6k Run Westward Ho!: Scenic Clifftop Route at Seafield Car Park

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 6.1km out-and-back trail offers a quintessential North Devon coastal experience, striking a perfect balance between paved paths and rugged clifftop terrain. Departing from Seafield Car Park, runners will face a moderate incline as they head toward the breathtaking Abbotsham Cliffs. With roughly 45% of the course paved and a total ascent of 58m, it is a "punchy" route that rewards the effort with panoramic views across the Bristol Channel. The undulating nature of the cliffs makes this an excellent session for runners looking to build strength on hilly coastal segments while enjoying the fresh Atlantic breeze.

Westward Ho! holds a unique place in English heritage, famously named after Charles Kingsley’s Victorian novel, making it the only town in the UK to officially include an exclamation mark in its name. As you push past the 3km turn point, you are running through a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This stretch of the South West Coast Path was historically used by coastguards to watch for smugglers, but today it serves as a playground for trail runners and nature enthusiasts. Keep an eye out for the local grazing ponies and the striking pebble ridge that protects the Northam Burrows just down the coast.