Bideford’s biggest
Victoria Park
Playing field
4.2 ha (10 acres)1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Bideford
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Roger A Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0C+Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Bideford · parks, paths & countryside
83% of Bideford’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
The North Devon National Landscape begins 0.4 mi from the town’s edge. The sea makes up 21% of the area within 5 km. 23 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 1.0 for every square kilometre. Bideford grades C+ for the outdoors: #37 of 47 in Devon. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
0.9 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
83%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
23 km
1.0 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
11%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: North Devon National Landscape
The sea
21%
of the area within 5 km
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Bideford?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe North Devon National Landscape starts 0.4 mi west.On a National TrailThe South West Coast Path passes through.Few mapped footpaths1.0 km of path per km²; the typical UK town has 3.0.
Bideford’s strongest suit is the North Devon National Landscape close by, followed by the South West Coast Path. Where it falls short is footpaths.
Outdoors grade
Bideford grades C+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Bideford, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
C+
Better than 38% of UK towns#37 of 47 in Devon · 46th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space0.9 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
10out of
100
100
A park within a walk83%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
52out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape11%of the land within 5 km
72out of
100
100
Footpaths1.0 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
7out of
100
100
The sea21%of the area within 5 km
90out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Bideford is 46th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 18,200 to 21,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Bideford1.0
Towns its size3.5
Devon towns1.8
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Bideford0.9
Towns its size2.2
Devon towns1.9
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Bideford83%
Towns its size87%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%
Bideford falls furthest behind on path per km², where 59 of the 59 others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camborne Cornwall | A+ | 2.2 | 93% | 4 | 8% |
| 2 | Littlehampton West Sussex | A+ | 2.1 | 99% | 3.1 | 18% |
| 3 | Litherland Merseyside | A | 7.3 | 94% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 4 | Buxton Derbyshire | A | 3.5 | 86% | 3.8 | 61% |
| 5 | Faversham Kent | A | 2 | 88% | 3.5 | 24% |
| 6 | Houghton Regis Bedfordshire | A | 3.5 | 81% | 8 | 20% |
| 7 | Colne Lancashire | A | 3.2 | 86% | 5.3 | 8% |
| 8 | Waltham Abbey Essex | A | 11.9 | 92% | 6.7 | 0% |
| 9 | Farnham Surrey | A | 5.1 | 73% | 4.3 | 35% |
| 10 | Hazlemere Buckinghamshire | A | 2.5 | 81% | 4.7 | 68% |
| 11 | Forest Town Nottinghamshire | A | 6.4 | 94% | 5.7 | 0% |
| 12 | Northwich Cheshire | A | 8.8 | 92% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 13 | Leek Staffordshire | A | 4.2 | 83% | 3.6 | 19% |
| 14 | Stratton St Margaret Wiltshire | A | 3.3 | 82% | 5.1 | 5% |
| 15 | Keynsham Somerset | A | 2.1 | 95% | 4.6 | 11% |
| 16 | Abbots Langley and Kings Langley Hertfordshire | A | 3.8 | 88% | 3.6 | 3% |
| 17 | Harwich Essex | A− | 1.7 | 95% | 2.1 | 20% |
| 18 | Peterlee County Durham | A− | 2.3 | 85% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 19 | Ebbw Vale Gwent | A− | 2 | 92% | 3.3 | 29% |
| 20 | Mansfield Woodhouse Nottinghamshire | A− | 2.8 | 94% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 21 | Devizes Wiltshire | A− | 1.8 | 91% | 3.2 | 38% |
| 22 | Walkden Greater Manchester | B+ | 3.4 | 92% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 23 | Belper Derbyshire | B+ | 2.4 | 94% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 24 | Eastwood Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.6 | 93% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 25 | Hythe and Dibden Purlieu Hampshire | B+ | 0.8 | 49% | 4.4 | 44% |
| 26 | Sandhurst Berkshire | B+ | 5.1 | 79% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 27 | Hazel Grove Greater Manchester | B+ | 2.9 | 62% | 4.2 | 3% |
| 28 | Mirfield West Yorkshire | B | 2.5 | 90% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 29 | Ripley Derbyshire | B | 2.4 | 91% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 30 | Irlam Greater Manchester | B | 3.1 | 95% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 31 | Cradley Heath West Midlands | B | 3.3 | 76% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 32 | Penwortham Lancashire | B | 2.9 | 91% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 33 | Ely Cambridgeshire | B | 2.7 | 88% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 34 | Stanley County Durham | B | 1.7 | 88% | 5.2 | 0% |
| 35 | Shaw Greater Manchester | B | 1.9 | 96% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 36 | Stourport-on-Severn Worcestershire | B | 3.1 | 79% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 37 | Romsey Hampshire | B− | 1.2 | 82% | 4.5 | 2% |
| 38 | Ware Hertfordshire | B− | 2 | 81% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 39 | Calne Wiltshire | B− | 1.3 | 88% | 2.4 | 33% |
| 40 | Wednesbury West Midlands | B− | 2.7 | 93% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 41 | Dereham Norfolk | B− | 1.8 | 90% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 42 | Failsworth Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.8 | 77% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 43 | Rawmarsh South Yorkshire | C+ | 2 | 84% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 44 | Maesteg Mid Glamorgan | C+ | 2 | 94% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 45 | Melksham Wiltshire | C+ | 2.2 | 87% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 46 | Bideford Devon | C+ | 0.9 | 83% | 1 | 11% |
