Atlantic Surf Pods - Campsite

Atlantic Camping is handy if you have a car and want to get to Bude, but we don’t drive. The walk into town is long, mostly along roads without paths, and includes crossing the motorway. The staff were lovely, and we still had a good experience. Our bell tent was roomy enough for a family of five, waterproof, and came with a large storage box and two very comfortable mattresses. There was an outlet for charging devices, though you couldn’t use it for things like a hairdryer or kettle, which would have made the stay better. Even in July the tent was freezing at night and didn’t retain heat, so we had to buy extra blankets. We’d paid extra for a gas stove, but there was no lighter, and we only got it going after a kind neighbour lent us his. The toilets and shower were fine apart from the toilet roll getting stuck in its holder more than once. The shower was the biggest problem. It runs on a gas canister, has no temperature control, and the water was so scalding hot I couldn’t stand under it. It was heartbreaking to think of the children staying there having to endure that.

The cottage was warm and cosy, which helped make up for the awful weather. We slept well in the comfy bed and loved the underfloor heating. It was clean and stylish, with great attention to detail, excellent-quality kitchen goods, and the best shower I’ve ever had. The management put up signposts showing a helpful route into town through a small industrial estate. I’d definitely recommend this place.

We arrived to find nobody there to check us in, and the bell tent hadn’t been cleaned. When I said so, I was rudely told that it had been. There was a circus in the field behind, playing loud music until 9:30 pm, but the owner didn’t seem interested when I said we should have been warned. They replied, “I can't be emailing all the people who have booked”. The toilets and showers weren’t cleaned often enough, and hot water was scarce. The owner was rude and obnoxious. Avoid.

The pods, hideaways, and tree house were comfortable and pretty awesome, and Bude was a short drive away with everything we needed, including the beach. We booked this getaway for 15 adults and 8 children, since our huge family hadn’t seen each other all summer. After a tiring six-hour drive with stops, we settled in quickly. The stay was memorable all the same. The management felt very standoffish. I’d have preferred to deal with the kind man I’d spoken to on the phone, but he was unwell. There were repeated complaints about our “screeching children” (direct quote), and she even said she’d had worse. We were a large group doing things together, so of course we were loud when talking. There seemed to be some kind of curfew, though I’m not sure whether we weren’t allowed out at certain times. It felt ridiculous on holiday. Some TLC for the bathrooms wouldn’t hurt either. I wouldn’t suggest coming as a large group if you want to socialise freely. After this trip I felt like I was in boarding school, so next time we’ll book somewhere we can be more relaxed.