Bude’s beaches are one of the main reasons so many people visit our award-winning seaside town every year, and we all know a visit to the beach isn’t complete without a little dip in the sea. Whether it’s just a quick paddle, or making the most of the Atlantic waves rolling in, our local surf life saving club is always on hand keeping Bude’s waters safe.

But did you know that Bude Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) was the very first surf life saving club in Britain?

Its history has international roots, with Australian surfers inspiring its creation. World War II pilots from Australia, based at nearby St Mawgan during the war, would often check out the Cornish coast when flying, on the hunt of good surfing beaches – which of course, there are plenty.

A couple of years after the war, two Australian lifeguards from Byron Bay came to the UK for work, and after remembering the pilots’ stories, they set their sights on Cornwall in the hunt for a suitable surf club location. They settled on Bude, and with the help of a local youth group, the ‘bronze squad’ was created. The Aussies then got to work on training the team, which got quite a lot of attention from people watching on the beach. There was such a buzz around examination day for the lifeguards, that even the BBC turned up.

Bude SLSC is now thought to be one of the longest-established clubs of its kind in the northern hemisphere. The self-financing club holds a number of popular fundraising events throughout the year, including its annual Christmas Day swim, which attracts a few thousand people. They’re often fun to watch, or even join in sometimes, so keep an eye on their Facebook page to find out about upcoming events.

Thanks to the success of Bude SLSC, our town is a great place to come and learn to surf safely. Or, if you’re an experienced surfer, you can enjoy the water sport with the reassurance that someone will have your back in an emergency. As one of Cornwall’s top surfing destinations, find out more about the top surfing beaches in Bude.

If you want to come and enjoy a surfing holiday in Bude, why not book a room in our boutique hotel? Located just a few minutes walk from generic tramadol price Summerleaze Beach, you can be in water just moments after stepping out of our front door.

Surfing in a group? Why not try one of our suites? Sleeping up to four guests, with added lounge space to relax after spending time in the water, it’s the perfect retreat for a surfing escape in Cornwall.

View our availability online, or call our reception team on 01288 389800.