| 47 | Newmarket Suffolk | C+ | 1.9 | 91% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 48 | Knowle and Dorridge West Midlands | C+ | 2.7 | 82% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 49 | Adwick le Street South Yorkshire | C+ | 2.8 | 89% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 50 | Spennymoor County Durham | C+ | 2.1 | 84% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 51 | Thornton Lancashire | C | 2.1 | 71% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 52 | Nantwich Cheshire | C | 2.2 | 86% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 53 | Horwich Greater Manchester | C | 1.8 | 67% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 54 | Maghull Merseyside | C− | 1.6 | 86% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 55 | Skegness Lincolnshire | C− | 0.9 | 58% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 56 | Willerby and Anlaby East Riding of Yorkshire | C− | 1.6 | 46% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 57 | Selby North Yorkshire | C− | 1.6 | 81% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 58 | Goole East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 1.7 | 81% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 59 | Stamford Lincolnshire | D | 1.3 | 64% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 60 | Tiverton Devon | D | 1.5 | 59% | 2.6 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Bideford’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Bideford
The biggest is Victoria Park, 4.2 ha (10 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 4 named parks by size: 11 ha (28 acres) and 2 km of path
Parks & gardens 0.5 haPlaying fields 11 ha
The two biggest, Victoria Park and Pollyfield, are 72% of the named green space.
Pollyfield
Playing field
3.9 ha (10 acres)0.5 km of path
5 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
King George V Playing Fields
Playing field
2.7 ha (7 acres)0.2 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Old Town Gardens
Park or garden
0.5 ha (1 acres)0.2 km of path
Centralin the middle of Bideford
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
How close Bideford’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (83%)Further (17%)
Bideford83%
Towns its size87%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%
About 3,400 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 34 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 573 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The North Devon National Landscape is 0.4 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
11% of the land within 5 km of Bideford is National Park or National Landscape, more than 72% of UK towns. Exmoor National Park covers 693 km² and has been a National Park since 1954.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Bideford is on the South West Coast Path
23 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Bideford and the kilometre around it, 1.0 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegional
South West Coast Path (Section 7: Instow to Westward Ho! )9.3 km
Tarka Trail6.5 km
The South West Coast Path, a national route, passes Bideford. The regional route here is the Tarka Trail.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Bideford: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Rain (mm) | 109 | 76 | 65 | 55 | 56 | 66 | 70 | 80 | 72 | 115 | 114 | 122 |
April is the driest month (55 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 20 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 122 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 19 nights a year. The climate in Bideford →
The coast
Bideford is near the sea
21% of the area within 5 km of Bideford is sea. 7 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 4 with a name.
Northam Beach2.0 mi from town
DirectionsWest Appledore2.0 mi from town
DirectionsInstow Beach2.1 mi from town
DirectionsPulley Ridge2.8 mi from town
DirectionsThe South West Coast Path passes the town.
Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.
Things to do
34 playgrounds
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
1Viewpoints1Nature reserves1Picnic sites34Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size2Campsites3Slipways
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Plus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Burrough Farm0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 34
Plus 34 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Marshford Camping & Caravan Site1.0 mi from town
DirectionsWestacott Farm Campsite.1.1 mi from town
DirectionsSlipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
NorthamWestward Ho!AppledoreFremingtonGreat TorringtonChivenor and WraftonBideford
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bideford | C+ | 0.9 | 83% | 11% |
| Northam 1.6 mi | A− | 6.8 | 43% | 16% |
| Westward Ho! 1.9 mi | A− | 12.3 | 63% | 18% |
| Appledore 2.6 mi | B+ | 1.2 | 100% | 16% |
| Fremington 4.9 mi | B+ | 1.4 | 88% | 10% |
| Great Torrington 5.4 mi | B− | 2.6 | 88% | 0% |
| Chivenor and Wrafton 6.0 mi | C− | 0.6 | 0% | 17% |
Westward Ho!, 1.9 miles away, grades A−, the best next door: 63% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Northam, Westward Ho! and Great Torrington have at least twice Bideford’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Bideford
What is the biggest park in Bideford?
Victoria Park, 4.2 ha (10 acres), with 1.5 km of path. Pollyfield (3.9 ha) is second. 4 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Bideford near a National Park?
Yes. Exmoor National Park begins 14 mi north-east of the town’s edge. It covers 693 km² and has been a National Park since 1954. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the North Devon National Landscape, 0.4 mi away.
What are the best walks near Bideford?
2 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the South West Coast Path (Section 7: Instow to Westward Ho! ) and Tarka Trail.
How many people in Bideford live near a park?
83% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Bideford?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Bideford good for walking?
Paths are thinner than most towns: 1.0 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 7% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 10% (0.9 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Bideford’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Bideford’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.