ABOUT TORRIDGE
The port of Bideford dates back to the Middle Ages. Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to have landed his first cargo of tobacco here. Charles Kingsley, who lived in the area some 150 years ago, described Bideford as “The Little White Town which slopes upward from its broad river tide”. During the Civil War, Great Torrington was a Cavalier (Royalist) Garrison until it was taken by the Roundheads in the ‘Battle of Torrington’ in February, 1646. The landscape remains relatively unchanged since the 1920s when Henry Williamson wrote his classic tale, ‘Tarka the Otter’. The nearby Tarka Trail spans a distance of 180 miles and traces the adventures of Tarka the Otter based upon the travels of Williamson in the areas between the rivers Torridge and Taw. From Castle Hill car park there is a steep drop with paths leading to the River Torridge below, which provide some truly spectacular views over the North Devon countryside. The hand-blown glass made in Great Torrington is famous throughout the world.
The ancient market town of Holsworthy lies within the heart of ‘Ruby Country’ which takes its name from the county’s ruby red cattle. Walking, cycling and horse-riding trails have been established across this beautiful countryside. First developed in the 1860s, following the success of Charles Kingsley’s book, Westward Ho! is a village fronted by a fabulous two-mile long, sandy beach backed by a pebble ridge. Much of the coastline falls within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Westward Ho! has been a Blue Flag beach since 2004 and is a popular destination for all kinds of water and adventure sports. Appledore is a charming, unspoilt fishing village where the Taw and Torridge meet. In 1588, Elizabeth I gave the village ‘free port’ status because of the important role it played in the Armada. Behind the quayside is a maze of narrow, cobbled alleys and old fishermen’s and boatmen’s cottages. There is a maritime museum, and an imaginative arts and crafts festival is held annually.
