September 2024 - Westward Ho!

Soon after my daughter was born in June this year, I decided we needed a family holiday. A little UK break to look forward to. We've been slightly unlucky with illness, the weather and accommodation in recent years when going abroad or staying in the UK. This holiday would hopefully put an end to this. We decided North Devon; a little seaside town named Westward Ho! It took 4 hours to get there but the drive went surprisingly well and the accommodation was impressive. I've arrived back home wishing we hadn't left so soon. 4 nights in this beautiful, friendly and captivating area was simply not enough.

The food - well this was a highlight. Westward Ho! holds my favourite ever Fish and Chip shop. Atlantic Bay Fish and Chip shop has the nicest food imaginable. We tasted fish and chips but also their chicken, burgers and sausages. All were amazing. The prices are reasonable and it's conveniently located right on the seaside. We also tried Morans, a delicious Thai restaurant that handily does take away orders for those who prefer to eat at home. We sampled beef noodles, sweet and sour chicken and much more. There's also an amazing little café just beside the seaside called 'A Slice of Life'. There's lots of options to choose from and it was packed the whole time we were there. It's aways a good sign when you're in the same place the locals go to.

The beach. A array of fascinating compartments. We were lucky enough to stay right beside the seafront and what a beautiful sight it was. There's rocky aspects with sand when the tide is out. There's a Victorian pool which fills up each time the tide comes in and then holds the fresh sea water when the tide goes out. It allows people the chance to swim in sea water without swimming in the sea; such a great idea which I've never seen before. You can also walk along the old sewer line within the rocky seafront. It's a fantastic, if a little slippery, walk which is fun with the sun setting in front of you. The only down side was access to the sand. Unless the tide has gone out for some time it's quite hard to access. There's an abundance of pebbles encompassing the sand which is impossible to carry a pushchair safely. There's one ramp in which you can access the beach easily but if the bottom of this has a puddle of seawater, it's quite hard to access.

One of our highlights was the fascinating Watermouth Castle. Set in Ilfracombe, it has a fantastic array of activities for all the family. Kids will love the rides, interactive museum, playground and very reasonably priced gift shop. Adults get to join in on the toboggan ride, visit the spooky dungeons beneath the castle, enjoy vintage arcades and explore the maze. It really impressed us and meant all the family enjoyed the day despite the unpredictable weather. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and there's a convenient café for when you need lunch or a snack. It's well worth a visit if you're near the area.

Westward Ho! delivered a spectacular holiday for our family and we will definitely be back soon. We needed convenience, a lovely setting and a home from home. Meals out are trickier now and we much preferred eating takeaways in our beautiful accommodation overlooking the sea. The beach, arcades and cafes were perfect for a few days away. Let me know if you've been here and what your favourite memories are.