Beaches in Bideford, Devon

Last updated: 5 Mar, 2024

Contents

Bideford beaches map
The beaches:
Westward Ho!
Sandymere
Northam Burrows
Instow

The beach guide has 4 beaches listed in and around the town of Bideford. We have arranged these beaches in order of closest to the town first (distance in brackets).

Westward Ho! Beach (2.1 miles)
© Travels With A Dog And A Camera :) | BY-SA

Facing westwards into Bideford Bay, Surfers and swimmers, kayakers, and paddle boarders will love this long sandy stretch of sand. The main beach is backed by the grassland of Northam Burrows Country Park and the imaginatively named Pebble Ridge.
This part of the coastline is known for its dramatic cliffs, and Westward Ho! is no…

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Sandymere Beach (2.6 miles)
© Steve Daniels | BY-SA
Sandymere is a large, sandy beach that joins up with Westward Ho! at the southern end. Plenty of facilities. Popular with surfers and families.

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Northam Burrows Beach (3.4 miles)
© Sarah Charlesworth | BY-SA
Northam Burrows is really an extension of the vast, sandy expanse of Westward Ho! beach and sits at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge estuary. The beach here wraps around from the main beach to the estuary and this presents a couple of dangers. Firstly the currents here are notorious and you shouldn't even…

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Instow Beach (2.9 miles)
© Perry Dark | BY-SA
Instow is a pretty and sandy beach that tends to get very busy during the summer. Calm waters, protected from swell by sandbanks at the mouth of the Taw estuary, make this a good choice for families. There are also shops and cafes in the village which is directly behind the beach. From the beach…

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