Welcome to the Bude Canal and Harbour Engagement Platform

The Bude Canal and Harbour are iconic landmarks, supporting a range of land and water-based activities as well as providing a home for some of our rarest wildlife. They are a fantastic resource for the local community and put Bude on the map as a unique destination. Cornwall Council is proud to manage this special place and is committed to safeguarding it for current and future users.

On this page you can find regular updates providing the latest news and advice about the canal and harbour as well as background information to help you make the most of any visit.

Bude Canal Today

Constructed under an Act of Parliament between 1819 and 1825, the original 35.5 miles of canal was just part of John Edyvean’s (c.1770’s) ambitious 95-mile concept to join with the River Tamar. The canal was unique, in that it was constructed for agricultural purposes, transporting sea-sand to be applied as a soil conditioner and liming agent; a practice that fell away in subsequent decades as chemical fertiliser overtook.

Today only a short section of c. 1.8 miles from the harbour to Whalesbrough remains watered. With the upper canal reaches mostly dry, it no longer receives water from Lower Tamar Lakes, but instead relies on the rivers Strat and Neet, which flow through catchments dominated by improved grassland and arable cropping.

The canal and harbour are one Bude's foremost amenity spaces. A level tow-path provides an accessible route from the town to the surrounding countryside. The harbour and canal support small-scale commercial fishing, a coarse fishery, water-based activities and provide an attractive setting for canal-side food and retail outlets and accommodation.

This page is intended to help keep the community informed about the canal, providing updates and a place to ask questions. It has been developed in partnership between Cornwall Council Countryside and Maritime Teams, and we are pleased to work with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the canal and harbour through the Bude Valley Management Advisory Group:

Please note that the principle source of information for Bude Harbour is found at the following links:

Bude Harbour News (select Bude filter) – News - Cornwall Harbours
General information - Bude - Cornwall Harbours

The Bude Canal Dredging Programme referenced on this platform is part-funded] by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

On this page you can find regular updates providing the latest news and advice about the canal and harbour as well as background information to help you make the most of any visit.

Bude Canal Today

Please note that the principle source of information for Bude Harbour is found at the following links:

Bude Harbour News (select Bude filter) – News - Cornwall Harbours
General information - Bude - Cornwall Harbours

Have a question?

Please use this section to submit questions about the management of the Canal and Harbour.

If you have another question, for instance about the ecology or heritage, we'll try to help, but may signpost our to one of our partners who is better placed to answer.

Share what are the plans for the road bridge over the canal at Rods bridge , the road is closed there until April 2024 ? on Facebook Share what are the plans for the road bridge over the canal at Rods bridge , the road is closed there until April 2024 ? on Twitter Share what are the plans for the road bridge over the canal at Rods bridge , the road is closed there until April 2024 ? on Linkedin Email what are the plans for the road bridge over the canal at Rods bridge , the road is closed there until April 2024 ? link

what are the plans for the road bridge over the canal at Rods bridge , the road is closed there until April 2024 ?

sharky asked 6 months ago

Currently the works to reinstate this bridge are scheduled for the Autumn 2024.
Share can you tell us how dredging is going ? how much silt has been removed from the lower part of the canal so far ? are you on schedule to complete the work ? on Facebook Share can you tell us how dredging is going ? how much silt has been removed from the lower part of the canal so far ? are you on schedule to complete the work ? on Twitter Share can you tell us how dredging is going ? how much silt has been removed from the lower part of the canal so far ? are you on schedule to complete the work ? on Linkedin Email can you tell us how dredging is going ? how much silt has been removed from the lower part of the canal so far ? are you on schedule to complete the work ? link

can you tell us how dredging is going ? how much silt has been removed from the lower part of the canal so far ? are you on schedule to complete the work ?

sharky asked 4 months ago

The target volume of silt for removal is 3,600 cubic meters. Ongoing volumes will be established when the silt begins to be transported off-site through tanker weighing. We will be able to update you then.
Share Hello, how is the wildlife being protected when the dredging starts. Thankyou on Facebook Share Hello, how is the wildlife being protected when the dredging starts. Thankyou on Twitter Share Hello, how is the wildlife being protected when the dredging starts. Thankyou on Linkedin Email Hello, how is the wildlife being protected when the dredging starts. Thankyou link

Hello, how is the wildlife being protected when the dredging starts. Thankyou

Karen Thomas asked 6 months ago

Hi Karen, There is a conversation zone between the two in-land locks that is not being dredged as refugia for wildlife. As well as this, we have moved fish and eels into the zone that is not being dredged and have mitigation in place to stop silt moving down the canal towards the Bude SSI and SAC.
Share where can the public see the plans for the canal bank repairs by falcon bridge , there must have been plans to get quotes for the work , will it be the same as what was there before ? on Facebook Share where can the public see the plans for the canal bank repairs by falcon bridge , there must have been plans to get quotes for the work , will it be the same as what was there before ? on Twitter Share where can the public see the plans for the canal bank repairs by falcon bridge , there must have been plans to get quotes for the work , will it be the same as what was there before ? on Linkedin Email where can the public see the plans for the canal bank repairs by falcon bridge , there must have been plans to get quotes for the work , will it be the same as what was there before ? link

where can the public see the plans for the canal bank repairs by falcon bridge , there must have been plans to get quotes for the work , will it be the same as what was there before ?

mbannister asked 6 months ago

Thank you for your question - whilst there is no requirement for the plans to be made publicly available in terms of planning consultation, your question has prompted us to request that the technical drawings be turned into a user friendly format so that we can post them on this platform for public awareness. We will let you know when they are here.

