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Westward Ho! was named after the novel by Charles Kingsley, a local writer, who achieved national fame with his book The Water Babies.
Westward Ho! was founded as a Victorian seaside resort around 1863 and is blessed with a two mile sandy beach and glorious views across Bideford Bay and the estuary of the River Taw and River Torridge.
Another famous character belonging to Westward Ho! is the author Rudyard Kipling who was a student at the United Services College from 1878 and who recounted his schoolboy experiences in his first book 'Stalky & Co.'. |
Westward Ho! Beach
(looking south-west) |
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Westward Ho! Beach
(view from Ichthus House) |
Ichthus House is also close to the old fishing village of Appledore with its quaint narrow streets and art galleries and also the small port of Bideford on the river Torridge. The town of Bideford is rich in history, embracing a 12th century bridge, pannier market, customs house, art gallery and magnificent quay. |
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Westward Ho!'s two-mile long beach is backed by a pebble ridge, which is the site of the annual 'Pot-Wolloping Festival' dating back to the 1800's. Behind the ridge you will also find the Royal North Devon Golf Club, the oldest links in England, laid out in 1864 by 'Old Tom Morris'. At the south-west end of the beach pleasant walks along the Coastal Path lead to views of the fine cliffs.
There are a great many things to do and see in North Devon, a very small selection is shown on the map below.
Some other attractions within the map area are the Braunton Burrows Nature Reserve (behind the eight miles of sands and dunes of Saunton Sands), Tapely Park and Gardens (a 16th century mansion), at least six theatres (one for each day of the week) and more than twenty castles and hill forts (some more than 4,000 years old).
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Westward Ho!
Seawater Swimming Pool |
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