Lovely sandy beaches and surfing can be found at the seaside town of Westward Ho!, whose name comes from the Charles Kingsley historical romance novel, Westward Ho!, published in 1855.
Some shrewd businessmen saw an opportunity to profit from the bestseller by developing tourism in the area of North Devon, and plans ensued to encourage "families seeking the advantages of sea bathing, combined with the invigorating breezes of the Atlantic".*
Located three miles northwest of Bideford and two miles southwest of Appledore, the town is comprised of holiday accommodations, both Victorian villas and more modern apartment blocks. The country's oldest golf course, the Royal North Devon Golf Course, dates from 1864.
If the sea breezes make you a little hungry, our favourite fish and chip place, The Golden Fry, is mere yards away from the beach.
After our lovely fish and chips, we decided to walk it off by returning to my aunt and uncle's via the beautiful public cliff path.
Lovely sea views can be seen from the path, and the breezes kept us cool and we hiked along the cliffs.
It was a pleasant hour-and-a-half walk which took us along the coast and then inland through farm fields, observed only by grazing sheep.
