Horn's Cross to Westward Ho! on the South West Coast Path

This is a good one way walk through a wooded combe and along a fabulous stretch of the South West Coast Path. Take the bus out and walk back....





You start this day out from either the bus stop at Winkleigh the bus stop on the Quay at Bideford. After a short journey you'll walk along wooded paths, see Lundy Island out to sea, dip down to a beach, and catch cliff top views. The walk is narrow and steep at times. You can't get lost though - just keep going and you'll arrive in Westward Ho! feeling smug about not just lounging around on the beach. I'd allow 2-3 hours.

Getting there

Bus: Get the 09.03 (summer 08 timetable - do check!)bus from Winkleigh to Bideford. Buy a North Devon dayrider ticket so you can get on and off stagecoach buses all day - it's only £3-4. You'll arrive with some time to kill, so enjoy the Quayside, admire the long bridge, or visit the Burton Art Gallery (free entry, interesting history of the bridge upstairs, plus cafe & loos.) It's in the park just beyond the Quay.

Drive: Take the A386 to Bideford and park in the pay & display car park at the far end of the Quay. Then catch the 319 bus to Horn's Cross (see below).

Be back on the Quay (on the river side) to get the 319 stagecoach bus to Horn's Cross (11:25 from the Quay in summer 08). If you stay on the LHS of the lower deck you'll see the sign for Horn's Cross in time to ting the bell. The bus stop is by the pub. Walk through the pub car park, down the lane, then turn right through a gate signed Peppercombe. Follow the path downhill until you reach signs for the coast path, then branch off. From here you can't go wrong!

There are glorious cliff top scenes, wonderful butterflies and flowers in summer, and views of Lundy out to sea. You'll dip down to a beach (good for lunch) before heading up and down quite a few times more...

Eventually you'll reach Cornborough Cliffs, about a mile outside Westward Ho! Follow the coast path signs for a slightly more interesting detour, or just take the wide path into Westward Ho!

You'll come out by the colourful beach huts - this will feel like a different culture after your walk! If you walk along the front, then turn up towards the church, you'll come to Nelson Road where you can catch the First 1 bus back to Bideford Quay. Because this is a different service, you'll have to buy a ticket. The last bus back from Bideford to Winkleigh is at 16:50 (summer 08).

Bideford is about 20 miles from our self catering cottage and eco lodges - or start your day just 1.5 miles away at the Winkleigh bus stop.