Westward Ho! Without a Car

Short answer: Westward Ho! has no station; buses run from Bideford, which connects back to Barnstaple and the Tarka Line. Arriving by bus also saves the flat £8 all-day parking charge, which is the thing people here complain about most.

Getting here

The nearest station is Barnstaple. Buses run to Bideford and on to Westward Ho!.

Bus timetables in Devon thin out sharply from October and differ between summer and winter. Check the operator's current timetable before building a day around a connection, and check the last bus back before you settle in.

It saves the parking

Westward Ho! charges a flat £8 for the day whether you stay an hour or eight. Arriving by bus removes that entirely — which is worth something on a short visit.

On foot

• The beach — two miles of flat sand.
• The pebble ridge — a proper trudge to the café at the far end.
• The front, with the playground and arcades.
• Nomad Larder at the Pig on the Hill — walkable up from the beach.

What needs a car

Northam Burrows across the estuary is easier by car, and The Big Sheep is five minutes inland by road.