Westward Ho! Sea Pool
Local highlightWalled into the rocks below the seafront, a Victorian sea pool that disappears under every high tide and costs nothing to swim
Open accessfree, no booking; the sea covers the pool at high tide, so go when the tide is out
Westward Ho! became a seaside resort in the 1860s, and this sea pool, also known as the Rock Pool, was built on the rocks soon afterwards. The sea covers the pool at every high tide and refills it; as the tide drops the walls reappear, holding water up to about 1.2 m deep. Torridge District Council looks after the pool, and each year crews clear out the debris the winter storms leave behind before the summer. Storm damage closed it in 2014, and the pool reopened in 2016 after repairs paid for by the Coastal Communities Fund, a government grant scheme for seaside towns. Swimming is free with no booking, so just go when the tide is out. The water is unheated, as cold as the sea around it. On Shore Saunas is right next to the pool, and the long sandy beach is a few minutes’ walk north-east.
