Before (end of 1978) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 22 · The Liberal Party 6 · Labour 5 · Conservative 3
After (end of 1979) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 29 · Conservative 5 · The Liberal Party 1 · Labour 1
Ward results
Appledore East1 seat · turnout 78.5%
| N. Sharrock | Independent | 465 |
| J. Morrish | Independent | 271 |
Appledore West1 seat · turnout 82.0%
| P. Ford | Independent | 301 |
| J. Need | Independent | 236 |
| B. Smith | Conservative | 209 |
Bideford East3 seats · turnout 42.0%
| P. Benson | Conservative | 918 |
| F. Bailey | Labour | 847 |
| C. Short | Independent | 754 |
| E. Gilpin | Independent | 565 |
| A. Mugford | Independent | 505 |
Bideford North3 seats
| J. Need | Independent | 1,275 |
| W. Newton | Conservative | 1,214 |
| E. Brown | Independent | 980 |
| T. Sherborne | Independent | 357 |
Bideford South3 seats
| A. Colwill | Independent | 0 ✓ |
| T. Heath | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
| M. Lane | LIB | 0 ✓ |
Broadheath1 seat
| K. Shopland | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Clovelly Bay1 seat
| R. Stoneman | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Coham Bridge1 seat
| M. Dart | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Great Wood1 seat
| V. Douet | Independent | 421 |
| P. West | Conservative | 195 |
Hartland Point1 seat
| W Pillman | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Heanton1 seat
| J. Toogood | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Holsworthy2 seats · turnout 64.7%
| W. Trace | Independent | 1,117 |
| A. Gilbert | Independent | 720 |
| H. Broad | Conservative | 693 |
Northam Central1 seat
| M. Portlock | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
Northam North1 seat
| M. Sumner | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Northam West1 seat
| R. Evers | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Orchard Hill1 seat
| P. Biggs | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
Stafford1 seat
| S. Hiscock | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Tamarside1 seat · turnout 79.7%
| R. Braine | Independent | 435 |
| E. Cornish | Independent | 259 |
Torrington3 seats · turnout 45.6%
| O. Street | Independent | 1,361 |
| P. Isaac | Independent | 1,337 |
| H. Pollard | Independent | 1,075 |
| A. Lewis | Labour | 320 |
Westward Ho!1 seat
| E. Hilder | Independent | 0 ✓ |