Great Torrington, North Devon


Great Torrington is a small market town in the heart of north Devon. One of the best parts of taking a day trip to another town is the bus ride. Unlike cars that usually take the quickest, straightest route from point A to point B, buses meander through the countryside, stopping in all the small communities. The bus to Torrington follows the Torridge River and the Tarka cycle trail for much of the way, travelling on narrow country roads between tall hedges or banks. At one point, the driver had to carefully position the bus before taking a sharp turn into a low tunnel.



I was excited to visit Torrington as their Pannier Market (covered market) was built in 1842 and redeveloped in 1999. I made sure to go on a market day but was severely disappointed! There was only one food vendor selling home baking. Seriously, Saskatoon! You don’t know how lucky you are to have a thriving farmers’ market. I’ve visited several British farmers’ markets this year and they were all so small with only a handful of vendors.


What Torrington does have is a fabulous park and pathways overlooking the valley below. I would return just to go for a walk here.




There is also a secret walled garden that is a memorial to 5 WWII evacuee children who lost their lives in a fire.


I had a simple but tasty home-cooked lunch at The Plough Arts Centre and enjoyed the art exhibit of twiggy harps.


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