About Bideford Running alongside the River Torridge is the market town of Bideford. In the 20th century Charles Kingsley described Bideford as the white town, but nowadays Bideford is a colourful thriving Devon town. The town is known throughout the country for its New Years Eve celebration and recognized as one of the best places to be on this eve. To this day, Bideford has an active fishing industry and working port. You will often see cargo ships moored ready to be unloaded and then reloaded, you can often see the MS Oldenburg at the quayside, waiting to ferry passengers between Bideford and Lundy Island. Over the years Bideford has always had an active shipping port and in it’s prime was one of the largest ports in England, it is believed that Sir Walter Raleigh brought his first shipment of tobacco into Bideford. Later the town became the largest tobacco trader of the period. During the reign of Charles 1st, vast shipments of wool were shipped between Bideford and Newfoundland and distributed all over the country.
Nowadays Bideford is a thriving Devon town that many come to visit whilst on holiday. As you walk down the quay side ahead of you stands the famous land mark, the ancient Long Bridge, with its 24 arches that are all of different sizes. The bridge was first built around 1280, and throughout the years has been strengthened and rebuilt. If you are feeling fit, you can walk or cycle along the Tarka Trail which runs along the river Torridge to Instow. Instow is where the two rivers meet (the River Torridge and the River Taw) and was brought to fame by Henry Williamson’s novel Tarka the Otter. His novel was later made into a film that depicted the life of Tarka, you can carry on along the Tarka trail to Barnstaple and on further if you wish. If you are visiting Bideford then don’t forget to visit some of the other attractions that are on the outskirts of Bideford like Atlantic village or the Big Sheep. If you are visiting Devon then Bideford is a must. Gallery
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