Bideford hotels and self catering cottage accommodation in Bideford

Devon » Bideford accommodation

Down where the River Torridge broadens into an estuary, you’ll find the interesting town of Bideford. 'A town of white houses' as author Charles Kingsley, a former local resident, described it. While its houses are now mostly in various pastel colors, its lovely antique shops and narrow backstreets and alleyways (locally known as drangs) still remain as before.

Across the Torridge, and connecting Bideford to the village of East the Water, is a noteworthy arched bridge, originally built in timber around 1300, but then replaced with stone in 1535. It has been adapted over the years, but most of the original still remains. Back in the 1500s, this was the third largest port in Great Britain. Before the bridge was constructed, crossing was made through a ford which granted the town its name (derived from by-the-ford).

Nowadays, Bideford is a prosperous market town and its traditional Pannier Market holds, twice a week, both crafts and produce markets. As you near the wharf, which still stirs with fishing, pleasure and cargo vessels, you’ll find various antique shops. And if you’re looking for boat trips to Lundy Island, about 12 miles into the Bristol Channel, they depart from there on a regular basis.

Standing on the site of an historic Saxon church, the church of St Mary, though mostly rebuilt in 1865, still conserves the tower and font from its original Norman building.

For some captivating places you can visit nearby, try the lovely villages of Appledore, Clovelly and Instow. Also in the vicinities are the start of the Tarka Trail and the beautiful Exmoor National Park.