The town most visited by Americans is undoubtedly Bide- ford. Besides the sentimental interest experienced when walking the old streets, Bideford is a pleasant, busy little place and its surroundings are extremely beautiful. Bideford is an ancient port on the River Torridge it's quayside is also the main street. It was from Bideford that Sir Richard Grenville, Frobisher, Hawkins, Drake, and Raleigh sailed at various times when Bideford was Britain's third largest Port.

 

Quay and Bridge. and the ford it replaced, have seen the development of transport from dug outs through the brave little ships that harried the Armada to modern steamers and lovely yachts—from pack animals to streamlined cars. But Bideford does not live on its memories— market, bridge and river are still busy. Indeed, the bridge, which one almost feels is a sentient being with its long history and manifold possessions, must be faintly surprised at traffic lights and the constant roll of wheels. The river, too, in which almost free anchorage was granted as a reward for the provision of Armada boats, has generally plenty of shipping lying in its hospitable harbours.
Bideford’s lovely position on the Torridge is one of its chief glories. It apparently owes its name to the fact that it is “by-the-ford,” on what in Roman times was a very important highway along the coast from Cornwall through Devon into Somerset. During excavations on the eastern side of Bideford, a paved footway, 12 feet in width, presumed to be part of the old Roman fosseway, was discovered.

Local towns and villages to visit

Appledore

Barnstaple

Bideford

Braunton

Great Torrington

Instow

Attractions

MAP

Bideford Accommodation

Property For Sale in Bideford