• MS Oldenburg - The Lundy Ferry

    Lundy Ferry

    The MS Oldenburg sails from Bideford and Ilfracombe to the marine reserve of Lundy Island. The Lundy Ticket Office is situated on Bideford Quay - where you will find a mobile inormation centre where you can view photographs about the island and its' wildlife. Timetables of sailing times for each year are available from the Land Trust website. Lundy Island is Britains' only offshore nature reserve - a natural treasure!

  • The Tarka Trail - An Explorers Paradise

    Tarka Trail

    Over 180 miles - taking a rambling route through North and Mid Devon, from the rugged Atlantic Coast, including the two rivers of Tarka the Otter fame, the Rivers Taw and Torridge over rural Devon countryside onto the northern slopes of Dartmoor -  the source of the River Taw. The trail between Barnstaple, down the Taw, upriver to Bideford, following the Torridge to Torrington on the route of a disused railway line - what a place for walking and cycling!

  • Country Lane Walks in Devon

    Country Walks

    Devon is a hive of public pathways, country lanes and coastal paths. The walks are remarkble for their range of scenery and accessibility and like many regions of the West Country remain unspoiled and, even in the high season traffic free. Large sections of the coastline are world heritage sites and some of the best places in the world to discover the natural world. Small villages and towns provide stopping off points for weary, hungry and thirsty explorers.

About the Mayor

Councillor Philip Pester - Mayor of Bideford
Our Mayor, Councillor Philip Pester was born in Bideford at the Grenville Nursing Home in Meddon Street.  He went to school at Church Infants followed by Church Juniors and then Geneva.  At the age of 13, Phil took the 13 plus exam (and this was the last year this exam was used) and subsequently went on to the Technical College at Barnstaple.  When he left college he joined H Philips & Son Plumbers of Bear Street in Barnstaple for a 5 year apprenticeship.  During this time he worked hard and passed his City and Guilds with distinction.  Phil left Philips to pursue a career in building management in Somerset.  He returned to Bideford in 1968 (but this didn't have anything to do with the bridge collapsing!) and worked with  Bideford Ship Yard from 1969 to 1979.  He has been in the building trade until his retirement in 2008.

 

Mayor and Mayoress of BidefordPhil played in the Bideford Junior Town Band in the 1959's and then joined Bideford Reds Rowing Club in the late 50s.winning the under 18s WC championship and novice championship.  He is a founder member of Bideford's Male Voice Choir and is currently their Musical Director.  Both Phil and his wife Pam served on the Bideford Committee of the Macmillan Nurses for 10 years.  He has also been the Chairman of Bideford Conservative Club for several years.  Phil is a family man with two children, Nik and Sally and also has three Grandchildren.  Phil says "my wife Pam has given me total support during my time as Deputy Mayor and looks forward to an active role as Mayoress."

Bideford Town Guide

The new Town Guide can be downloaded from the web site and hard copies are available throughout the town. It is packed with information and great for those of you wanting to deliver information in hard copy form!

Download pdf here...

Town Council NewsletterDownload the latest edition of the Town Council Newsletter - Hard copies can also be obtained from the library or the Town Hall or you can view an online version by following the link below. Also distributed through local newspapers....Download the latest newsletter

Quality Parish Council Logo

The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme was launched in 2003 following the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The aim of the Scheme is to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils. The Scheme is supported by six National Stakeholders, the Commission for Rural Communities, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Local Government Association, the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. Open a copy of the new guidance here...