| Torridge | |
|---|---|
 Bridges over River Torridge at Bideford looking downstream from Upcott Hill | |
  Location within Devon | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Region | Devon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Higher Clovelly |
| • coordinates | 50°59′04″N4°24′10″W / 50.9845°N 4.4028°W /50.9845; -4.4028 |
| • elevation | 206 m (676 ft) |
| Mouth | Bristol Channel |
• location | north ofBideford |
• coordinates | 51°03′35″N4°11′49″W / 51.0596°N 4.1970°W /51.0596; -4.1970 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 93 km (58 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | River Mere,River Yeo |
| • right | River Waldon, Whiteleigh Water, River Lew,River Okement, Beaford Brook,River Taw |
TheRiver Torridge is a river inDevon in England; it rises near Meddon. The river describes a long loop through Devon farming country where its tributaries the Lew and Okement join before meeting the Taw at Appledore and flowing into the Bristol Channel. The river isspate dependent and often flows between wooded banks which can be steep.[1] TheTorridge local government district is named after the river.
It was the home ofTarka the Otter inHenry Williamson's book.
The river rises close to the border withCornwall (north of the source of theRiver Tamar). Its two primary sources are Seckington Water, which rises near Baxworthy Cross, and Clifford Water, the longer of the two, which rises alongside theA39 atHigher Clovelly. These run south and join to form the Torridge atHuddisford. It then flows generally east, passing betweenEast Putford andWest Putford, and nearBradford it is joined by theRiver Waldon, then heads east pastBlack Torrington andSheepwash. It is joined by theRiver Lew nearHatherleigh, and then by theRiver Okement nearMeeth.
It then flows northwards, picking up theRiver Mere south ofBeaford. After this it makes tight bends, and goes pastLittle Torrington andGreat Torrington heading generally north-west. It is joined by theRiver Yeo atPillmouth, and then becomes estuarine byBideford. BetweenAppledore andInstow it joins the estuary of theRiver Taw and entersBideford Bay.
TheTarka Trail walking and cycle route partly follows the course of theNorth Devon Railway, which, for a considerable distance, closely followed the line of the river. South of Bideford the railway crossed from one bank to the other, and the Trail provides a good vantage point for viewing the river.
The following is a list of bridges over the River Torridge listed going upstream from the estuary at Bideford:
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