Information on Widemouth Bay

Widemouth Bay is very convenient for those wishing to visit other places of interest and being close to the Cornwall/Devon border enables visitors to see Clovelly, Westward Ho!, Hartland, Ilfracombe, Exmoor and Dartmoor, as well as the best of Cornwall. Bodmin Moor, Crowdy Reservoir and Davidstow Moor are within a short distance, the latter having a microlite flying school, grazing sheep and wild ponies. The expanse of beaches, headlands of outstanding beauty, wooded land-ward valleys and quaint coves are all evident in this locality.

Both Widemouth Bay & Bude, (where surfing in the U.K. is believed to have begun,) have a wide expanse of sandy beaches and is a surfer's paradise due to the high rolling waves of the Atlantic. Children and family groups are well catered for with plenty of room for beach games, and innumerable rock pools to explore.

This part of Cornwall has the highest tides of the Peninsula and allegedly has one of the lowest rainfalls in the country. The coastal road is one of the most scenic in the British Isles and the short trip to Crackington Haven is quite dramatic. The road takes you down to Millook Haven, notable for its unusual rock strata, and studied by geologists the world over. Its 1:4 gradients and hairpin bends lead to some of the highest cliffs on the North Cornwall Coast.

Widemouth Bay is an unspoilt and relaxing place to spend some time. Only 2 miles from the centre of Bude, along the coastal path you will find a pub called The Bay View Inn. A comfortable, and affordable hostelry offering accommodation and meals. Friendly family run free-house Inn overlooking the beaches of Widemouth.

HMS Widemouth Bay

(a bit of history!)

Bay Class

The Bay class were a development of the Lochs. They were intended as heavy AA ships to accompany the British fleet into Japanese waters. In the 1950s, their guns and fire control were obsolete against modern aircraft, which led to their quick exit from British service, although several were transferred abroad.

Specification

Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast, United Kingdom.

Dimensions: 307' x 38' 6" x 12' 9" / 63.57m x 11.70m x 3.90m.

Displacement: 1600 tons std / 2530 tons max.

Complement: 157.

Armament: Dundrum Bay & Gerrans Bay:- 2 x 4" guns in a Mk XVI twin mounting, 2 x 40mm guns in single mountings.

All other ships:- 4 x 4" guns in a two Mk XVI twin mountings, 6 x 40mm guns in two twin and two single mountings, 1 x Hedgehog AS mortar. Mines rails and depth charge throwers were also fitted.

Aircraft Facilities: None fitted.

Armour: None known.

Powerplant: Two Admiralty 3 drum 225psi boilers were fitted driving two four cylinder triple expansion engines providing a total of 5500ihp on two shafts.

Maximum speed was 19.5kts and the maximum fuel load was 720 tons oil.

Electronics Fit: Radar: Type 285 gunnery control, Type 291 air search, Type 293 target designator.

Sonar: Hull mounted.

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