Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! holds the unique distinction of being the only place in Britain named after a novel - Charles Kingsley's 1855 adventure tale - and retains its exclamation mark as official punctuation. This Victorian resort was deliberately created in the 1860s by developers hoping to capitalize on the novel's popularity. While it never achieved grand resort status, it has evolved into a much-loved traditional seaside town. The defining feature is its spectacular two-mile sweep of sandy beach and the unique pebble ridge backing it. This Pebble Ridge is a geological rarity, formed over thousands of years by longshore drift, protecting Northam Burrows behind it. The seafront retains a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere with traditional beach huts, cafes serving cream teas and fish and chips. The town's association with Rudyard Kipling, who attended school here, adds literary connection. The beach offers consistently good surfing conditions, popular with the surfing community. The exposed west-facing aspect means Atlantic swells arrive with regularity. Easily accessible from Bideford (two miles south) with regular buses, or signed from the A39. Dogs are permitted year-round.