The railway line closed to passengers in 1965 as part of teh Beehing cuts and finally closed to freight traffic in 1982. The track was lifted and the trackbed bought by Devon County Council as part of the Tarka Trail. The Bideford Heritage Railway Society were formed with plans to reopen the station and part of the line. The station has been beautifully restored and there is a cafe.
I am a sucker for homemade cakes…. I was intending to walk part of the Tarka Trail from Bideford Station and gave a whoop of delight when I saw the A board on the platform advertising Tea on the Train.
There was a very good selection of cakes with old favourites like flapjack, coffee cake or scones with cream and jam, or the more unusual lemon and courgette cake or chocolate and beetroot brownies. Alternatively there was a cream tea, which did look very good.
Portion sizes were generous and you helped yourself to the piece you wanted and then sat in a Mark 1 coach to enjoy it – or on a picnic table in the sun.
The cafe is run by enthusiastic volunteers with proceeds going to the Bideford Heritage Centre. It is open weekends and school holidays from Easter to October. It is well worth supporting. They also sell crisps and fresh fruit.
A can of diet pepsi and a big slice of cake cost £4.
Websire with menu “here.”:https://www.bidefordrailway.co.uk/bideford/tea-on-the-train/
