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Westward Ho
Things to Do in Westward Ho
Westward Ho Beach

Westward Ho Beach: Address, Westward Ho Beach Reviews: 4.5/5

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Westward Ho Beach

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Westward Ho Beach
4.5
1,636
#2 of 16 things to do in Westward Ho
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
115 within 3 miles
Tea on the Green
1,049
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • British
Rock Pool Cafe
729
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Fast Food
Main Sail Tea Room
96
0.2 mi$ • Dessert • Cafe • British
Country Cousins
1,104
421 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Moran's Restaurant & Bar
1,763
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly
Pig and Olive
195
450 ft$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Atlantic Bay Fish & Chips
804
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Fast Food
Cabana
72
316 ft$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British
A Slice of Life Café
183
356 ft$ • Cafe • British • Vegetarian Friendly
The Drift Restaurant
203
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Seafood • Contemporary
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Attractions
43 within 6 miles
Westward Ho! Tennis Club
1
524 ftSports Complexes
Hockings Dairy Cream Ices
256
1.7 miDeserts
North Devon Maritime Museum
270
1.9 miSpeciality Museums
Lundy Island
553
2.3 miIslands
The Big Sheep.
2,921
1.9 miAmusement & Theme Parks
514Elemental KiteSport School
22
0.7 miSports Camps & Clinics
Northam Burrows Country Park
123
1.3 miParks
Instow beach
652
2.7 miBeaches
Victoria Park
70
1.3 miParks • Gardens
Appledore Instow Ferry
54
1.9 miFerries
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,636 reviews
Excellent
1,028
Very good
417
Average
119
Poor
44
Terrible
28
Simon B
Kingston upon Thames, UK24 contributions
Doggy Delight - Westward Ho! Beach
Family
This would be a 4.5 out of 5 if that were possible and I am talking about the dog beach here, although they are all joined together so it is really one place.
This is a beautiful, long and largely un-populated beach, very shallow so very distant low tides.
The initial approach is over large smooth stones or via a ramp next to the Life Guard hut.
What follows, at low tide, is a huge sandy beach, seemingly a mile or so wide and a couple of hundred metres to the sea. It is flat, unspoilt and clean with families dotted about.
There was quite a wind on the days we went and the sea had robust waves which the surfers were enjoying. Swimming was also great ( The Atlantic chill gives way to comfortably numb very quickly).
We were staying a short walk away but if you needed to drive then car parking was pretty easy and cost £5.00 a day.
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Niv
1 contribution
Car Parking
Family
In response to the previous comments about poor parking and rip off council and for the sake of balance, I would just like to add the following: it sounds like the car park being referred to is The Burrows area behind the Pebble Ridge. There is car parking here and during the summer months there is a charge. The area is very rough and not tarmac. Currently there are also works taking place to improve the visitor centre and additional facilities such as toilets and cafe, which has reduced capacity. However, please bear in mind that what you are actually playing for is entry to a country park and Area of Special Scientific Interest which lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and part of North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is not just a 'car park'. You will also pay more than £5 a day if you visit the beaches at Saunton and Woolacombe. There is additional pay and display parking available in Westward Ho!
Written June 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rok C
53 contributions
Sandy, wide beach and good facilities
The beach is so long that it can accommodate lots of people so even when its really busy, there is space for everyone, especially at low tide as the water goes out a long way. We have been many times and it never feels crowded.

It is also very clean and not smelly.

At low tide the water is only up to waist height for a long way out, so great for children and weaker swimmers.

RNLI lifeguards at the Westward Ho end and middle of the beach, makes it feel very safe.

Dogs are allowed on the far end (Northam end) all year and banned from the Westward Ho end May-October.

The Westward Ho end is most popular with sunbathers partly as the Northam end is designated for larger vessels.

Surfing is great for beginners and intermediate all along the beach. Access to the water is easy as the car parking runs the full length of the beach. However so does the pebble ridge (to protect the shore from erosion) so you have to walk up and over the big pebbles to get to the water. However at the RNLI points there are slipways.

If you have a larger vessel (paddle board or kayak) the slipways make it much easier!!! and the Northam end one is best.

A new visitor centre has been built at the Northam end which has toilets and cafe plus information on the local area.

Westward Ho end has lots of eating places, public toilets (free), shops and arcades next to the beach. There is also Go karting, crazy golf and a bouncy swing thing for children.

