THINGS TO DO
in Appledore
Appledore is a great place for exploring North Devon, whether you are interested in coastal walks, beaches and surfing, cycling, art, good food, gardens or golf. Wander along the quay with a Hockings ice cream, try crabbing, or visit the many family friendly pubs, restaurants and attractive cafes. The list is endless, but below you will find our guide to some of our favourite things to see and do in the area. Browse the list or skip to one of the following sections:
EATING OUT
APPLEDORE
Award winning café on the Quay. Excellent coffee and tasty and innovative breakfasts, lunches and teas. Famous for its crab sandwiches.
In Market Street. Open all week. Great for breakfast, lunch and tea. Pretty terraced garden.
Next to John’s award winning deli and farm shop for breakfast, coffee, lunch and tea.
Irsha Street, traditional, family friendly pub with estuary views outside and monthly jazz nights. Has a restaurant area but the same menu is also served in the bar. 01237 474822
Refurbished pub and restaurant in Irsha Street, serving excellent food with great estuary views. Best to book for the upstairs restaurant during busy periods. 01237 424138
On Appledore Quay: good food with fresh fish. Restaurant (usually need to book) and bar have same menu. Very comfortable with outside tables and benches. 01237 472859
On the Quay. Popular pizzeria with wood fired oven. Great pizzas, steaks, salads, burgers and friendly service. Closed Mondays. Booking advisable 01237 475261
Great fish and chips to take away, in Meeting Street just up from the quay. Expect to queue at peak times. An Appledore institution.
In Market Street, opposite the Royal pub. Fish and chips to eat in or take away. Food may be taken into the pub or drinks into the restaurant.
BARNSTAPLE
Terra Madre at The Broomhill Art Hotel and Sculpture Park Excellent tapas style lunches and evening meals using local organic produce, and sculpture to look at in a lovely setting. Muddiford near Barnstaple. Very good value considering the quality. Look out for vouchers in the North Devon Journal (Thursdays). 01271 850262
BIDEFORD
In Cooper Street, just off the Quay. Good varied menu cooked to a high standard, especially fish. Nice cosy atmosphere. 01237 476447
A cosy Italian restaurant near the pannier market.
01327 473233"
WESTWARD HO!
Excellent “American Fifties” themed tea room, specialising in cream teas and homemade cakes. Very good, generous lunches. It also has an appealing website. 01237 429406
Excellent views over the sea from this restaurant and bar in Merley Road, just before the coastal path takes off across the cliffs. Good food and very pleasant service, great value Sunday carvery. 01237 477777
Restaurant with Thai and English dishes as well as cocktails. 01237 472070
Pig on the Hill (Pusehill near Westward Ho!)
Pub with good food. There’s a varied menu, but serves pizzas from wood fired oven in the early evening, so ideal for children. Great outdoor space with large grassy play area and animals. 01237 459222
Seasonal mobile stall selling a variety of good seafood, but especially local oysters.
NORTHAM
Lovely small restaurant serving good locally sourced food. Wonderful service from co-owner, Naomi and great cooking from her husband, Brett. Open Wednesday to Saturday, evenings only. Booking essential 01237 473419
INSTOW
All these pubs are just across the road from the beach.
Restaurant and pub share the same menu and have the same owners as the Seagate in Appledore.. Especially good for locally sourced and seasonal seafood. Very popular. Lovely roof terrace overlooking the estuary.
01271 861292
Popular pub with restaurant. Generally good food with stunning views, up and downstairs if you get a window seat. There are also outside areas. 01271 860608
Cosy pub with pub food and an upstairs restaurant. Popular with cyclists on the Tarka trail. 01271 860624
KNOWSTONE (off the A361 towards Tiverton)
Highly recommended Michelin starred pub restaurant for a special treat. Excellent food and relaxed ambience from the Chef Patron, formally at the Waterside Inn, Bray. Children most welcome. 30-40 minutes away. Special lunch menus are good value. 01398 341231
OUT & ABOUT
Appledore Quay is a great place to stroll, to go crabbing, to watch the tide, the boats and the changing quality of light. Hockings, the local ice cream, is highly recommended.
