Stratton

Stratton is a small market town that effectively adjoins Bude on its north-east side, separated from Bude town centre by about half a mile. It is older and architecturally distinct from its neighbour - the parish church of St Andrew has Norman origins and a 13th-century tower, and the town has several listed buildings along its main street. The Battle of Stamford Hill was fought on the edge of the town in 1643, when Royalist forces under Sir Bevil Grenville defeated a Parliamentary army; the battle is commemorated by a monument on the hill where fighting took place.

The Tree Inn on the main street served as the Royalist headquarters before and after the battle. The pub itself dates from the 16th century and the building where Anthony Payne - the so-called “Cornish Giant” who stood over 7 feet tall - is said to have lived stands nearby. Stratton has a post office, pharmacy, and several shops, making it a practical base for accessing Bude’s beaches (a 10-minute walk) and the surrounding countryside.

Bude Canal, which runs south from the town, is one of the last surviving examples of a tub-boat canal in England. The canal path offers flat walking toward Marhamchurch and beyond. Holiday accommodation in Stratton tends to be in period townhouses and cottages, giving easier access to Bude’s amenities than many of the surrounding rural areas.