Why Westward Ho! is once again popular with visitors

If you have visited North Devon recently, you will not have been able to miss the significant developments taking place, with substantial housing growth and tourism growth in the local area. 

One of the significant locations for the growth in tourism in North Devon has been the traditional seaside village of Westward Ho! The town takes its name from the novel of the same name by Charles Kingsley, unique in that it takes its name from a book, although the village had started to develop ten years before the book was published but was unnamed.

The village is set to the southern end of a long sandy beach, backed by a pebble ridge that protects the unspoilt grasslands of Northam Burrows Country Park. The village developed into a major holiday destination in Victorian times, primarily due to the fantastic location, sandy beach, good transport links and the novel's popularity. The village suffered, as did many Victorian seaside resorts in the 1970s and 1980s, due to the growth in the popularity of package holidays and tourism in the area declined. Holiday parks closed, and there was little investment in tourism, accommodation and attractions in the village and the nearby area. 

Sandymere Apartment at Surf Bay in Westward Ho!

Today, it has changed considerably, probably more so than any other location in Devon. The proactive community backed by a strong council have transformed the village with significant new developments that continue apace. Several major building projects have been completed, offering high-quality self-catering accommodation, primarily in new luxury flats. The esplanade along the seafront has been completely renovated, providing a safe and breathtaking walk, whatever the weather is, and more breathtaking on a blustery day. The developments have been designed to stand out and reflect the growing contemporary nature of the village.

The offerings for tourists have also changed significantly. While the bucket and spade family attraction is still catered to, along with amusement arcades and ice cream, the village has also evolved to target the higher end of the market. New, quality, modern restaurants have opened, offering menus from around the world. Several new boutique-style shops have grown with the current developments, so Westward Ho! now has a more cosmopolitan and modern feel than its traditional neighbours.

The beach is, and always will be the major draw; there are now several surf schools operating at the beach so that you can learn all types of water-based activities for an adventure holiday. As the beach is gently sloping, it tends not to have the hazardous rip currents of other beaches and is manned by RNLI Lifeguards during the warmer months, making it a perfect beach for learning to surf. Alongside modern developments, traditional self-catering accommodation that offers excellent value for money remains.

There are several holiday cottages and several holiday parks, including Beachside Holiday Park, which looks directly over the promenade to the sea with easy access to the sea pool. At the other end of the village is Surf Bay, which offers excellent value caravan holidays in Devon and provides direct access to the Northam Burrows Country Park. This huge expanse includes 253 hectares of grassland, dunes and a salt marsh. It is ideal if you love walking and exploring; it is perfect for dog owners.

Surf Bay Caravans

All these characteristics and others have led to the growth and development of Westward Ho! as a major tourist destination today. The traditional beach holiday combined with great shopping, eating, and activities have transformed Westward Ho! The village attracts families with younger and older children and weekend tourists looking for a beach-based bolt-hole. There is also plenty of parking here, reasonable charges, a Tescos Express, and several supermarkets in nearby Bideford.

If you have never been to North Devon and want to discover a vibrant and growing village, try Westward Ho! It is family-friendly, offers excellent value for money and combines a traditional beach holiday with a modern feel.

Curious About How My Favourite Holiday Cottages Works?

As well as giving out free expert advice and support to individual cottage owners, we are also pretty good at advertising holiday cottages - and currently have around 2,000 properties on the site. We don't charge booking fees or commission rates to owners or guests - just a single annual payment backed up by outstanding customer service. 

Rates start at £125 for a single cottage advert for 12 months, with generous discounts for multiple cottage listings.

Click here to view further information on the benefits of advertising with us - and what makes us uniquely successful.