Update 20.11.23
Following the partial collapse of the canal bank opposite the Crescent Car Park in Bude last September, several options were considered to reinstate the wall. Ground investigation works carried out along the canal in the autumn highlighted the presence of very soft material which would be unsuitable to support most options previously identified and be very difficult to excavate without significant and disruptive temporary works. Therefore, the preferred solution was to use sheet piles to reinstate the bank, this type of construction is commonly used along canals and rivers. The top of the sheet piles will be capped with precast reinforced concrete units reducing the need to cast reinforced concrete on site in so close proximity of the canal. The top of the capping will be set at the same level than the original bank and new boarding area will be provided to facilitate leisure activities along the canal. This solution was adopted as being the least disruptive, most practical to build as well as offering a robust and durable reinstatement of the canal bank.
A visualisation is now available in the documents section of the Let's Talk page.
Share Why can't the lock operate year round and ferries sail to Lundy and Wales on Facebook Share Why can't the lock operate year round and ferries sail to Lundy and Wales on Twitter Share Why can't the lock operate year round and ferries sail to Lundy and Wales on Linkedin Email Why can't the lock operate year round and ferries sail to Lundy and Wales link

Why can't the lock operate year round and ferries sail to Lundy and Wales

Brian Hedger asked over 1 year ago

Thank you for your question. At present no operator has requested to use the harbour for passenger travel. If there was user requests for year round operation the Harbours Board would need to carefully consider the cost benefit in making this decision. Currently, the sea lock operates from 1st May to 30th September each year – extending operating windows would require additional dredging and manpower, and as a Harbour Authority we have a statutory duty to be efficient in our management of the harbour.
Share why is the public meeting regarding the dredging of the canal being held at 1:30 on 12 Jan when most people will be at work ,is like you do want the public to attend. im sure any evening would have far greater attendance. on Facebook Share why is the public meeting regarding the dredging of the canal being held at 1:30 on 12 Jan when most people will be at work ,is like you do want the public to attend. im sure any evening would have far greater attendance. on Twitter Share why is the public meeting regarding the dredging of the canal being held at 1:30 on 12 Jan when most people will be at work ,is like you do want the public to attend. im sure any evening would have far greater attendance. on Linkedin Email why is the public meeting regarding the dredging of the canal being held at 1:30 on 12 Jan when most people will be at work ,is like you do want the public to attend. im sure any evening would have far greater attendance. link

why is the public meeting regarding the dredging of the canal being held at 1:30 on 12 Jan when most people will be at work ,is like you do want the public to attend. im sure any evening would have far greater attendance.

mbannister asked over 1 year ago

Whilst it is always very difficult to balance the timing of public meetings with the needs of multiple audiences, we do apologise if anyone felt excluded.
We use a range of communication modes to help reach different audiences and will respond to public feeling about meeting timings.
Please do continue to feed back to us.
Share are you planning to block the canal at falcon bridge ? on Facebook Share are you planning to block the canal at falcon bridge ? on Twitter Share are you planning to block the canal at falcon bridge ? on Linkedin Email are you planning to block the canal at falcon bridge ? link

are you planning to block the canal at falcon bridge ?

sharky asked over 1 year ago

There are no plans to do so.
Share hello, as part of the inaugural Ocean Festival in June, Bude Pilot Gig Club would like to put a gig on the canal for demo and taster rows for the public. Do we need to get permission from somebody to do this? We would probably want to launch from the grass side in the upper basin (I.e. to the East of the road bridge by the falcon). I'm conscious of the work going on near there and don't want to make hinge worse. We have launched into the canal before, I believe as part of Heritage Day, but not for quite a few years. on Facebook Share hello, as part of the inaugural Ocean Festival in June, Bude Pilot Gig Club would like to put a gig on the canal for demo and taster rows for the public. Do we need to get permission from somebody to do this? We would probably want to launch from the grass side in the upper basin (I.e. to the East of the road bridge by the falcon). I'm conscious of the work going on near there and don't want to make hinge worse. We have launched into the canal before, I believe as part of Heritage Day, but not for quite a few years. on Twitter Share hello, as part of the inaugural Ocean Festival in June, Bude Pilot Gig Club would like to put a gig on the canal for demo and taster rows for the public. Do we need to get permission from somebody to do this? We would probably want to launch from the grass side in the upper basin (I.e. to the East of the road bridge by the falcon). I'm conscious of the work going on near there and don't want to make hinge worse. We have launched into the canal before, I believe as part of Heritage Day, but not for quite a few years. on Linkedin Email hello, as part of the inaugural Ocean Festival in June, Bude Pilot Gig Club would like to put a gig on the canal for demo and taster rows for the public. Do we need to get permission from somebody to do this? We would probably want to launch from the grass side in the upper basin (I.e. to the East of the road bridge by the falcon). I'm conscious of the work going on near there and don't want to make hinge worse. We have launched into the canal before, I believe as part of Heritage Day, but not for quite a few years. link

hello, as part of the inaugural Ocean Festival in June, Bude Pilot Gig Club would like to put a gig on the canal for demo and taster rows for the public. Do we need to get permission from somebody to do this? We would probably want to launch from the grass side in the upper basin (I.e. to the East of the road bridge by the falcon). I'm conscious of the work going on near there and don't want to make hinge worse. We have launched into the canal before, I believe as part of Heritage Day, but not for quite a few years.

Sarah Welburn asked 12 months ago

This is a great idea - please email countrysideservice@cormacltd.co.uk to organise