Cornwall, England
Flexbury Beach
Flexbury Beach is a quiet stretch of sand and shingle at the northern end of Bude Bay, separated from the main Bude town beach by a rocky headland and a short walk along the coastal path.
- Day use
About this place
Flexbury Beach is a quiet stretch of sand and shingle at the northern end of Bude Bay, separated from the main Bude town beach by a rocky headland and a short walk along the coastal path. The beach is backed by low dunes and the Flexbury residential area — less visited than central Bude and correspondingly more relaxed. The informal clothing-optional tradition here is long-standing among Cornish naturists and North Devon/Cornwall visitors who know to explore beyond the more popular town beach.
Bude sits at the edge of some of the most dramatic coastline in Cornwall — high slate cliffs, Atlantic swell, and clean water that makes this stretch popular with surfers and wild swimmers year-round. Flexbury Beach is sheltered enough from the direct swell to make sunbathing comfortable on calm days, while remaining exposed enough to have genuine Atlantic character. The beach is accessible at low and mid tide; high tide significantly reduces the sand area.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Bude area visitors and locals, North Cornwall naturists, coastal walkers doing the SW Coast Path who know the spot.
How to find it
From Bude town centre, walk north along the coastal path past Northcott Mouth direction or access from Flexbury residential streets. The beach is on the north side of the headland from Summerleaze.
Things to watch out for
Atlantic swell can be strong even on apparently calm days. The beach narrows at high tide. No facilities at Flexbury itself.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Informal C/O tradition — read the beach before disrobing. The quieter northern end is where the C/O culture concentrates.
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