bude that opens up to wide sands and rock pools as the tide drops. It has changed little since the 19th century and first drew visitors in the 1930s. The cliffs show rocks formed more than 300 million years ago, and at low tide the rusting remains of the steamship Belem, which ran aground in 1917, can be seen in the sand off Menachurch Point. To the south, Maer Cliff and Down have Bronze Age burial chambers and, on a clear day, views of Lundy Island, with six-spot burnet moths and meadow brown butterflies among the thrift. Reviewers single out the expanse of sand and pools at low tide, and say the beach stays fairly quiet even in summer. Dogs are welcome all year under control, especially near livestock and cliff edges. There are no toilets and phone signal is patchy. The approach lanes are narrow and the car park has a height barrier.