Holiday rentals in Appledore

Four hours west of London in North Devon, you’ll find Appledore — a small seaside town with a long fishing and shipbuilding history and a place where life still revolves around the Torridge and Taw rivers. Fishing boats dock along the quay, bearing catches of bass, cockles, and cod to restaurant kitchens across the county. Needless to say, the fish and chips here are as fresh as they get.

From the quay, cobblestone streets wind through stands of pastel-painted cottages with iron gates and white-framed windows. But it’s along the Quay and Irsha Street where you’ll find most of Appledore’s shops and cafes, looking out over the silver-blue water where ferries cross to nearby Instow. When the weather is warm, swimmers, sunbathers, and aspiring sandcastle architects head to nearby beaches in Greysands and Westward Ho!, and you’ll often spot sailboats exploring the estuary and Bristol Channel. Further inland, flat and rolling green fields stretch out to the horizon.

For sunny days on Appledore’s rivers and beaches, summer is the best time to visit. Temperatures are at their warmest from late June through September, making it a great time of year to sail through the channel or hike the coastal South West Coast Path. August brings on boat and crabbing competitions. And the summer heat is an excellent excuse to sample a North Devon speciality: old-fashioned vanilla ice cream made with local cream. Autumn is chilly but beautiful, and the Appledore Book Festival in September is worth a trip on its own; each year gathers authors from across the United Kingdom for days of events and readings. Winters are wet, cold, and best spent by a roaring pub fire, but the weather begins to warm again in March with the onset of spring.

Torridge and Taw Kayaking

The Torridge and Taw rivers are great places to paddle and meet some of North Devon’s aquatic wildlife. Otters, minks, kingfishers, and spoonbills all make their homes along the river, and you can sometimes spot roe deer standing quietly on the banks.

North Devon Maritime Museum

Appledore’s North Devon Maritime Museum showcases two hundred years of shipbuilding history. A collection of old shipbuilding tools, photos, and paintings coexist with interactive exhibits like a ship’s wheel and a knot-tying exercise. There’s a small admission fee for humans; well-behaved dogs get in for free.

Tarka Trail

The 261-kilometre Tarka Trail takes its name from the beloved fictional otter. The north loop runs from Barnstaple along the coast and inland, but you can choose any section of the trail to walk or bike. Crow Point, across the water in Braunton, is a great place to start.