Area is a hotbed of heritage

THE area around Westward Ho! has a compelling history. Second World War anti-tank defences can still be seen on the beach, which was also used to train troops for the Normandy landings.

Then there’s the prehistoric forest underneath the beach, preserved by intertidal mud.

Best time to see this is at the lowest spring tide, (equinox tide, in March and September), when the ancient roots can be seen sticking up through the sand. It’s an incredible sight.

And so is the shipwreck of The Sally, which ran ashore in 1769. The original oak rafters of the boat still poke out of the beach at low tide.

There’s plenty you can explore inland too. Like Bloody Corner, between Appledore and Northam. Look in the hedgerow and you’ll see a stone tablet commemorating the place where, allegedly, King Alfred The Great slayed the Viking leader Hubba The Dane after the Vikings attacked North Devon in the 9th Century.

There are also a number of lime kilns along this coast. Limestone was shipped across the Bristol Channel from South Wales and after being burnt in the kilns was spread over the fields to fertilise the soil.

There are also remains of an old railway line which can be seen near the beach huts. This unusual line operated for a relatively short time, between 1901 and 1917.

From Bideford it headed due west to meet the coast then continued along the cliffs to Westward Ho! and on to its terminus at Appledore.

In Bideford it ran on rails in the road along the Quay and the trains were fitted with ‘cow catchers’ and side plates to prevent pedestrians being run over!