Just along the coast from the busy resort of Bude, Widemouth is a long, long stretch of sand backed by high cliffs. Unusual rock formations on the beach are a magnet for climbers while the Atlantic surf brings bodyboarders, kayakers and surfers here in their hundreds. Widemouth Bay is home to a scattering of houses, pubs, cafes and restaurants but there remains a definitive sense of having strayed off the beaten path here. There is a section open to dogs all year round, loads of parking and several surf schools.