Appledore’s art galleries, shops, pubs and narrow lanes. Stroll to the Lifeboat Station and watch the sunset on a fine day.
Northam Burrows, its public golf course and the pebble ridge with its two miles of sandy beaches towards Westward Ho! The beach has Blue Flag status. The beach can be approached at Westward Ho! or by the gate to the Burrows (take the road to Westward Ho! out of Appledore past the church. Just before Westwards Ho! turn right at the T-junction. Parking charge from April to Sept.)
Skern Lodge Activity Centre for a range of organised activities and courses
The South West coastal path: clearly marked, good for all ages and abilities
Bideford – small pannier market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Burton Art Gallery and local museum, Bideford Pottery
Barnstaple pannier market is worth a visit- different every day but food especially on Tuesday and Friday. The Queen’s Theatre, cinema, Heritage Centre, local museum and everyday shops.
The scenic Tarka Line train from Barnstaple to Exeter, with its award winning museum, quayside and cathedral.
A trip to Lundy Island - needs planning because of the tides and its popularity
Cycling the Tarka trail towards Torrington or Barnstaple. This is all off road and completely safe for ‘weekend cyclists’. Bikes can be hired at various places: at East-the-Water side of Bideford old bridge (turn right), Barnstaple train station or Fremington Quay (for a riverside ride, good for a visit in its own right). Look out for leaflets for more information.
RHS Rosemoor Garden, lovely at any time of the year for all ages. Pop into Dartington Glass factory outlet on the way back.
Drive the ‘Atlantic Highway’ coastal route to Bude in Cornwall, watch the surfers or join in
Hartland Quay for great rock formations, pub and coastal walks
Atlantic Village factory outlet
The Big Sheep, good for young children
Lynton and Lynmouth
Exmoor
Instow - across the water from Appledore with good pubs and a yacht club. Take the Appledore-Instow Ferry in summer
Tapeley Park near Instow- lovely Italianate garden, walks with great views and walled vegetable garden. Charming café/tea room.
Braunton Burrows - UNESCO biosphere reserve with huge range or interesting plants and insects amidst the sand dunes
SHOPS
APPLEDORE
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John’s of Appledore has a grocery shop, a shop/deli with a Post Office and local produce as well as a café.
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A variety of galleries selling local art, definitely worth a visit
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Marshford Organics farm shop on the road leading into Appledore
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Hocking’s ice cream from the van on the quay is a must!
BIDEFORD
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Large Morrisons on the way into Bideford, with petrol station (good prices)
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Asda, Aldi and Lidl towards Atlantic Village on the A361
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A selection of independent shops in the pedestrianised area of Mill Street
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All the main banks and building societies
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Main Post Office
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Pannier Market on Tuesday and Saturday, quite modest
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farmers’ market on the Quay on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
WESTWARD HO!
Heard’s the butcher is excellent, especially for Devon beef.
ATLANTIC VILLAGE
Retail outlet: stock changes, some bargains to be found but not extensive e.g. Nike, M&S, Hush Puppies, Gap. Asda supermarket. Also Aldi and Lidl nearby on the same road.
BARNSTAPLE
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Many of the major high street chains in this important North Devon town. Free Museum with interesting local history.
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Pannier Market: Monday to Saturday but food especially on Tuesdays and Fridays. Good fish, bakery, local cheeses, meat and vegetables in adjoining Butchers’ Row every day. Much more extensive than Bideford.
DAN THE FISH MAN
Dan from Clovelly Fish is in Bideford every Friday in Mill Street and at Barnstaple Real Food Market which is at the Pannier Market on the second Sunday of each month. Dan is in Appledore on Wednesdays in the summer. His fish is excellent as his advice on cooking it.