Approximate Location Map
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Westward Ho! Beach, located in north Devon, is a popular seaside resort with a long sandy beach and a unique pebble ridge linking to Northam Burrows Country Park.
Westward Ho! Beach boasts more than two miles of golden sand backed by a unique pebble ridge linking to Northam Burrows Country Park, which is part of the UK's only United Nations Biosphere Reserve. The beach is easily accessible via a concrete ramp from the town of Westward Ho!, named after the famous novel by Charles Kingsley. The beach runs parallel to the South West Coast Path and is adjacent to the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly.
The beach faces westwards into Bideford Bay, making it an ideal spot for surfers, swimmers, kayakers, and paddle boarders. The main beach is backed by the grassland of Northam Burrows Country Park and the imaginatively named Pebble Ridge. This part of the coastline is known for its dramatic cliffs, and Westward Ho! is no exception, with the beach falling within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The beach is home to long flat stretches of sand ideal for sunbathing, and surfing areas are clearly designated. Visitors can also enjoy a range of activities, including go-karts, mini-golf, and bowling.
The town of Westward Ho! offers a range of amenities, including numerous amusement arcades, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and tearooms at prices to suit a range of budgets. There is plenty of car parking, with spaces for disabled visitors near the beach itself. Free public toilets are available, including those in the recently-added visitor centre at the Northam end of the beach. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach in the summer, and visitors can also explore the nearby Northam Burrows Country Park and Kipling Tor.
Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, with a few summer restrictions – visitors are advised to check the beachfront signs. The waves can be very high here, and the tide comes in quickly; at low tide, the water is around waist height for an averagely tall adult.
The seaside resort of Westward Ho! was founded in the 1860s and has been a favourite holiday spot ever since. Visitors can enjoy great walks at nearby Kipling Tor or explore the Northam Burrows Country Park. The Royal North Devon Golf club is also nearby, and visitors can grab their surfboard and take to the waves.
Westward Ho! Beach is adjacent to the South West Coast Path.
Sand
| Tonight |  |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | 4% |
| Min temp. | 11°C |
| (feels like | 12°C) |
| Wind 4mph |  |
| Tomorrow |
 |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | 76% |
| Max temp. | 19°C |
| (feels like | 16°C) |
| Wind 13mph |  |
| Max UV Index |  |
The tide at Westward Ho! Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 9:03 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 2:50 AM tomorrow.
Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low
Approximate sea surface temperature:
17.3°C
Campsite
Food available
Toilets
Shops
Slipway
Pay parking available at the country park.
Dogs allowed from October to April on the whole beach and all year round at the Northam Burrows end of the beach.
Daily - 21st May - 25th September
Excellent water quality
Abbotsham Cottage
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Romantic Rural Filleigh Lodge
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Romantic Coastal Devon Cottage
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Devon Cottage
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Luxury Rural Cornwall Cottage
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Romantic Devon Barn
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The North Devon Surf School (0.1 miles)
Lundy Island (0.8 miles)
The Ultimate Adventure Centre (1.8 miles)
The Big Sheep. (1.9 miles)
North Devon Maritime Museum (2 miles)
Instow beach (2.7 miles)
All distances are approximate
less than a mile north-northeast as the seagull flies, just over a mile by road.
around 3 miles east-northeast as the seagull flies, around 5 miles by road.
around 8 miles west-southwest as the seagull flies, around 13 miles by road.
Location: Westward Ho!
Location type: Urban
OS Grid: SS432295
County: Devon
Country: England
Local Authority: Torridge
Parish: Northam
Nearest postcode: EX39 1LL
(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)
Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.
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