Westward Ho! - Definition and Overview

Westward Ho! is a sea-side town in Torridge, Devon, England, near Bideford. The town can be found to the north of the A39 road, providing easy access from the towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Bude. It lies at the south end of Northam Burrows, and faces westward into Bideford Bay, opposite Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows.

Westward Ho! beach, looking north towards the Taw and Torridge estuaries

The town's unusual name comes from the title of a book (Westward Ho!) by Charles Kingsley. The exclamation mark is therefore an intentional part of the town's name, the only such place name in the UK.

The town has recently become more residential as holiday camps closed and houses, flats and apartments were erected.

Westward Ho! is well known for its surfing seas and the long expanse of clean sand backed by a pebble ridge. Other attractions of the town include the arcades, go kart track and the grasslands behind the pebble ridge.