Just moments from the beach, this seafront location is the site of the former Westward Ho! railway station. Walking westward from here, the South West Coast Path follows the route of the old standard gauge (4’ 8 1/2 “) single track railway which connected Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore. Besides the railway route itself, you can still see other traces of the railway in the surrounding area – such as the seaside railway bridge nestled beside modern apartments blocks, and a railway cutting etched into the cliff toward Cornborough. The line had a difficult birth, involving several attempts to get construction going over a 30 year period, and a short life. Once built in 1901, it was closed in 1917 after it was requisitioned by the UK Government for the War effort. It had no physical connection with any other railway, but it must have made for a beautiful and spectacular train ride in its time, the only railway of its kind in the AONB.

More information on the railway can be found at
Westward Ho! History website.
Bideford, Appledore and Westward Ho! Railway history. 
Rail Album.
Wikipedia page