UPDATE:

As of December 1997 I moved away from Devon, this was a very sad time for me & lifes not been quite the same since.  Due to the move I obviously have not been able to maintain or update this section as it's difficult to do that living nearly 400 miles away in Scarborough, with that said I will still keep this section of my site open as a tribute to the place, I will always, call my real home..

For the BEST news on Westward Ho ! I will hand the reigns over to a site which will keep you informed & updated with surf events & happenings.

PLEASE VISIT THEM TODAY !

Westward Ho ! is not world renowned for it’s surf, most of us that live & surf here are ok with this as it means we get the miles of ocean & sand (not forgetting the clay pits !) all to ourselves, whatever the season.

The average good surfing days would add up to about 5 - 6 a month (if your lucky) with an average wave height of 2-4 ft, the rides are usually medium to long and with the beach facing west, tides do not drastically effect the wave height, theirs even been the odd barrel lately !.

To most Devonian surfers the Ho ! is not really an option, with classic breaks like Speeks, Croyde, Woolacombe & Puttsborough only a moderate distance away, most surfers will load up the VW & head off on a dawn patrol in search of cleaner & more challenging rides, pity for them though, Westward Ho ! can actually be a great place to get wet, water temperature this winter never really fell below 50 degrees which, when togged out in full winter suit gloves boots & hood is quite manageable. 

ON THE ROCKS..

 The Ho’s beaches are predominately sandy reef, it only gets real deep way out which makes it ok for beginners. When the tide is out it’s a long long walk to the salty stuff, as this is a large stretch of beach the winds tend to blow you about, making the journey even more exhausting ! but most caution needs to be taken when surfing on an incoming tide, the pebble ridge which protects the town & burrows is not the friendliest surface to navigate when your trying to get out of the way of a 5-6 foot breaker ! (My body & longboard have the scars to prove it :-)  I advise you to wear boots if you plan on surfing the high tide.... oh, & learn to sprint like hell when your getting out !

THE RIDGE…. Ouch !

 There are a few secret spots that no mere mortal can reveal so DON’T even ask me, I would probably be in receipt of a broken nose, board, car etc, the two spots I can tell you about are the town & burrows end.

The town end is the slipway entrance to the beach just past the Sunshine Café, this is the end that most people use due to its accessibility, plenty of car parking & facilities. (Plus the Sunshine does a lovely bacon buttie !)

The surf at the town end is good, waves can turn into nice long clean rides, you need to be aware of the clay pits though, hidden under the water are large mounds of clay which, can make you slip & even get stuck,  having your leg stuck in a hole with a wave about to break on your head is not very pleasant.

The burrows end is about a mile up the beach heading towards Appledore, we find the waves here to be much more powerful yet with an equally strong riptide at times. The burrows end is becoming more popular with surfers and in the summer you can expect between 10 – 20 surfers out in the day and evening, car parking is abundant but in the summer months you have to pay £2 to get in (all day).

 WHAT TO DO WHEN IT’S FLAT..

POTWALLOPERS RESTUARANT

Potwallopers is described by Paul the owner as a Mediterranean Bistro, all food is cooked fresh, & fish is caught & purchased locally, the best thing about this restaurant is the fact that a tenner will get you a huge starter & a massive main course !.

This is the place to get ALL of the bits & bobs you need for your everyday surfing existence, Dave the owner started this shop by selling wax & boards at the local Bideford market, it's the best known supplier in the area, if you need advice on what to do or where to go he’s your man.

Mr Grundy to you…          Bodyboarder…        Surfer…            Dave not a puppet.. Mick (err…mad)

 Of course Westward Ho ! does have a large supply of Arcades & Curiosity shops, take a walk through the streets to pick up your bucket & spade !.