Westward Ho

Westward Ho is a small seaside town, Northam Burrows is adjcent.

Westward Ho is situated at a river mouth and consequently has a very shallow shelving sand bottom. It picks up a lot of swell, but the shelving rate leads to slightly unorganised waves. The approach to high tide is often the best, if purely for a shorter walk to the water. The tide does go out a long way here.

Westward Ho picks up a lot of swell, it faces W so is one of the most exposed beach's. On it's day, if the wind is slightly more sideshore then you can expect to have a really good wind. However it can be ridden on South - cross off if you like waveriding to West through to North West

Beware of approach Westward Ho in anything resembling a gale, or even near there. The waves start to break a long way out, so far out that you will be unsure where out is. There is a lot of water movement near to the river mouth, so be warned.

Anyone using the beach must have 3rd party insurance.
All land users (buggies and landboarders) must wear a helmet.
Lei kites may be pumped up on the burrows and carried over the pebble ridge but no kites are to be flown on the burrows or flown over the ridge. Kites to be flown on the beach only.

Saunton

The long west facing sandy beach of Saunton is a much under-rated as a surfing wave and therefore remains much less crowded than nearby Croyde. This is only relative though as there can still be literally hundreds of surfers out here on a given day.

Parking is plentiful just behind the beach and there are toilets and a shop available in the car park.

 South through to West and North West

The tide goes out a long way here and it can be quite a walk to the water . The prevailing SW's produce good cross-onshore wave-sailing in generally slow breaking, mushy waves - however on the day can be epic waveriding .

Professional lifeguards patrol the beach in the summer.Be aware of surfers and Swim Zone - Please walk to the white rock before you go kitesurfing

Woolcombe

Woolacombe Beach is a two and half mile long sandy beach, backed by sand dunes. At its northern end is the village of Woolacombe which has all the amenities.

Between May and September launch, land and sail south of Mill Rock (this is about 400m south of the stream and the main entrance to the beach. Best thing to do is park on Marine Drive (that way the money goes to the parish and not the company that 'owns' the beach, and is a bit cheaper) and walk down the dunes.

The beach is sailable in all but the highest tides, although with onshore winds at high tide the kite zone is in a bit of a wind shadow from big hill. Winds from a Southwest to Northwest - too much N or S will result in quite gusty conditions especially as the tide comes in.

 Always a Wave at Woolcombe - can be large when a big swell in pumping

The main rule is at all times be sensible about avoiding other water users - in the summer  it can mean waiting until after 5 or so:  Also remember that in a lot of wind conditions you may well end up staying inside the break close to the beach so you will need much more room along the beach and take care of people walking along the water's edge, and surf schools