All Topics  
Tarka Trail

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Tarka Trail
 
 
  Topics Tarka Trail Topic Home

The Tarka Trail is a series of footpaths and cyclepaths around north Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 that follow the route taken by Tarka the Otter
Tarka the Otter

Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers is a novel by Henry Williamson. The book narrates the experience of an European Otter....
 in the book of that name. It is a figure-of-eight route, based on Barnstaple
Barnstaple

Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
, and covers some 180 miles of path. The route covers a wide variety of landscapes, including: wooded river valleys, rugged moorland, coastal cliffs and sandy bays. Walking varies between easy and strenuous, depending on the location, but, in general, it is comprehensively waymarked.

The trails are now a popular tourist destination and bicycle hire businesses are available for those who wish to cycle along suitable sections of the trail.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Tarka Trail'
Start a new discussion about 'Tarka Trail'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Tarka Trail is a series of footpaths and cyclepaths around north Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 that follow the route taken by Tarka the Otter
Tarka the Otter

Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers is a novel by Henry Williamson. The book narrates the experience of an European Otter....
 in the book of that name. It is a figure-of-eight route, based on Barnstaple
Barnstaple

Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
, and covers some 180 miles of path. The route covers a wide variety of landscapes, including: wooded river valleys, rugged moorland, coastal cliffs and sandy bays. Walking varies between easy and strenuous, depending on the location, but, in general, it is comprehensively waymarked.

The trails are now a popular tourist destination and bicycle hire businesses are available for those who wish to cycle along suitable sections of the trail. A section of the Trail is part of National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network

The National Cycle Network is a network of bicycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a ?42.5 million National Lottery grant....
 route number 27 and forms part of the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route , a 102-mile route from Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 6 km along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west....
, in the north, to Plymouth
Plymouth

Plymouth is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers River Plym to the east and River Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound....
, in the south, largely using former railway lines.

Disused railways

Several sections of disused railway line have been utilised to create the trail. These have the benefit of being relatively flat, with only small uphill and downhill gradients. The paths also run across many former railway bridges, which command notable views over various rivers and valleys. A number of the stations on the route have been restored or rebuilt.

Former railway sections include:
  • Ilfracombe Branch Line
    Ilfracombe Branch Line

    The Ilfracombe Branch of the London and South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
     – between Braunton
    Braunton

    Braunton is situated 5 miles west of Barnstaple Devon, England and is claimed to be the largest village in England, with a population in 2001 of 7510....
     and Barnstaple
    Barnstaple

    Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
  • Bideford Extension Railway – between Barnstaple and Bideford
    Bideford

    Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England England. It is also the main town of the Torridge Districts of England....
  • North Devon Railway
    North Devon Railway

    The North Devon Railway was a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland railway company which operated a line from Cowley Bridge Junction, near Exeter, to Bideford in Devon, later becoming part of the London and South Western Railway's system....
     – between Bideford and Torrington
    Torrington

    Torrington may refer to:...


Places of interest

  • RMB Chivenor
  • Bideford and Instow Railway
    Bideford and Instow Railway

    The Bideford Railway Heritage Centre CIC in Devon is currently responsible for the management of Instow signal box which opens on occasional Sundays and bank holidays from Easter to October....


Towns and villages

The Trail passes through numerous towns and villages, including:
  • Barnstaple
    Barnstaple

    Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
  • Instow
    Instow

    Instow is a village in north Devon, England. It is on the estuary where the rivers River Taw and River Torridge meet, between the villages of Westleigh, North Devon and Yelland and on the opposite bank of Appledore, North Devon....
  • Yelland
    Yelland

    Yelland is a small village in North Devon between Instow and Fremington, Devon in the England county of Devon. Yelland is included within the parish of Fremington....
  • Bideford
    Bideford

    Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England England. It is also the main town of the Torridge Districts of England....
  • Torrington
    Torrington

