Appledore
Appledore, set on the North Devon coast where the rivers Torridge and Taw meet the Atlantic, is alive with history.
Appledore Holiday Cottages
The 'little white fishing village' in Charles Kingsley's epic seafaring novel Westward Ho!, Appledore became a thriving port when it was first settled by the Cistercian monks in the 14th century and by Elizabethan times it had a proud reputation for boat-building and fishing too. Countless reminders of its maritime roots remain today, with watch-towers and look-outs, a smugglers' tunnel, pastel-painted fishermens' cottages and pretty cobbled lanes all adding to the picture postcard scenery.
"The light on the water has long been a magnet for budding artists"
While a fascinating selection of galleries, craft shops and places to eat make Appledore a popular location for a cottage holiday at any time of year, it is still the sea that attracts visitors. The light on the water has long been a magnet for budding artists, and the whole village seems to come alive at high tide when sailing boats emerge from the North Devon Yacht Club on the opposite bank of the estuary at Instow.
Mostly a conservation area, Appledore is the perfect setting for a family cottage holiday and the area has plenty to offer visitors. It is close to the South West Coast Path and beautiful safe beaches for surfing, swimming and sandcastles. And also nearby is the Northam Burrows Country Park, home to the oldest 18-hole links golf course in England.
The twelfth annual Appledore Visual Arts Festival takes place May 28-31 this year and has a ‘Fire & Fury’ theme. For information see www.appledorearts.org
