Things to do with kids in Bude.

Cut into the rock shelf at the northern end of Summerleaze Beach, Bude's tidal sea pool is one of the finest free swimming facilities in England. It fills with seawater on the incoming tide and retains a calm, protected swimming area that's perfect for children who find the open surf intimidating. At low tide the surrounding rock shelf becomes a natural playground of pools teeming with anemones, blennies and shore crabs. The pool is maintained by a local charity and costs nothing to use — a genuinely rare thing on the Cornish coast.

Four miles north of Bude via the National Trust car park, Sandymouth rewards the 15-minute walk down the valley with exceptional rock pooling — slanted geological strata create deep, sheltered pools holding prawns, velvet swimming crabs, and the occasional small fish. The beach itself is quiet even in summer because the walk keeps casual visitors away. Bring a bucket and a hand lens; the variety of species here is genuinely impressive. No facilities on the beach, so pack snacks and drinks before you leave the car.

Housed in the old castle building overlooking the canal, Bude-Stratton Museum tells the town's story through shipwrecks, smuggling, and the peculiar history of the Bude Canal. The wrecking exhibits — complete with salvage artefacts and contemporary accounts — are dark enough to interest children without being traumatic. Entry is cheap and the museum is small enough to hold a child's attention without inducing museum fatigue. Good rainy-afternoon option when the beach is genuinely uninhabitable.