Section: Instow to Westward Ho! (via Bideford)

Length: 11 miles (18km)

Distance from Minehead to Instow: 76.7

Distance from Westward Ho! to Poole: 545.4

Grading: Easy Walking.

Height gained (and also lost): 531ft (162m)

Summary:

The easy walking along this section of the Coast Path allows for plenty of opportunity to enjoy the wide range of plants and birds inhabiting the grassland and dunes of the Taw/Torridge estuary. Follow the old railway trackbeds along the Tarka Trail to the preserved station at East-the-Water, where you cross the Torridge and follow it up the other side to Appledore and Northam Burrows SSSI. From here you are less than 1000 metres from the dunes of Braunton Burrows across the water. It is then possible to walk the sandy beach into Westward Ho!

Highlights along the path:

• The preserved station and signal box at East-the-Water, which includes The Railway Carriage Visitor Centre and a restaurant in a restored carriage.
• Crossing Bideford’s historic Grade 1 listed Long Bridge over the river Torridge. It has 24 spans and all are different.
• Walking the riverside path known as Landivisau Walk (after Bideford's twin town) through Bideford’s quayside, past the many inns and the statue to Charles Kingsley.
• The historic port and ship-building town of Appledore which sits at the point where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet. The huge, modern indoor shipyard builds large ocean going steel hulled vessels.
• The Northam Burrows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is about 253 hectares of grassy coastal plain with salt marsh and sand dunes at the mouth of the Taw/Torridge estuary. Further information available from The Burrows Centre: Tel: 01237 479708.
• Literary links of Westward Ho!: The town of Westward Ho! takes its name from Charles Kingsley’s novel and is the only place name in England which contains an exclamation mark.
• Watching the surfers at Westward Ho!.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• The North Devon Maritime Museum housed in a Georgian listed building in the village of Appledore, Odun House, Odun Road, Tel: 01237-422064.
• Even further afield…take a boat trip from Bideford Quay to Lundy and walk the 3 mile long island.

Shorter option:

Longer option:

Walk to Buck’s Mills (an additional 6.8 miles, 10.9 km).

Public transport info:

National Express coach number 502 runs from Taunton to Barnstaple and First Great Western trains run regularly from Exeter to Barnstaple, where you can catch the hourly First North Devon bus number 1 to Instow, and on to Bideford, Northam and Westward Ho! For information about the seasonal ferry from Instow to Appledore contact 01237 476191, email enquiries@appledore-letting.co.uk. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

There are shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes in Instow, Bideford, East-the-Water, Appledore and Westward Ho!

Nearest Car park:

Instow Sands, (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX39 4HX) Bideford, Appledore, Northam Burrows Country Park and Westward Ho!

Toilets:

Instow, Bideford, Appledore, Northam Burrows Country Park and Westward Ho!

More information:

Bideford Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01237 477676 Email : bidefordtic@visit.org.uk

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