Appledore, North Devon

After a busy 5 weeks in London, it was a relief to arrive in the winter quiet of Appledore in North Devon.

Appledore is a fishing village on the mouth of the Taw and Torridge rivers as they enter the Atlantic.

The village was an important shipbuilding centre for centuries and is still an active fishing port (primarily crab and lobsters), but it has also become a popular weekend and holiday destination for Londoners.

On the far side of the estuary is Instow, which looks like a twin to Appledore.

The main street runs along the quay with a few shops and a library on the far side. Leading up from the quay are narrow winding lanes with pastel-coloured stucco cottages.

I’m staying in one of the cottages on this street and love catching glimpses of the water from the kitchen and bathroom windows. The other kitchen window frames a camellia bush in full bloom.

I go out two or three times a day to admire the view at different times of the day and tides.

There are advantages to staying in a tourist destination. It’s still quiet in winter, but there is a lovely deli and two stores serving lunch, cakes, and Devon cream teas.

I spent one night at The Seagate and discovered that it was a lovely place to spend a few hours having a glass of wine, supper, or simply reading and playing chess.