Before you set off
Today's snapshot
Westward Ho! is at its best from low tide while the water is rising. Around high water the sea can reach the foot of the pebble ridge and the usable beach shrinks quickly, so keep a clear route back.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Pay and display parking sits right behind the seafront, with more space at Northam Burrows. The slipway car park is the shortest walk to the sand and fills first on hot days.
- Parking: Use the seafront or slipway car parks for the quickest access, or Northam Burrows Country Park for the quieter northern end.
- Dog rules: Main southern section (south of Sandymere Bridge): dogs banned 1 May - 30 September. Dogs must be kept on leads on the promenade during the same period. Northern section between Sandymere Bridge and the Taw/Torridge estuary remains open to dogs year-round.
- Accessibility: The slipway gives level access straight onto the sand. Crossing the pebble ridge from Northam Burrows is uneven and hard work with a pushchair or wheelchair.
- Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguards patrol through the main summer season. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
Get in the water
Hire & lessons
Westward Ho! is a good place to learn, with surf schools and hire close to the seafront.
North Devon Surf School
Surf lessons at Westward Ho! with boards and wetsuits included.
Surf and Kite Shop
Board, bodyboard, wetsuit and paddleboard hire close to the beach.
After the beach
Eat, drink & stay
The seafront has bars, cafés and restaurants within a few minutes of the sand.
The Pier House
A bar and restaurant above the beach with wide views along the bay.
The Drift Restaurant
A relaxed restaurant on the village green, a short walk back from the seafront.
Local perspective
Local notes
Westward Ho! is the big, open beach on this stretch of coast. There's enough space that even on a hot weekend you can walk north towards Northam Burrows and find room, and the surf is consistent enough that the schools run here through most of the season.
Watch the tide rather than the clock. The beach is huge at low water and much narrower once the sea reaches the pebble ridge, and rips can set up when there's swell running. If you're swimming, stay between the RNLI flags while the lifeguards are on.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Westward Ho! beach dog friendly?
Main southern section (south of Sandymere Bridge): dogs banned 1 May - 30 September. Dogs must be kept on leads on the promenade during the same period. Northern section between Sandymere Bridge and the Taw/Torridge estuary remains open to dogs year-round.
What's the best tide for Westward Ho!?
Low to mid tide. The beach is widest and the surf is generally cleaner, while high water pushes the sea up to the pebble ridge.
Are there lifeguards at Westward Ho!?
Yes. The RNLI patrols the beach through the main summer season. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
Is it safe to swim at Westward Ho! today?
Check the Environment Agency Swimfo profile and Safer Seas & Rivers Service before swimming for the latest water-quality information.
Can you hire surfboards at Westward Ho!?
Yes. North Devon Surf School runs lessons on the beach and the Surf and Kite Shop hires boards and wetsuits nearby.
What is the pebble ridge?
It's the long natural bank of rounded cobbles that backs the beach and shelters Northam Burrows behind it. It's a protected feature, so the pebbles should stay where they are.
Is Westward Ho! beach pram or buggy friendly?
From the slipway, yes - it gives level access straight onto the sand. Crossing the pebble ridge from Northam Burrows is uneven and hard work with a pushchair.
What facilities are available at Westward Ho!?
Westward Ho! has several public toilet blocks, including accessible and Changing Places facilities, plus showers along the seafront. RNLI lifeguards patrol through the main summer season. Ramped slipway access, disabled parking, cafés, restaurants, shops, and takeaways are all available close to the beach.
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