North Devon abounds with rivers and streams that are encompassed by rolling hills and lush green valleys. Henry Williamson, the well known author of Tarka the Otter, once described this as "a county of two rivers", the Taw and the Torridge. These are rain fed or semi-spate rivers, very different in character but both with a magical seductive charm that once experienced will never be forgotten.
The Taw, rising on Dartmoor is some 50 miles in length and is the longer of the two rivers.
The Torridge however rises only 4 miles from the sea at Hartland and flows for some 35 miles.
Both rivers finally meet sharing the last throws of their respective estuaries before entering the sea over the treacherous Bideford bar.

Photograph taken by guest Brian Gorski