Towns & cities · South West England
Instow
Instow — village in Devon, England, UK.

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–6 h
- Nearest railway station
- Barnstaple · 7.7 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Instow, the nearest railway station is Barnstaple, located 7.7 km away. Entry to the town is free, and the postcode for sat-nav is EX39 4LW.
About
Instow is a town, city, village or settlement in the United Kingdom. Recent population estimates put it at around 660 people. Wikidata describes it as: "village in Devon, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.0500°, -4.1667°.
Photo gallery
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Taw-Torridge Estuary SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: North Devon
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Instow is a village in north Devon, England. It is on the estuary where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet, between the villages of Westleigh and Yelland and on the opposite bank to Appledore. There is an electoral ward with the same name. The ward's total population at the 2011 census was 1,501. There is a small river beach and sand dunes, that home some rare species of orchid including the pyramidal orchid. The Tarka Trail passes through Instow, providing an easy means for people to arrive on foot or by bike. This section of the Trail is also part of the South West Coast Path, offering longer walks along the coast. The village is served by the Church of St John the Baptist, which has 13th- or 14th-century origins and is a Grade I listed building. A chapel of ease, All Saints, was built in 1936 and is now also used as a community centre.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Instow is mentioned in the Domesday Book as having two ploughlands and 66 acre of meadow, pasture and woodland. The name of Instow derives from Anglo-Saxon of St John's Holy Place, which would have been Johnstow, or Jonestow. The suffix Stow, denotes a holy place in the Anglo-Saxon language, and the name is found in many places across Devon which had a church (Churchstow, Christow, Virginstow). The original settlement was on the high ground opposite the more modern site of the village low against the riverside. This is where the 14th century Church of St John the Baptist is located, near to the Instow Community Primary School. The parish was formerly in the hundred of Fremington, some 3 mi…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.0500, -4.1667
- County
- Devon
- District
- North Devon
- Parish
- Instow
- Postcode
- EX39 4LW
- Parliamentary constituency
- North Devon
- Population
- 660
- Nearest railway station
- Barnstaple — 7.7 km
- Official site
- www.instow.net
Sources
- wikidata: Q748613 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Instow (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Instow station, North Devon, 1969.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Church of St John the Baptist
Historic churches · 0.9 km

Instow War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.0 km

Instow
Villages · 1.0 km

The Commodore Hotel
Hotels · 1.0 km

Instow Rear Lighthouse
Lighthouses · 1.0 km

Tapeley Park
Castles · 1.1 km

Shell House
Follies · 1.2 km

Instow Beach
Beaches · 1.2 km

Obelisk Approximately 800 Metres West Of Tapeley Park House
Forts · 1.3 km

Instow Front Lighthouse
Lighthouses · 1.4 km

Instow Pond
Natural landmarks · 1.7 km

Seagate Hotel
Historic pubs · 1.8 km
Instow is a village in Devon, South West England, with a population of 660. Our guide lists N attractions within reach.
At a glance
- Population
- 660
- Administrative county
- Devon
- Constituency
- North Devon
- Top categories near here
Things to see in Instow
23 attractions within 12 km. Full guide: things to do in Instow →
📷 5Historic churches · South West England
Church of St John the Baptist
Church of St John the Baptist — Grade I listed church in Instow, Devon, England, UK.
📷 5Wildlife reserves · South West England
Fremington Local Nature Reserve
Fremington Local Nature Reserve — Local nature reserve in North Devon, England.
Flagship📷 5Stately homes · South West England
Fremington Manor House Including Entrance Gateway Attached To West Side
Fremington Manor House Including Entrance Gateway Attached To West Side — manor house in Fremington, Devon, England, UK.
📷 5Abbeys & priories · South West England
Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple
Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple — church in Barnstaple, Devon, England, UK.
📷 5Lighthouses · South West England
Instow Front Lighthouse
Instow Front Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.
📷 5Lighthouses · South West England
Instow Rear Lighthouse
Instow Rear Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.
📷 3Country parks · South West England
Rock Park
Rock Park — urban park in Barnstaple, Devon, England.
📷 5Castles · South West England
Tapeley Park
Tapeley Park — historic estate in Devon, England, UK.
Cathedrals · South West England
Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple
Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.
Natural landmarks · South West England
Instow Pond
Instow Pond — a other in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · South West England
Barnstaple War Memorial Including Posts and Chains
Barnstaple War Memorial Including Posts and Chains — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · South West England
Fremington War Memorial
Fremington War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · South West England
Instow War Memorial
Instow War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · South West England
Ellerslie Lookout Tower
Ellerslie Lookout Tower — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Parks · South West England
The Park Community School
The Park Community School — a school heritage in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Forts · South West England
Obelisk At North Entrance
Obelisk At North Entrance — a martello broad in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Campsites · South West England
Great Knightacott Farm Campsite.
Great Knightacott Farm Campsite. — a campsite in england south west.
Campsites · South West England
Tarka Trail Camping
Tarka Trail Camping — a campsite in england south west.
Mountains & hills · South West England
Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill — a hill or mountain in england south west.
Nearby
📷 5Historic churches · South West England
Church of St John the Baptist
Church of St John the Baptist — Grade I listed church in Instow, Devon, England, UK.
Memorials & monuments · South West England
Instow War Memorial
Instow War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
Hotels · South West England
The Commodore Hotel
The Commodore Hotel — a hotel in england south west.
📷 5Lighthouses · South West England
Instow Rear Lighthouse
Instow Rear Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.
📷 5Castles · South West England
Tapeley Park
Tapeley Park — historic estate in Devon, England, UK.
Where to eat & stay near Instow
Places to stay
Hotels · South West England
The Commodore Hotel
The Commodore Hotel — a hotel in england south west.
Campsites · South West England
Great Knightacott Farm Campsite.
Great Knightacott Farm Campsite. — a campsite in england south west.
Campsites · South West England
Tarka Trail Camping
Tarka Trail Camping — a campsite in england south west.
Campsites · South West England
Marshford Camping & Caravan Site
Marshford Camping & Caravan Site — a campsite in england south west.
Hotels · South West England
Durrant House Hotel
Durrant House Hotel — a hotel in england south west.
Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
Royal George Inn
Royal George Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · South West England
The Old Custom House
The Old Custom House in England South West, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · South West England
Heavitree Arms
Heavitree Arms in England South West, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · South West England
Rose Of Torridge
Rose Of Torridge in England South West, United Kingdom.
More towns in this region
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Shoscombe — village and civil parish in Somerset, UK.
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Tarrant Keyneston — village and civil parish in Dorset, United Kingdom.
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Arne
Arne — village in Purbeck, Dorset, United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Instow?
- Instow is in Devon, South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode EX39 4LW), in the parish of Instow.
- What is Instow?
- Instow — village in Devon, England, UK.
- How do I get to Instow?
- The nearest railway station is Barnstaple, about 7.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode EX39 4LW.
- Is Instow a protected site?
- Yes — Instow is part of the Taw-Torridge Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the North Devon National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Instow free to visit?
- Yes, Instow is free to enter.
- How do I get to Instow?
- The nearest railway station is Barnstaple, about 7.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EX39 4LW.