Explore
the Coast and "Country" Side of Bideford Bay
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Explore
the Coast and "Country" Side of Bideford Bay
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| Copyright Notice | |
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| Splashing Time at Westward Ho! | |||||||
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We
love Westward Ho! and we hope you will too. Westward Ho!, a great British
seaside resort on the North Devon Atlantic Heritage Coast has something
for everyone, a timeless place where the ancient meets the modern. The ancient
being a sunken petrified forest and the famous Royal North Devon Golf Club,
the oldest links course in England, situated just over the Pebble Ridge
within the Northam Burrows Country Park. Still standing above the resort
is the large imposing Victorian building, Kipling Terrace, known previously
as the United Services College. It was here that writer Rudyard Kipling
spent his schooldays before returning to India. The resort was named after
the title of the novel written by another famous literary hero, Charles
Kingsley. The panorama has changed somewhat since Victorian times and modern
developments have sprung up over the years including the award-winning,
wave inspired Nautilus Apartments, one of the first seafront projects to
be built here in 2005. Traditional beach huts cling to the edge of the promenade
between two more ultra modern luxury apartment blocks which look out over
the rock swimming pool across Bideford Bay and beyond. At the end of the
promenade you can enjoy the tranquillity and expansive views over to Saunton
Sands and Lundy Island from the South West Coast Path at Kipling Tors. Back
in the village there are typical British seaside holiday attractions, the
delicious aroma of fish and chips and doughnuts, the sing-song sound of
the bingo caller and the buzz of the go-kart racing. There are numerous
lively pubs, cafes, grocery stores, restaurants, beach shops, amusement
arcades, putting green, tennis courts, horse-riding stables and several
holiday parks all within walking distance of the sea. The greatest asset
of Westward Ho! however, is its fantastic Blue Flag beach. Two miles of
golden sands more than enough to accommodate a variety of fun beach and
surf activities all year round. In the summertime and on bank holidays,
families with young children generally gather by the slipway, easy access
for prams, buggies and all that necessary paraphernalia. The kids can then
explore the rock pools, have a go at body-boarding, build sandcastles, fly
kites or play beach cricket. Another good reason is that the Hockings Ice
Cream Van parks just above the slipway under the Blue Flags. Further along
the beach, depending on the state of the tide, local surf and adventure
school instructors put novice surfers or kayakers through their paces whilst
down towards Sandymere more accomplished surfers, twist, turn, spill, splash
and dash in an effort to catch that elusive perfect wave. Other popular
water sports include sea kayaking, skim boarding, kite surfing, and wake-boarding.
At low tide the massive expanse of firm sand makes it perfect for kite buggy
racing. It is a safe beach and RNLI lifeguards are on patrol in the summer
months at the Slipway and also from the Lifeguard Hut by the stone steps
at Sandymere. The Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! Cricket Club hold
regular matches on the pitch situated just beside the slipway car park.
It is truly a resort for all seasons, when a walk down the beach, across
the Pebble Ridge and around Northam
Burrows can be enjoyed in all weathers. Even on winter days, when the wind
is so strong it is hard to stand upright locals never tire of the sight
of the rolling Atlantic surf. Don't miss the annual Westward Ho! Potwalloping
Festival on Whitsun Bank Holiday Weekend. Useful Links: Whats On: Click here for North Devon Local Events |
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Photographs, Articles and Illustrations ©Copyright P. Adams North Devon Focus 2015 - All rights reserved | |
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North Devon Focus, Westward Ho!, Charles Kingsley, Rudyard Kipling, Bideford Bay, North Devon, Torridge Estuary, Westward Ho! Photos, Pictures of Westward Ho!, North Devon Golf Links, Northam Burrows Country Park, Kipling Tors | |||||||