Bideford is a working port alongside the tidal River Torridge and the Torridge Estuary. It is also a traditional market town. Cargo ships and fishing boats are still very much in evidence, and at low tide half-submerged or abandoned craft can be seen along the river banks.
The two bridges shown here are a striking feature and cannot fail to be noticed by visitors to Bideford. Whilst the river can appear muddy and rather uninviting at certain times, the town itself is picturesque, with a thriving business community and a steady flow of visitors throughout the year.
Bideford lies in North Devon. The author Charles Kingsley wrote his novel Westward Ho! here. Although the town can now be easily bypassed due to the newer bridge crossing the Torridge, it remains well worth exploring, with a good number of interesting side streets and independent traders operating from small local shops.
In the 16th century, Bideford was Britain’s third largest port. Trips to nearby Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel depart from Bideford, and visitors can also enjoy fishing trips from the port. The Pannier Market takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the year and is held indoors, while an open-air market operates on Wednesdays during the summer months.
For photographs of Bideford click here, or view them on YouTube.
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