Northam Burrows Country Park

15/06/2026

Work is underway to improve access to the beach from Sandymere car park.

Northam Burrows and Westward Ho! Essential Maintenance Works
🚧 Sandymere Bridge Repair Works 🚧
Please be aware that from Monday 15 June, to Friday 19 June, the bridge providing access to Westward Ho! beach will be temporarily closed for repairs.
👉 Alternative access to the beach is available via the slipway near Westward Ho! village.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please keep an eye on our page for updates.

14/06/2026

Looking for something to do this morning? Show some love for your local area and join a beach clean!
The rangers will be on Westward Ho! slipway until midday 😁

11/06/2026

It looks like the sun is going to come out for our next guided walk!
Join the rangers for a guided walk next Monday afternoon to learn about the wildflowers of the sand dunes and coastal grasslands. We'll be setting off from the visitor centre at 2pm.

11/06/2026

Join the rangers to tidy up Westward Ho! beach and village this weekend. We'll be at Westward Ho! slipway (EX39 1LL) on Sunday 14th June from 10am until 12pm with plenty of litter grabbers, gloves and bags.
Pop down and show your local area some love!

04/06/2026

The rain cleared away after this morning's downpour and it was a sunny (but blustery) afternoon for a stroll along the sand to the wreck of the Sally. Thank you North Devon Coast National Landscape for joining us.
Our next guided walk will be on Monday 15th June when we'll take a look at the beautiful wildflowers in the fenced off area of sand dunes beside the visitor centre.

03/06/2026

It looks like the rain will stop in time for our guided walk tomorrow afternoon but it will still be pretty windy! We'll be setting off from Westward Ho! slipway at 3pm to take a gentle stroll along the beach.

Today the sand at the base of the slipway was smooth with no pebbles in the way. There was a bit of a puddle but the central section of this was only 2cm deep and less than a metre wide.

Tomorrow we'll add a photo to the comments below, showing how the slipway looks in the middle of the day. When we put this guided walk on the calendar we hoped it would be a bare feet and sun hats kind of day but it looks like boots and waterproof coats would be a better choice. It still feels good to get out in the fresh air!

01/06/2026

Join the rangers and North Devon Coast National Landscape this Thursday afternoon for a gentle guided walk on the beach.
We'll be taking a sandy stroll from Westward Ho! slipway - setting off at 3pm

The sand is usually firm enough for mobility scooters and wheelchairs in this area of the beach and we'll be taking a gentle stroll to enjoy the sea views and fresh air.

27/05/2026

How many volunteers can you spot hiding in the long grass?!
The rangers and conservation volunteers have spent the day at Kenwith valley nature reserve in Bideford. There are a large number of trees which were planted around 5 years ago and we were weeding around them and removing the tree tubes from those that had grown big enough to thrive. We also spotted butterflies, buzzards, and fox and spent some time sitting in the shade eating ice lollys!
Our next tree care event will be on Wednesday 10th June at Gatefield in Bideford. If you would like to join us then get in touch.

20/05/2026

Did you know that the Northam Burrows visitor centre is open every day between 10am and 5pm until the end of October?

We're looking forward to some extra fun activities for the school holidays next week. The rangers will be leading family friendly activities on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and there will also be free craft activities available every day!

Pop to the visitor centre to make a 'No Mow May - and beyond!' signs to show off to your neighbours how wildlife friendly your garden is.
You can also try some card crafts - the theme changes weekly so feel free to come back again and again!

18/05/2026

As the May half‑term approaches, children and families are invited to come and explore with the rangers at Northam Burrows! 🥾🌿
A programme of spring half‑term activities will give young explorers the chance to step into a ranger's boots and learn the skills used every day to explore, protect and care for this much‑loved coastal landscape.
🔍 On Tuesday 26 May, the Nature Navigator session will introduce children to navigating the landscape, spotting natural clues and learning about how wild creatures find their way around.
🎨 On Thursday 28 May, Create a Creature will give young explorers the opportunity to discover the species that live on the Burrows, learn why they are suited to their environment and design a new creature perfectly suited to the challenging habitats.
Both events are free and no booking is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.