Set on the River Torridge, Bideford is a charming port town known for its historic buildings and picturesque waterscapes. Spend your time shopping at historic markets, exploring coastal walking trails and enjoying sumptuous Devonshire cream teas.

Things to do

It's easy to spend hours getting lost in the Bideford town centre, as its historic shopfronts house cafes and traditional pubs. Its cobbled streets are also lined with antique emporiums, gift stores and vintage sweet shops.

Twice a week the historic Pannier Market hosts local craft and produce fairs. It's a great place to pick up everything from artisan cheese to handmade knitwear. No trip to Devon is complete without tasting some Devonshire tea. Mad Henry’s Vintage Tea Room is a local favourite, serving up superb high tea in a scenic riverside setting.

Just 20 kilometres offshore, Lundy Island sits in the Bristol Channel and can be easily accessed by pleasure boat cruises. It's fringed by white sandy beaches and is best known for its resident population of puffins. It's also dotted with historic attractions, including Victorian quarries, Bronze Age burial mounds and a medieval monastery.

For a day of hiking, visit the scenic Tarka Trail. It stretches for over 50 kilometres, though most people choose to walk it in smaller sections. Along the way, you'll pass windswept estuaries, old railway tracks, lush woodlands and sandy beaches.

Getting around

Bideford is easy to get around on foot, though you'll need a car to explore the Devonshire countryside. Trains arrive at Barnstaple Railway Station, located a 20-minute taxi or bus ride from Bideford.