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Towns & cities · South West England

Instow

Free admission🐾 Dog-friendly👪 Family-friendly

Instow — village in Devon, England, UK.

Instow, towns & cities in Devon

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.

Directions on Google Maps →

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
Barnstaple7.7 km
Official site
www.instow.net

Sources

Other places nearby

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

Things to see in Instow

23 attractions within 12 km. Full guide: things to do in Instow

Church of St John the Baptist📷 5

Historic 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.

FreeGrade I
Fremington Local Nature Reserve📷 5

Wildlife reserves · South West England

Fremington Local Nature Reserve

Fremington Local Nature Reserve — Local nature reserve in North Devon, England.

Free🐕
Fremington Manor House Including Entrance Gateway Attached To West SideFlagship📷 5

Stately 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.

👶
Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple📷 5

Abbeys & priories · South West England

Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple

Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple — church in Barnstaple, Devon, England, UK.

👶
Instow Front Lighthouse📷 5

Lighthouses · South West England

Instow Front Lighthouse

Instow Front Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.

Free🐕👶
Instow Rear Lighthouse📷 5

Lighthouses · South West England

Instow Rear Lighthouse

Instow Rear Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.

Free🐕👶
Rock Park📷 3

Country parks · South West England

Rock Park

Rock Park — urban park in Barnstaple, Devon, England.

Free🐕👶barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk
Dairy Lawn - geograph.org.uk - 878008📷 3

Follies · South West England

Shell House

Shell House — Folly or eyecatcher.

Free🐕
Tapeley Park📷 5

Castles · South West England

Tapeley Park

Tapeley Park — historic estate in Devon, England, UK.

👶christieestates.co.uk
Holy Trinity, Barnstaple - geograph.org.uk - 7620941📷 5

Cathedrals · South West England

Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple

Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.

👶
Fields north of Instow - geograph.org.uk - 8101254📷 3

Natural landmarks · South West England

Instow Pond

Instow Pond — a other in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
War Memorial in Rock Park, Barnstaple - geograph.org.uk - 4742417📷 3

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.

Free🐕
Entrance to St Peter's Parish Church Fremington - geograph.org.uk - 7286808📷 3

Memorials & monuments · South West England

Fremington War Memorial

Fremington War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Church Cross - geograph.org.uk - 774243📷 3

Memorials & monuments · South West England

Instow War Memorial

Instow War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
The Watchtower - geograph.org.uk - 1318007📷 3

Memorials & monuments · South West England

Ellerslie Lookout Tower

Ellerslie Lookout Tower — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
At this point the old railway carried on ahead along a raised embankment - geograph.org.uk - 4132632📷 5

Parks · South West England

The Park Community School

The Park Community School — a school heritage in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶theparkschool.org.uk
Rock obelisk - geograph.org.uk - 7614128📷 5

Forts · South West England

Obelisk At North Entrance

Obelisk At North Entrance — a martello broad in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Little Knightacott Farm - geograph.org.uk - 6439751📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Great Knightacott Farm Campsite.

Great Knightacott Farm Campsite. — a campsite in england south west.

Industrial units at Yelland - geograph.org.uk - 4968761📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Tarka Trail Camping

Tarka Trail Camping — a campsite in england south west.

tarkatrailcamping.co.uk
All Saints Chapel, Instow - geograph.org.uk - 6439898📷 5

Villages · South West England

Instow

Instow — a village in england south west.

The B3233, Yelland Road leaving Fremington - geograph.org.uk - 4274745📷 5

Villages · South West England

Fremington

Fremington — a village in england south west.

The 14th turbine is being erected on Fullabrook Wind Farm - geograph.org.uk - 2468333📷 5

Mountains & hills · South West England

Prospect Hill

Prospect Hill — a hill or mountain in england south west.

🐕
Roadworks at the junction between Church Hill and Old School Lane - geograph.org.uk - 4406357📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

The New Inn

The New Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.

Nearby

Church of St John the Baptist📷 5

Historic 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.

FreeGrade I
Church Cross - geograph.org.uk - 774243📷 3

Memorials & monuments · South West England

Instow War Memorial

Instow War Memorial — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
All Saints Chapel, Instow - geograph.org.uk - 6439898📷 5

Villages · South West England

Instow

Instow — a village in england south west.

A view across the Torridge estuary towards Appledore from the Commodore Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 7773517📷 7

Hotels · South West England

The Commodore Hotel

The Commodore Hotel — a hotel in england south west.

commodore-instow.co.uk
Instow Rear Lighthouse📷 5

Lighthouses · South West England

Instow Rear Lighthouse

Instow Rear Lighthouse — lighthouse in North Devon, England.

Free🐕👶
Tapeley Park📷 5

Castles · South West England

Tapeley Park

Tapeley Park — historic estate in Devon, England, UK.

👶christieestates.co.uk

Where to eat & stay near Instow

Places to stay

A view across the Torridge estuary towards Appledore from the Commodore Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 7773517📷 7

Hotels · South West England

The Commodore Hotel

The Commodore Hotel — a hotel in england south west.

commodore-instow.co.uk
Little Knightacott Farm - geograph.org.uk - 6439751📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Great Knightacott Farm Campsite.

Great Knightacott Farm Campsite. — a campsite in england south west.

Eastleigh , Defibrillator - geograph.org.uk - 6958675📷 5

Hotels · South West England

The Pines

The Pines — a hotel in england south west.

Industrial units at Yelland - geograph.org.uk - 4968761📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Tarka Trail Camping

Tarka Trail Camping — a campsite in england south west.

tarkatrailcamping.co.uk
A plaque at Bloody Corner, Northam - geograph.org.uk - 8047157📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Marshford Camping & Caravan Site

Marshford Camping & Caravan Site — a campsite in england south west.

Freemarshfordcamping.co.uk
Northam , Durrant Lane - geograph.org.uk - 4018152📷 7

Hotels · South West England

Durrant House Hotel

Durrant House Hotel — a hotel in england south west.

durranthousehotel.com

Places to eat & drink

Appledore, Meeting Street - geograph.org.uk - 3770947📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

Seagate Hotel

Seagate Hotel in England South West, United Kingdom.

Appledore , Appledore Pirates Firework Display - geograph.org.uk - 7005262📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

Royal George Inn

Royal George Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.

Roadworks at the junction between Church Hill and Old School Lane - geograph.org.uk - 4406357📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

The New Inn

The New Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.

Rope Walk, Bideford - geograph.org.uk - 5358480📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

The Old Custom House

The Old Custom House in England South West, United Kingdom.

Sign, The Heavitree Arms - geograph.org.uk - 6999429📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

Heavitree Arms

Heavitree Arms in England South West, United Kingdom.

A plaque marking the southern end of Bideford Quay as it was in 1663 - geograph.org.uk - 7108372📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

Rose Of Torridge

Rose Of Torridge in England South West, United Kingdom.

More towns in this region

ShoscombeFlagship📷 10

Towns & cities · South West England

Shoscombe

Shoscombe — village and civil parish in Somerset, UK.

Free🐕👶
Tarrant KeynestonFlagship📷 10

Towns & cities · South West England

Tarrant Keyneston

Tarrant Keyneston — village and civil parish in Dorset, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶
Acton📷 5

Towns & cities · South West England

Acton

Acton — village in Dorset, UK.

Free🐕👶dorset-nl.org.uk
Arne📷 5

Towns & cities · South West England

Arne

Arne — village in Purbeck, Dorset, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶arne.co.uk

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.