There is exactly one beach in Britain named after a Victorian novel, complete with the exclamation mark baked into its road signs and postcode, and local papers still run the occasional headline calling it the best surfing and kitesurfing spot in Devon. Westward Ho! earns the search traffic on name alone, and then backs it up with two miles of open, windswept sand.
Why Westward Ho!?
Westward Ho! faces almost due west into Bideford Bay, fully exposed to the Atlantic, which is exactly what makes it work for surfing and kitesurfing within the same stretch of sand.
→ Any westerly wind, whether southwest, west, northwest or occasionally north, brings the local kitesurfers out, with the headland to the south making a southerly wind gustier and less reliable.
↪ The same exposure that attracts the wind also means the surf here is genuinely tidal: the beach reaches all the way to the pebble ridge at high tide, and the walk out can be long and tiring at low tide, especially against a strong wind. The village itself takes its name and its exclamation mark from Charles Kingsley's 1855 novel of the same title, which was set and partly written nearby, a bit of literary trivia that genuinely drives a fair amount of the search traffic to this beach alongside the surf and kite crowd.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Westward Ho! sits just off the A39, with driving the easiest way in from almost anywhere in North Devon.
- → The nearest airport is Bristol, roughly a 1 hour 55 minute drive, with Gatwick and Heathrow further options for international arrivals.
- ↪ The nearest train station is Barnstaple, across the estuary, with a National Express coach stop also in the village itself.
- There are two beach entrances, one at the village end and one from Northam, both leading to the main car park, with a small parking fee applying in summer.
When to Surf or Kitesurf
Season: The windiest months are January, February, October, November and December, with winter bringing some of the best wind and swell of the year, albeit cold. Summer, May through September, has the warmest water at 18 to 19 degrees Celsius and RNLI lifeguard cover.
Wind and swell: Westerly winds (southwest, west or northwest) are the ones that work best here, with southerly wind turning gusty as it crosses the headland.
Safety notes: The beach is very tidal and floods to the pebble ridge at high water. The river mouth to the north has strong currents and should be avoided unless you understand the local tides and flow. Shorebreak builds in big wind and swell, and winter can bring genuine squalls and gale force wind, so check conditions carefully before a winter session.
Surf Breaks and Kite Zones
- Westward Ho! main beach:
Wave: Open, exposed beach break, best in a clean westerly swell.
Level: Beginner to intermediate for surfing. - Designated kite zone:
Where: 200 meters north of the Sandymere lifeguard hut, with signage marking the area.
Rules: Launch and land at least 50 meters from the pebble ridge, and no riding during high tide.
Photographing Westward Ho! (Surf Snaps)
A kite lit up against a stormy Bideford Bay sky, or a longboarder walking back up the pebble ridge at low tide, both make the kind of distinctive British coast photo that is hard to confuse with anywhere else. If that gallery is sitting on your memory card, upload it to Surf Snaps, where there is no subscription, no listing fee and no storage bill, just a 10% revenue share paid monthly whenever a photo sells, and you keep copyright the whole time. If you were out at Westward Ho! recently, search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date, with photos starting at $8.
Where to Stay
→ There is no large hotel directly in the village, so most visitors book a holiday let or caravan right in Westward Ho! itself, or a hotel a short drive away in Bideford or Instow.
Budget (£)
Bucklands, Chalet 15, Westward Ho!
A simple self catering chalet in the village. Approx. £89/night ($113), seen October 2026, per Expedia.
Mid-Range (££)
Much Loved Family Static Caravan, Westward Ho!
A family sized static caravan let in the village. Approx. £111/night ($140), seen October 2026, per Expedia.
Beachfront/Luxury (£££)
Cosy Home in Westward Ho!
A full holiday cottage let right in the village. Approx. £225/night ($285), seen October 2026, per Expedia.
Food and Drink
→ Atlantic Bay, a seafront chip shop on Golf Links Road overlooking the village green, is the local institution for fish and chips here, run by the same owners as several other chip shops in the area, though a specific current menu price could not be confirmed despite several attempts. For a sit down pub meal, The Waterfront Inn in the village centre is known for its roast dinners and a Thursday to Saturday carvery, at standard North Devon pub pricing.
FAQ: Surfing and Kitesurfing at Westward Ho!
Is Westward Ho! good for beginner surfers?
Yes, the open beach break suits beginners and intermediates well, though the tide here is extreme enough that it is worth checking times before you go, since the sand can disappear entirely at high water.
Where exactly can I kitesurf at Westward Ho!?
The designated zone is 200 meters north of the Sandymere lifeguard hut. Launch and land at least 50 meters from the pebble ridge, and do not ride during high tide.
What is the best time of year for wind at Westward Ho!?
January, February, October, November and December are the windiest months, though summer brings warmer water and lifeguard cover if you would rather surf than kite.
What should I watch out for at Westward Ho!?
The tide, which floods to the pebble ridge at high water, the river mouth to the north with its strong currents, and winter squalls that can bring gale force wind with little warning.
Where can I find photos of my Westward Ho! session?
Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to find galleries from your session.
