The only town in the UK with a name that ends in an exclamation mark, Westward Ho! has plenty to shout about. The big attraction is the beach. A real family favourite, it’s one long strip of sand backed by a pebble ridge, with the natural paradise of Northam Burrows Country Park accessible at one end.
The town’s unusual name comes from the title of a book by Victorian writer, Charles Kingsley, which proved so popular that developers of the Northam Burrows Hotel and Villa Building Company proposed naming their new site after the story. Visit today and you’ll discover it’s just as popular now as it was in the late 19th Century. A town that truly deserves an exclamation mark!
Things to do in and around Westward Ho!
Information on things to do, what is on (via their entertainments calendar link), local shops in Westward Ho! places to eat, takeaways and walks in the area. There is a live feed for the beach camera, so you can see what the beach and waves are like without leaving Puttsborough if you like.
There are normally a number of family events in Westward Ho! including the Sunset Festivals on Saturdays during July/ August, Festival of the Kites, National Sandcastle Competition, Day of the Dead for Halloween, New Years Day Fancy Dress Dip to name just a few.
Information on Days Out/ Attractions brought to you by the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions.
Search by attraction category: Family Days Out, Get Active, Rainy Days, Sight Seeing & Tours to name just a few.
Beaches, Surfing, Golfing and Cycling
Westward Ho! Beach
Westward Ho! Beach is a Blue Flag. The beach has lifeguards present during the summer season, normally May to September. The RNLI Website has details of manned lifeguard beaches in the local area. You can check for daily reports on the surf and high/low tides at Surfline.
The Pebble Ridge
The round, grey cobbles of Westward Ho! Pebble Ridge are all made from the beds of fine- grained sandstone which are common in the cliffs of Bideford Bay between Westward Ho! and Hartland Point.
In the cliffs, the grey nature of this sandstone is not easy to see because the beds have many iron stained joints that give the rock an orange or brown appearance. However, when the blocks of sandstone fall from the cliffs onto the shore, wave auction soon removes the iron staining, revealing the purer grey rocks beneath. The blocks are gradually rounded by banging against each other until the familiar round pebble is produced.
Over the last 100 years the number and size of new pebbles arriving alongshore from the cliffs has been in serous decline, resulting in the ridge being lower and weaker. The authorities tried reinforcing the Pebble Ridge by transporting pebbles from the Grey Sands end of the spit but this supply has now run out and this replenishment has been discontinued.
Please help us to protect this landscape by leaving the pebbles on the ridge and return any you ‘borrow’ and bring back to Puttsborough before you depart, as we often have to return a number of pebbles that guests leave behind.
Royal North Devon Golf Club
The golf club can be accessed through the pedestrian gate opposite the back of the house. A concessionary guest rate is normally available to golfers playing after midday, if you mention that you are staying at Puttsborough. There is also the small Taylor Course pitch and putt and practice areas.
Visit their website or call 01237 473817
Kitemare Surf & Kite Shop surfandkiteshop.co.uk on the seafront in the village offer wetsuit hire and more. Call 01237 238350.
For bike hire details and suggested trail routes see tarkabikes.co.uk
Booking is essential during summer months. Call 01271 324202.
Situated in the middle of the Tarka Trail offering you the choice of cycling south towards Torrington and Meeth or North to Barnstaple then onto Braunton. See bidefordbicyclehire.co.uk or call 07823 591416.
Walks in the area and the South West Coastal Path
There are many walks in the local area for you to enjoy. Use the Walk Finder on the South West Coast Path Website and search for distance, difficulty, starting point, attractions etc. Use Puttsborough’s postcode (EX39 1FG) in the search.
Westward Ho! to Cornborough Cliffs is a popular walk. You can either start out from Puttsborough- walk towards the village, along the sea front, out passed the beach huts towards the Pier House Restaurant and pick up the coastal path behind Seafield House (The Victorian Spooky House next to the sea) or park at the ‘famous free car park’ behind Seafield House near the Pier House Restaurant and pick up the walk from there. (It takes around 10- 15 minutes to walk from Puttsborough into the village a little bit longer on to the Pier House). For more information also see the Visit Westward Ho! website.
You can take the gate to access the Burrows at the bottom of the footpath from outside the front door at Puttsborough. Turn right and walk to the left hand side of Golf View. Please beware that this access takes you through the small pitch and putt course at Royal North Devon Golf Club and the ground can be very uneven. Pedestrians, sheep and horses have a right of way on the golf course but please be respectful of those enjoying a game of golf and the course.
Alternative access is via Sandymere Road, EX39 1XS.Turn left out of Greenway Drive onto to Golf Links Road and then left on to Sandymere Road. This is then a tarmacked single track road to the beach and the Burrows. The Park is open to pedestrians at all times but there are restrictions on vehicles. Car parking charges may apply at times. Please see the website for up-to-date details, downloadable maps etc.
Coastal Path to Appledore
Guests often walk along the beach and back up on to the coastal path to Appledore. Appledore is about 1.5 miles away by car or direct walk along the single track lane (Appledore Road).Turn left out of Greenway Drive onto to Golf Links Road, left on to Sandymere Road and first right on to Appledore Road.
Please be aware of high tide times if walking on the beach, as the sea can come in very quickly.
The 21 or 21A bus will bring you back to Westward Ho! if you prefer not to walk back. Please check Bus Timetables and observe social distancing and requirements to wear face coverings if using public transport.
If you do not mind a short walk down the hill from Northam it is easier to get off the bus at Northam, Memorial and then walk down Sandymere Road and Golf Links Road back to Greenway Drive and Puttsborough.