    Torrington may refer to:...
  • Hatherleigh
    Hatherleigh

    Hatherleigh is a small market town in the county of Devon, England. It hosts an arts festival in July, and a carnival in November featuring tar barrels.....
  • Okehampton
    Okehampton

    Okehampton is a town and civil parish in Devon, England, at the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the River Okement. The border of the Dartmoor National Park is just south of the town....
  • Lynmouth
    Lynmouth

    Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn River and East Lyn River rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
  • Ilfracombe
    Ilfracombe

    Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 6 km along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west....
  • Lee Bay
    Lee Bay

    Lee Bay is a small village on the North Devon coast near Woolacombe.The village of Lee lies at the foot of what is known locally as the Fuchsia Valley, and consists of around 100 properties, mostly old in style....
  • Mortehoe
    Mortehoe

    Mortehoe is a village on the north coast of Devon near Woolacombe, sited on the hilly land behind Morte Point. A nearby village is Lee Bay.Mortehoe can trace its origins back to the Domesday Book, and beyond....
  • Woolacombe
    Woolacombe

    Woolacombe is a seaside resort on the coast of North Devon, England, which lies at the mouth of a valley . The beach is 2.5 miles long, sandy and gently sloping....
  • Braunton
    Braunton

    Braunton is situated 5 miles west of Barnstaple Devon, England and is claimed to be the largest village in England, with a population in 2001 of 7510....


Intersecting paths

A number of other local walking routes intersect or coincide with the Tarka Trail:
  • South West Coast Path
    South West Coast Path

    The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked Long-distance footpaths in the UK and a National Trails . It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset....
     – route coincides between Ilfracombe
    Ilfracombe

    Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 6 km along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west....
     and Bideford
    Bideford

    Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England England. It is also the main town of the Torridge Districts of England....
  • Two Moors Way
    Two Moors Way

    The Two Moors Way is a long-distance path that runs from Ivybridge in South Devon to Lynmouth on the coast of North Devon, crossing parts of both Dartmoor and Exmoor along the way....
     – route coincides for part of the way through Exmoor
    Exmoor

    Exmoor is a National Parks of England and Wales situated on the Bristol Channel coast of South West England England. The park straddles two counties, with 71% of the park located in Somerset and 29% located in Devon....
  • Macmillan Way West
    Macmillan Way West

    The Macmillan Way West is a long distance footpath in Somerset and Devon, England. It runs for from Castle Cary in Somerset to Barnstaple in Devon....
     – route coincides between Barnstaple
    Barnstaple

    Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
     and Exmoor
  • Dartmoor Way
    Dartmoor Way

    The Dartmoor Way is a long-distance footpath in South West England in the United Kingdom....
      – route coincides
  • West Devon Way
    West Devon Way

    The West Devon Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in South West England in the United Kingdom....
  • Two Castles Trail
  • Little Dart Ridge and Valley Walk
    Little Dart River

    The Little Dart River is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England. It joins the Taw a mile west of Chulmleigh.The Little Dart rises near Rackenford....


Public transport

Using public transport for at least part of their journey means that walkers can plan walks which start and finish at different places, rather than have to circle back to their start point to collect their cars.

Railway

The Trail may be reached from stations on The Tarka Line
Tarka Line

The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route....
, the railway from Exeter
Exeter

Exeter Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Roman Britain and has existed since time immemorial. Exeter Cathedral, founded in 1050 is Anglicanism....
 to Barnstaple
Barnstaple

Barnstaple is a town in the in the Districts of England of North Devon in the county of Devon in the South West England. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter....
. Services to some stations are infrequent and at several the trains only stop on request.

Bus services

Most towns and villages along the Tarka Trail have bus
Bus

A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. A bus can generally seat a maximum of anywhere from 8 to 200 passengers; many more passengers than a minivan....
 services, although some of these may not be very frequent.

See also

  • The Camel Trail
    Camel Trail

    The Camel Trail is a disused and resurfaced railway line in Cornwall, United Kingdom, that provides a recreational route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders....


External links