Cookies
A cookie is a simple text file that is stored on a computer or mobile device by a website.
Each cookie is unique to a web browser and it is only the website that created the cookie that will be able to read the contents of that cookie for security purposes.
The cookie will contain anonymous information such as a unique identifier and the site name and some digits and numbers.
A cookie allows a website to remember information which can be crucial to the operation of the website and your experience with the website.
Cookies are used to ‘remember’ information about you, the user, and your interaction with the website.
This will include information such as your unique session (visit) to the website as well as additional data to allow features of the website work properly.
Cookies can also used by analytical software to help the business owner understand how many visits the website is achieving, what pages are most popular, etc.
Usually this information is anonymous and helpful for the business owner to help improve their website which in turn benefits you, the visitor.
There are a number of different types of cookie:
Session Cookies
A session cookie will only last for the duration of your visit to the website. These cookies help the website operate properly and provide core functionality.
Permanent Cookies
A permanent cookie will remain on your device but will have a lifetime period, i.e. 6 or 12 months. These cookies can remember such things as the content of your shopping basket or personalisation settings for repeat visits so that elements are position where you want them or options you chose are remembered.
First Party Cookies
A first party cookie is a cookie which is created by the website for the specific use of the website only and can only be read by the website which created it.
The session cookie is a good example of a first party cookie.
Third Party Cookies
A third party cookie is a cookie which has been created by a website or service external to the website you are visiting. This might be Google Analytics or Google Maps for instance and in this situation they provide information valuable for the business owner or functionality that is helpful to you. Cookies can also be used for advertisers, typically in order to help promote products you have already expressed an interest in.
If you would like to identify any specific cookies, you can use the Cookie Database and search for specific cookies at cookiedatabase.org
What to do if you don’t want cookies to be set
Please bear in mind that most modern websites need cookies in order to be able to operate and cookies by their very nature are not bad or evil.
You can use your web browser to delete cookies and you can often prevent cookies from being created, although bear in mind this might ‘break’ the website or prevent necessary or essential functionality from being able to work properly.
Alternatively, you can the visit the About Cookies website, which contains comprehensive information on how to control cookies, delete cookies and disable cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
The most common type of cookie used on our web site is set by Google Analytics, which provides anonymous statistical data to us to show usage trends and to aid in making decisions about what types of content are most popular.
Google Analytics
Most web pages contain a Google Analytics tracking code to record anonymous information about the date and time of your visit, the type of browser used, approximate geographic location and the URL of any page that led this web site. That information is aggregated and used by us to identify usage trends on our site and to make decisions about which content is most popular.
Find information about opting out of browsing behaviour being shared with Google Analytics by visiting Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
A link to Facebook does not set cookies.
However, some Facebook features (such as the ‘Like’ button) will store information if and when you interact with them. Facebook will store and use information such as IP address, approximate location, browser type, the URL visited, whether logged into Facebook, and Facebook user ID. Visit Facebook and privacy for more details.
Twitter uses cookies and other similar technologies, such as pixels or local storage, to measure the effectiveness of advertisements and provide personalised content.
We use Twitter buttons on some of our pages to link through to the corresponding Twitter feed and the cookies are used to measure how effective these buttons are and how you might get to Twitter.
Google Maps
We have embedded Google Maps in some of our pages. Google may use cookies here to store user preferences or the last location selected. Cookies are set to expire between 6 months and two years. For more information about Google’s privacy policies, visit Google’s privacy policies page.
Google reCaptcha
We have installed Google reCaptcha on our website to help protect our web forms from spam. Whilst a spam filter is an essential service these days, preventing spam from getting through in the first place is an important tool in the fight for spam. Google reCaptcha prevents spammers by send spam in the first place by monitoring the bots interaction with the form. It will either prevent the message being sent or show a visual captcha if it is unsure.
YouTube
We include videos on our website so that we can show you how amazing the surf here is at Bude. In order for YouTube to work correctly in our website it has to use cookies so that it can store information about the video, what is to be shown, whether played, where you’ve watched up to, etc.
Cookie Consent
Ironically, the only way for our website to ‘remember’ your choice is by using a cookie. This helps prevent the annoying pop-up from appearing every time you visit our website.
Other Cookies
There are other cookies which may be created dependent on your interaction with the website such as whether you are an administrator. When you login the only way for the website to keep track of your usage session with the website is to use cookies.
We never share or sell information with third parties and can be rest assured that any information shared with us will be treated with the full confidentiality it deserves. This is the same for information shared via the website, via email, Whatsapp, text messaging or over the phone.