At sunset and low tide the view out to sea is spectacular!!!
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Samantha
3 contributions
DO NOT GET ICE CREAM FROM THIS PINK KIOSK
After enjoying some lovely time on Westward Ho beach, me and my friend decided to get some ice cream from the pink ice cream kiosk opposite the Slipway takeaway, and ended up being verbally attacked by the old lady running the stand. From the beginning the lady was very dismissive and not very welcoming. Things took a turn for the worse after I accidentally dropped my phone down the large crack between the counter and the freezer. Having done this, the lady immediately said we would have to retrieve it ourselves and she refused to help us. Looking down the crack, the only way of getting it out was to go around into the stand and get a stick of some sort and drag it out. We did offer to attempt to retrieve it ourselves however this was ignored. Thankfully there was a younger lady working there that was willing to help us and found a net to retrieve it. We apologised profusely to the young lady and thanked her for helping us whilst the old lady continued to ignore me and the situation at hand, Myself and my friend were laughing at my bad luck and also the awkwardness of the situation. We were then shouted at and accused by the old lady serving that we were laughing at the young lady helping us, saying "I would of made you come back when we close at 9 to get your phone yourself. This girl is on her break and you are laughing at her and being incredibly rude." We were completely shocked by the aggressive tone of voice used. We became really uncomfortable and confused and made sure to make it clear that we had been apologising and thanking her for helping solve my mistake. We even offered to take over and do it ourselves, however the young lady said she was more than happy to help even though she should have been on her break. The old lady continued to shout at us in front of a crowd and even started talking and saying rude things about us to the customers next to us, even though we were still there and could hear every word. I became hugely upset about the situation as an honest mistake was made and from the start she refused to help and made me feel like a huge inconvenience. Its one thing refusing to help but to then say incredibly rude things to us and about us to other customers she was serving seems like a step too far, just from a minor issue. I know this is one person's experience of this place, however I would strongly advise to go elsewhere for ice cream, as I have never experienced such horrible customer service like this and believe other places would deserve the business more.
Written April 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christine K
Barnsley, UK673 contributions
Local Beach
This is our local beach when at our holiday chalet but we rarely use it. We had a visit with family, parked on the burrows and hauled our tackle over the ramp by the lifeguard hut. The ramp is ok going up but quite steep going down to the beach and there are a number of pebbles to negotiate,courtesy of the effects of winter storms, and nothing can really be done about this. We made sure we sat to the left as the area to the right is the dog beach, although some owners do not obey the code and allow their dogs to run on the left side. A further walk down the burrows is the newly rebuilt visitor centre with toilets and a cafe which is unfortunately rather pricey and food is rather upmarket and not what, in my opinion, t most people would want to take on a beach
There is another ramp, a slipway, at the town end of the beach and although costly efforts have been made to battle the effects of the sea, this too sometimes has pebbles and water at the bottom. At this end there are toilets and showers, beach stalls and other amusements.
After out family day, we had another visit jut with our grandson, visiting at low tide, and were quite surprised with the speed at which the tide came in
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Liz M
Brighton, UK12 contributions
A must visit beautiful beach !
Thoroughly enjoyed our visit, a warning though check the tide times before you visit as we got caught out lol. Fantastic choice of gift shops, food & refreshments, plenty of parking at reasonable prices within a short walking distance. Our whole family including Parents, Grandparents & Twin Granddaughters had a marvelous time. As we got caught out with the tide times we walked along the seafront to a lovely grassed area where there was a busker singing & playing guitar, plus a small play area to keep the twins happy until low tide when we could resume our stay on the sandy beach, would definitely recommend
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sophie
Westbury, UK3 contributions
lovely beach
Family
there’s lots of things to do at the top of the beach including go-karts, arcades, places to eat, ice-creams and more. the water is very far away from the top of the beach when the tide is out, to the point where it’s about a 10 minute walk to the sea from the top of the beach, leaving lots of rockpools where we found crabs, fish and shrimps. we went at about 10am until 3:30pm on a friday in the summer holidays and it was really quiet with not many people at all until about 12pm when a few more people arrived, but it was still not overly crowded. overall this is a lovely beach and definitely one we’d come back to. i’d recommend checking the tide times in the area before you go though because when the tide is in there’s not much beach left at all!
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ziggymonster1
Worcester10 contributions
Nautilus Apartment number 3 WOW
Couples
Absolutely stunning apartment on the sea front, everything you needed for a relaxing stay perfection. Flowers and fresh milk on arrival was a nice touch.
The owners have thought of everything for any length of stay really was home from home one of the nicest properties we have stayed in. Though out of season on our visit was still plenty to do if you don't mind travelling.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Teresa G
Wells, UK122 contributions
RIP of council
Family
Agree with a previous review arrived at Westward Ho with family the council car park is a disgrace took our £5 then sent us down a dangerous muddy rd expecting us to find a parking space. No park rangers we were advised about the only information was from other drivers telling us not to try to park as there was nothing and was very dangerous not maintained at all. We spent 40 mins trying to park eventually left behind several other cars spoke to attendant who was not interested and no way was refunding £5 what a RIP off shame on you Westward Ho council.
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CazzaWestMids
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK387 contributions
Great beach and ideal for water sports
Family
Amazing large beach area with plenty of parking along the Northam burrows.

If the tide is in the beach can be tricky to access and you'll need sturdy shoes to climb up pebble ridge which is steep.

Life guards are on the beach which is good and it's a great location for body boarding and surfing.

In the village you'll be able to buy everything needed for a day at the beach at reasonable prices.

Ice cream and hot food is available immediately behind the beach area and is of a good standard.

Toilets and showers are available.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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