Appledore is a delightfully unspoilt village with old seamen's cottages and narrow winding streets dating back to 1335, standing on the peninsula which includes Northam and Westward Ho! Nearby Westward Ho! was built to commemorate the famous historical novel by Charles Kingsley. The Royal North Devon golf course at Westward Ho! offers a warm welcome to visitors with its club house and golfing museum. The course has spectacular views over Bideford Bay with Lundy Island on the horizon.
The Quay at Appledoor
Take time to sit on the Quay at Appledore and watch the boats in the estuary, look across the water to Instow, observe the seabirds and, at low tide, the waders in their tireless search for edible delicacies to be found in the mud. In the summer you can take a ferry across to Instow or a trip around the estuary.
Appledore and Instow Regatta takes place in early August.
Stroll around the quaint streets of this old fashioned fishing village, with its narrow cobbled streets and many Georgian and Victorian cottages. Note the houses with wide upper windows, these would have been originally used as sail makers' lofts. There are shops selling antiques, crafts and all manner of items. If its lunchtime or teatime, call into one of the many Inns or small restaurants for welcome refreshment.
Appledore has a thriving modern shipbuilding business, the large covered yards of "Appledore Shipbuilders" are witness to this continuing skill. The Maritime Museum in the town gives information on Appledore's long association with boat building, a replica of the "Golden Hind" was built here.
The economy relied heavily on merchant shipping, fishing and also salmon netting in the river. Not surprisingly, many say a large part of Appledore's income in times past was derived from smuggling!
Appledore, on the North coast of Devon, where the River Torridge & River Taw meet the Atlantic. Appledore has been a thriving port since it was settled by the Cistercian monks in the 14th Century and before that, the Anglo-Saxons fished from its shores.
Appledore is full of history, with watch towers, look-outs, a smugglers tunnel, fishermen's cottages, captains' houses and a quay overlooking the meeting point of the two rivers. Away from the quay the narrow streets, hidden lanes and cobbled courtyards preserve the intriguing history and transport the imagination back through the centuries.
Probably the oldest existing building in Appledore is Docton House which was built by the monks and occupied by them until about 1540. It is thought to have been a “rest house” for pilgrims on the way to Hartland Abbey. The area"s maritime history is well documented and preserved in the North Devon Maritime Museum in Odun Road at the top of the village.
Mostly a conservation area, Appledore is close to the South West Coast Path and beautiful safe beaches for surfing, swimming and sandcastles. Also, nearby is the Northam Burrows Country Park, home to the oldest 18 hole links golf course in England.
During the 2nd World War Appledore was used by Percy Hobart an armored warfare expert to test many of his inventions such as the swimming and flail tanks that were used to good effect by the D Day invasion force and were known throughout the military as Hobart's funnies.
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