Westward Ho! is one of possibly only two place names in the world that features an exclamation mark; it’s almost impossible to say it without breaking into a smile. Once dominated by holiday camps, Westward Ho! has been updated in recent years and although it remains a lively resort, it now has a thriving permanent population. The big draw, of course, is the beach – two miles of sand stretching into the distance, backed by a pebble ridge that forms a dividing line between the beach and Northam Burrows Country Park, a magnificent stretch of salt marsh, grassland and sand dunes.