Mandy's Guidebook
Beaches
Instow is about 8 miles from Weare Giffard or about 20 minutes drive - SATNAV EX39 4JN will take you to Marine Parade which is the sea front.
Instow is located at the confluence of the Taw and Torridge Rivers and is an estuary town, but with a sandy beach.
Parking on Marine Parade is limited to 1 hour and no return within 1 hour during the summer. Be aware that local parking enforcement do patrol the front.
There is a small public car park (charges apply 24/7, 365 days a year) at the start of Marine Parade and a bigger private car park at the far end of Marine Parade. Be aware this car park uses number plate recognition cameras and there have been a number of adverse press stories about penalty charge notices being issued. Make sure in either car park that you buy the appropriate ticket.
There are 3 restaurants in Instow we have tried – The Boat House (lovely view from the upstairs terrace), Quay Inn (popular with locals) and the Instow Arms (our favourite place for food or drinks). Prices of both food and drink in Instow reflect that this is a popular resort!
Instow
Instow is about 8 miles from Weare Giffard or about 20 minutes drive - SATNAV EX39 4JN will take you to Marine Parade which is the sea front.
Instow is located at the confluence of the Taw and Torridge Rivers and is an estuary town, but with a sandy beach.
Parking on Marine Parade is limited to 1 hour and no return within 1 hour during the summer. Be aware that local parking enforcement do patrol the front.
There is a small public car park (charges apply 24/7, 365 days a year) at the start of Marine Parade and a bigger private car park at the far end of Marine Parade. Be aware this car park uses number plate recognition cameras and there have been a number of adverse press stories about penalty charge notices being issued. Make sure in either car park that you buy the appropriate ticket.
There are 3 restaurants in Instow we have tried – The Boat House (lovely view from the upstairs terrace), Quay Inn (popular with locals) and the Instow Arms (our favourite place for food or drinks). Prices of both food and drink in Instow reflect that this is a popular resort!
Westward Ho! is about 10 miles from Weare Giffard or about 20 minutes drive, passing through Bideford - SATNAV EX39 1LH will take you to Golf Links Road.
When the tide is out at Westward Ho! there is a long sandy beach with a pebble mound behind it. Heading the other way, takes you to the cliff walk (part of the South Coast path).
There is a car park in the centre of Westward Ho! in Golf Links Road. On street parking can be found away from the front, but it is very limited.
Rather than park in the town centre, you might like to park at Northam Burrows Country Park. From here you can go over the pebble mound and walk along the beach into Westward Ho! It can be a nice walk (about 40 minutes steady pace). There are 3 entrances to the Park but we use the entrance in Sandymere Road SATNAV EX391XS. There is a charge for parking (£5.00 per day in 2021) but that is for all day.
Be aware that there is usually a stiff onshore breeze on the exposed beach. Also, check the tide table to make sure you are not visiting at high tide.
172 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! is about 10 miles from Weare Giffard or about 20 minutes drive, passing through Bideford - SATNAV EX39 1LH will take you to Golf Links Road.
When the tide is out at Westward Ho! there is a long sandy beach with a pebble mound behind it. Heading the other way, takes you to the cliff walk (part of the South Coast path).
There is a car park in the centre of Westward Ho! in Golf Links Road. On street parking can be found away from the front, but it is very limited.
Rather than park in the town centre, you might like to park at Northam Burrows Country Park. From here you can go over the pebble mound and walk along the beach into Westward Ho! It can be a nice walk (about 40 minutes steady pace). There are 3 entrances to the Park but we use the entrance in Sandymere Road SATNAV EX391XS. There is a charge for parking (£5.00 per day in 2021) but that is for all day.
Be aware that there is usually a stiff onshore breeze on the exposed beach. Also, check the tide table to make sure you are not visiting at high tide.
Woolacombe is regarded as one of the best beaches in the UK – indeed it was voted the Sunday Times best UK beach in 2021.
It is about 26 miles from Weare Giffard but you have to go through Barnstaple to get there. Travel time is about 50 minutes - SATNAV EX33 7DF will take you to The Esplanade.
Woolacombe beach is beautiful and sandy but does get very busy at the town end (it gets quieter as you go further along the beach).
There is a car park in the centre of Woolacombe but it fills up quickly (particularly with vans used by surfers!). If you go past this car park, there is further parking available above the sand dunes which is a bit cheaper. There is on street parking along the Esplanade but at peak times it is limited to 4 hours – tickets from on-street machines.
Rather than park in Woolacombe town centre, you might like to park at Putsborough Beach (SATNAV EX33 1LB) which is at the other end of Woolacombe beach. Parking at this private site is expensive, but there are good toilet facilities and a small café. It is a lovely walk along the beach from Putsborough to Woolacombe – it takes about 1 hour at a steady pace.
177 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Playa Woolacombe
Woolacombe is regarded as one of the best beaches in the UK – indeed it was voted the Sunday Times best UK beach in 2021.
It is about 26 miles from Weare Giffard but you have to go through Barnstaple to get there. Travel time is about 50 minutes - SATNAV EX33 7DF will take you to The Esplanade.
Woolacombe beach is beautiful and sandy but does get very busy at the town end (it gets quieter as you go further along the beach).
There is a car park in the centre of Woolacombe but it fills up quickly (particularly with vans used by surfers!). If you go past this car park, there is further parking available above the sand dunes which is a bit cheaper. There is on street parking along the Esplanade but at peak times it is limited to 4 hours – tickets from on-street machines.
Rather than park in Woolacombe town centre, you might like to park at Putsborough Beach (SATNAV EX33 1LB) which is at the other end of Woolacombe beach. Parking at this private site is expensive, but there are good toilet facilities and a small café. It is a lovely walk along the beach from Putsborough to Woolacombe – it takes about 1 hour at a steady pace.
Food scene
The Instow Arms is our favourite place to eat.
It is not cheap but we have found the food very good. It is important to book; and if you want to sit in, ask for a table in the window upstairs - there are great views across the estuary if the sun is not shining too brightly!
The Instow Arms is a good place for just a drink and you can sit outside on the terrace. Expect to pay higher than average prices.
111 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Instow Arms
Marine ParadeThe Instow Arms is our favourite place to eat.
It is not cheap but we have found the food very good. It is important to book; and if you want to sit in, ask for a table in the window upstairs - there are great views across the estuary if the sun is not shining too brightly!
The Instow Arms is a good place for just a drink and you can sit outside on the terrace. Expect to pay higher than average prices.