Torrington: Commons, Culture and History

Discover Great Torrington through its landscape, local history and varied cultural offerings. The Commons and Tarka Trail invite you to spend time outdoors; the museum, Market House and historic buildings offer glimpses into the past. There is also a garden, glassmaking demonstrations and an annual festival. You can tailor your stay to the themes that interest you most.

Commons and Tarka Trail

Great Torrington Commons cover 365 acres and surround the town on all sides except the east. They are freely accessible, and you can explore the area on 20 miles of footpaths. The Commons include an ancient woodland, a wildflower meadow and a path down into the River Torridge valley. The woodland, meadow and valley provide different landscape features to enjoy on a walk.

The Tarka Trail, which is over 52 kilometres long, runs from Braunton via Barnstaple, Instow, Bideford and Great Torrington to Meeth. It is a shared route for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, dog walkers and horse riders. The route places Great Torrington on a longer trail through several towns; the Commons also have their own footpaths.

History in the town

Torrington Castle began as a manorial complex. Around 1090, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle was built at the highest point of the hill. St Michael and All Angels Church also has a long building history: parts of the building date from 1259. These landmarks provide tangible architectural links to the town’s history.

Torrington Museum is in the centre of Great Torrington, next to the entrance to Pannier Market. Admission is free, and the museum is run entirely by volunteers. In 1646 Civil War Street, the night of the last major battle of the English Civil War, on 16 February 1646, is recreated. The museum also reconstructs the Vaughan Tapscott factory with original machinery and artefacts. The displays bring together a historical moment and the story of local work and production.

Torrington Pannier Market opened in 1842. It is housed in a Grade II* listed Market House and has many independent traders and market stalls. Here, the history of the market building meets a varied range of traders.

Garden, glass and cultural programme

RHS Garden Rosemoor in Great Torrington lies in a valley in Devon and combines formal and informal planting. At Dartington Crystal, the Visitor Experience includes a timeline exhibition featuring products from 1967 to the present day. The studio area with its furnace hosts glassmaking demonstrations. A visit lets you discover both the history of the products and how they are made.

The Plough Arts Centre offers films, live performances, exhibitions and workshops. Great Torrington’s cultural calendar also includes the annual Mayfair, held on the first Thursday in May. Festivities include the crowning of the May Queen, maypole dancing, a carnival and a fair. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the event date in advance.

Planning your journey

Great Torrington is near the A361. Regular bus services connect the town with nearby places; the nearest railway station is in Barnstaple. As transport information can change, it’s a good idea to check the latest timetables before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Luppitt, Dalwood, Colebrooke, Wick, Plymtree, Moretonhampstead, Wotter, Axminster.

See the wider travel guide: Devon.