Westward Ho! in North Devon is characterised by its two mile long beach and natural pebble ridge. Its name is derived from the story by Charles Kingsley and its claim to fame is that it is the only British place to have an exclamation mark in its name! It is a stunning rugged coastline, characteristic of North Devon. There are many local walks – some for the not-so-feint-hearted such as a steep hike up Kipling Tors (apparently Rudyard Kipling went to school here) which gives such breath taking views that it really is worth the effort.
If you are feeling particularly energetic you can stroll along the South West Coast Path. West takes you to Green Cliffs, Bucks Mills, Clovelly and eventually Hartland and beyond. Views of the ocean and Lundy Island are a visual treat – you may be lucky to see a seal or two if the weather has been particularly warm. You can walk from Westward Ho! to Clovelly (about 11 miles). The walk itself isn’t that taxing, but it will take the best part of a day to do. Make sure you have access to transport the other end as it’s unlikely you’ll be able to come back the same day. There are bus routes, but the service starts late and ends early after the summer season.
East will take you around Northam Burrows to the lovely old fishing village of Appledore and further onto the ancient merchant town of Bideford. From here there are views of the Estuary, Saunton Sands, Baggy Point and Woolacombe.
Once a small coastal village, it has grown into a beach holiday resort with the usual British-seaside chalets, crazy golf, ice-cream and fast food outlets – although fortunately they are all still privately owned. Recently, however the area has seen some investment and it is developing into a foodie paradise.
Places to eat in Westward Ho!, Devon
To see reviews of the following food establishments either click on the map or the links below. All reviews are based on our own experience at the time of visiting.