Appledore - Neighbour on the Estuary

Where the Taw and Torridge rivers meet, the delightful quayside village of Appledore, next to the River Torridge, boasts a great range of shops, pubs, guesthouses and art galleries. A thriving fishing and trading village since the 14th century, Appledore has been a famous boat-building centre for many years and the shipyard is still active today.

The Quay is central to life in the village and it is here you will find many activities including fishing trips, crabbing contests on the quay, Morris Dancers, and in summer, a ferry across the river to Instow. This quaint fishing village has a maze of narrow streets leading to the quay. A settlement here can be traced back to Saxon times, and Viking raiders lead by Hubba the Dane, were defeated here in the Battle of Bloody Corner circa 878 AD (a plaque to the battle can be found between Appledore and Northam on the Churchill Way corner near the swimming pool). In Elizabethan times, Appledore along with Bideford, was the largest importer of tobacco, and tales of smugglers and a nautical air can be found around every corner!

Appledore Arts Festival

The Appledore Arts Festival provided a rich programme of exhibitions, events, residencies, educational projects and workshops involving everyone from internationally recognized artists to locally based craftspeople, children and community groups - something for everyone.

New in 2006/2007 - The Appledore Book Festival means much to the resilient people of Appledore. It should secure their Library's future, help to regenerate a wonderful North Devon port with a fascinating history, and also ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy, without threat, that important, but basic, right to read.

Further Information

For further information about Appledore - including places to eat, things to and places to stay visit the Appledore website. Appledore provides a peaceful base from which to explore North Devon, and is close to great surfing beaches and the ancient market towns of Bideford, Barnstaple and Great Torrington.