beach
Saunton Sands
A three-mile beach backed by Braunton Burrows, the largest dune system in England and a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
8 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Bideford
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Bideford
Bideford works well as a base: 5 minutes from Appledore, 14km from A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude).
Bideford is in England, United Kingdom, with about 29,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Appledore, about 4 km away.
Bideford ( BID-ə-fərd) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge local government district.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bideford?
Within an hour or so of Bideford: Saunton Sands (8 km), Clovelly (14 km), A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude) (14 km), Woolacombe Beach (17 km).
Are there any good drives near Bideford?
The nearest famous roads are A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude), Atlantic Highway (A39) and Countisbury Hill.
Where is Bideford?
Bideford is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Appledore.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 28,672
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.0168, -4.2083
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Bideford
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Clovelly
Impossibly steep cobbled fishing village cascading down to a tiny harbour, where donkeys once carried goods and no cars are permitted.
14 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude)
The North Devon and Cornwall coast road with sea glimpses, steep combes and access to Clovelly and Hartland.
14 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Woolacombe Beach
Three miles of west-facing golden sand backed by dunes, consistently rated among Britain's best beaches for surfing and families.
17 km · about 20 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Hartland Point
A dramatic right-angled turn in the coast where Devon's cliffs meet the Atlantic, with a lighthouse below and notorious wrecks offshore.
22 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Hartland Quay
Savage stretch of North Devon coast where contorted rock strata zigzag into the Atlantic, reached by a dead-end road down the cliffs to a 16th-century harbour site and pub. Shipwreck country with a small museum.
23 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Atlantic Highway (A39)
Spectacular coastal road running through north Devon and Cornwall past dramatic cliffs, surfing beaches and picturesque harbour villages.
31 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Valley of Rocks, Exmoor
A dry U-shaped valley of rock towers above the sea near Lynton, grazed by feral goats.
35 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Bideford
- Right hereA39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude)The North Devon and Cornwall coast road with sea glimpses, steep combes and access to Clovelly and Hartland.
- 22 kmHartland PointA dramatic right-angled turn in the coast where Devon's cliffs meet the Atlantic, with a lighthouse below and notorious wrecks offshore.
- 23 kmHartland QuaySavage stretch of North Devon coast where contorted rock strata zigzag into the Atlantic, reached by a dead-end road down the cliffs to a 16th-century harbour site and pub. Shipwreck country with a small museum.
- 31 kmAtlantic Highway (A39)Spectacular coastal road running through north Devon and Cornwall past dramatic cliffs, surfing beaches and picturesque harbour villages.
- 37 kmCountisbury HillA long 1-in-4 climb on the A39 out of Lynmouth onto Exmoor, with sweeping views over the Bristol Channel.
- 42 kmTarr StepsA 17-span prehistoric-style clapper bridge across the River Barle on Exmoor, repeatedly rebuilt after floods.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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