Location - Bideford

Bideford is a thriving market town with modern amenities and a strong maritime look to it including a very attractive Quay front and medieval long bridge over the River Torridge.

There are lots of smaller towns and villages within easy reach of Bideford, along with a variety of tourist attractions. So not only can you enjoy a great day in Bideford, but also further a field across the whole of North Devon, North Cornwall and West Somerset.

Walking & Cycling are catered for with a Festival! Click here >> for details.

In Barnstaple you can spend time visiting the Ten Pin bowling alley, Let’s Go Superbowl, on Braunton Road, heading out of town on the A361 towards Braunton. Other indoor options include the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon, situated on the Square in Barnstaple or the Heritage centre situated on the Strand. How about something a little more energetic? Visit Laser Adventure at Playtime Adventure, situated near Barum Gate at Whiddon Valley. They have lightweight Laser Guns for the whole family to have fun.

Golf – If golf is more your thing, click here >>

Local scenery and lanscapes click here >>

Clovelly

Just out on the A39, 9 miles beyond Bideford, is the quaint and unique town of Clovelly. The village is traffic free and the main street, known very simply as 'up-a-long' and 'down-a-long', tumbles its cobbled way down 400ft of solid rock to the tiny harbour and lifeboat station, both protected by an ancient stone breakwater. It is a descent through flower-strewn cottages broken only by tempting little passageways and tiny winding lanes that lead off to the left and right and offer the prospect of discovering more peaceful, picturesque treasures of Clovelly.

Lynton & Lynmouth

On the North coast, Lynton & Lynmouth are two small villages link by the Cliff Railway. The facilities in the villages include its comfortable accommodation, shops, restaurants, bowling green and tennis courts. Lynton is the perfect centre for a walking holiday. There are plenty of short walks, medium length walks and Lynton is on the South West Coast Path for the most adventurous. In this unique area can be found not only fine game fishing for salmon and sea trout but good coarse fishing and, on the coast, excellent sea fishing. To fish on the rivers of Exmoor, National Rod Licences must be obtained from the Environment Agency as well as permits from the owners of fishing rights.

Other Things

The Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley described Bideford as "The Little White Town which slopes upward from its broad river tide " . Indeed, little has changed from when Kingsley lived in the area nearly 150 years ago much of its architecture and historic associations are still with us. Kingsley's statue, located adjacent to the Tourist Information Centre, serves as a permanent reminder of this famous resident and the time he spent here writing part of his well-known novel Westward Ho!

Today, Bideford is both a thriving market town and working port with much to offer visitors to the region. Amongst the many buildings and places of interest you will find the historic covered Pannier Market, dating from 1883, which holds a market every Tuesday and Saturday. Alongside the history you will find modern shopping amenities, a wide choice of clubs, bars and restaurants, entertainment and a tremendous range of visitor attractions for the young and not so young!

If you travel away from Bideford in all directions you will encounter beautiful landscape and in some case unusual wildlife. North Devon has its own Dinosaur Park!

Beaches to the left and craggy, moody coastlines to the right, you cannot fail to be astounded and humbled by the landscape offered to the visitor.

Travel further afield and you encounter Exmoor and Lynton and Lynmouth, the other way and you find Bude and its lovely shops.