Westward Ho!
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- This article is about the British town. For the novel, see Westward Ho! (novel), or for other uses see Westward Ho.
  Map sources for Westward Ho! at grid reference SS426291
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Westward Ho! is a seaside town in Torridge, Devon, England, near Bideford. The A39 road provides easy access from the towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Bude. It lies at the south end of Northam Burrows, and faces westward into Bideford Bay, opposite Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows.
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[edit] Name
The town's name comes from the title of Charles Kingsley's novel Westward Ho!. The exclamation mark is therefore an intentional part of the town's name. It is the only such place name in the British Isles, although Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Quebec shares the distinction of having an exclamation mark in its name.
[edit] Development
The town has recently become more residential as holiday camps closed and houses, flats and apartments were erected. One well-known former camp was Torville Camp. The two major holiday camps still running are Surfbay Holiday Park and Braddicks Holiday Centre.
[edit] Geography
Westward Ho! is known for its surfing seas and the long expanse of clean sand backed by a pebble ridge which extends for about three miles. It is also known for the Royal North Devon Golf Club, the oldest golf course in England and Wales. Other attractions of the town include the arcades, go-kart track and the grasslands behind the pebble ridge. It has two churches, Westward Ho! Baptist Church & The Holy Trinity Church.
[edit] Transport
A railway served Westward Ho! from 1901 to 1917. The Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway was a standard gauge railway which ran between these towns, but had no connection with the rest of the railway system, however there was (and still is during the summer months) a ferry link from Appledore to Instow which was connected to the rest of the rail network of Britain. The trackbed is used as a part of the cycling and walking path network.
[edit] Notable residents
Rudyard Kipling spent several of his childhood years at Westward Ho!, where he attended the United Services College (later absorbed by Haileybury College, which is now in Hertfordshire).
[edit] External links
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| Appledore | Barnstaple | Berrynarbor | Bideford | Braunton | Clovelly | Combe Martin | Croyde | Dolton | Fremington | Georgeham | Great Torrington | Hele Bay | Ilfracombe | Instow | Kentisbury | Knowle | Saunton | Landkey | Lee Bay | Little Torrington | Lynmouth | Lynton | Mortehoe | Northam | Parracombe | West Down | Westward Ho! | Woolacombe | Yelland | |
