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“Our holiday turned to a unique adventure for each and every generation as we found so much on offer” Richards family - York 2019

Itinerary Planner

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat

Quirky beach huts, private hot tubs and stunning coastal views await you at a resort which has well…

Dining at Saunton Sands Hotel

The Dining Room The Dining Room at Saunton with its AA-rosette status and enviable views of…

Barnstaple Hotel Brasserie

With its contemporary styling and light, airy feel, their Brasserie has an atmosphere that is all…

Tarka Trail North Devon

The Tarka Trail is one of the country's longest continuous traffic-free walking and cycling paths, and forms part of the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route.

Follow in Tarka’s footsteps

Inspired by Henry Williamson’s much loved novel ‘Tarka the Otter’, this 163 miles/261kms recreation route follows Tarka’s journey in a figure of eight, through the northern part of the county. The route can be followed on foot or by bike and is a fabulous way for the whole family to visit some of the places mentioned in the original novel.

The Trail takes you through an ever-changing variety of some of the wonderful Devon scenery described in the book, including tranquil countryside, wooded river valleys, rugged moorland and dramatic coast and is a wonderful and sustainable way to explore this area.

Comprehensively waymarked, the walk varies from easy to challenging and there are plenty of different routes for you to take making it a new adventure every single time. Short sections of the trail and circular walks from it are ideal for day and half-day excursions. The terrain is a mixture, with some challenging sections and some flat, off road sections, making it suitable for a wide range of visitors.

Where to pick up the route

The entire route is centered around the town of Barnstaple, the largest town in the region and takes in areas of Exmoor, the Valley of the Rocks and the coastline. If the town is mentioned in the book, you can likely access it along the trail as many of the locations featured in the original novel are real life places. You can pick up the route at various points across the county, the Trail passes through the towns of Lynmouth, Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington, Okehampton and Ilfracombe and parts of it coincide with the South West Coast Path, the Two Moors Way and the Dartmoor Way, giving you plenty of chances to explore. There are also a number of short circular routes that are located alongside the main north and south Tarka Trail route which are designed to take a couple of hours, allowing you to explore the villages and points of interest along the trail while not spending all day.

The trail has a north loop that runs from Barnstaple through to the areas of Braunton, Croyde, Ilfracombe, Combe Martin and Lynmouth and then returning to Barnstaple.
Alternatively, the south loop runs from Barnstaple through to Bideford, where you can find Hatherleigh, Okehampton, North Tawnton and Eggesford. You can then return to Barnstaple using the Tarka Line train.

Facilities

When planning a trip to the Tarka Trail, make sure to take note of the facilities along the route. You’ll find shops, restaurants, pubs and public toilets at all the towns and villages along the route as well as places to stay. Some of the towns also have defibrillators and access to health care professionals, should you need medical assistance during your visit.

Check the local listings for the public transport times for journeys along the Tarka Line.

For more information on the Tarka Trail, including maps, routes and the various points where you can join the trail, visit the official site, https://www.tarkatrail.org.uk/

Number of results:

Number of results: 89

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Tarka Cycle Hire

Barnstaple

John & Margaret Kempson started Tarka Trail Cycle Hire in 1989, shortly after the disused Barnstaple to Bideford line was converted for recreational use and given the…
Streets Coachways

Barnstaple

For quality coach hire in North Devon with family values look no further than Streets Coachways.
Established in 1962, Streets Coachways Ltd are your local transport…
Roly's Fudge

Ilfracombe

Roly's Fudge makes crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth handmade fudge in full view of customers, using a traditional West Country recipe.
Where to buy
Available at Roly's…
Lyn Holiday Apartments & Fern Cottage

Lynton

Lyn House is a fine Grade 11 listed detached property providing four individual self-catering apartments sleeping 1 - 3 and within the grounds is Fern Cottage a beautiful…
Seasonal Samosas

Bideford

Seasonal Samosas is a family run busines making sustainable, seasonal, environmental, local and organically produced samosas, pakoras and tikkas.
Their dishes are the…
Cracking Nuts

Ilfracombe

Cracking Nuts serve up freshly roasted hot nuts with coffee and ice creams to hungry surfers, whilst enjoying the sea breeze and breathtaking views.
You can also pick up…
Lilico's Tapas Lounge & Bar

Barnstaple

Lilico's is the perfect setting for a relaxed tapas meal with someone special or for friends out to enjoy the buzz of our fashionable bar. Set in the heart of…
Lower Hearson Farm

Barnstaple

Come and Relax on our small family run farm where you can join in with feeding the animals if you want to. An opportunity to create special memories that will last a lifetime…
Walrus Fisheries

Ilfracombe

A long running family business, Walrus Fisheries fish the North Devon coast for lobster, brown crab and spider crab and provide restaurants, fish mongers and private…
Calaca Loca

Award winning nachos, burritos, tacos, and rice bowls with various fillings including slow cooked shredded beef chilli, slow cooked belly crispy pork (carnitas) and braised…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 545 review(s)
Hele Valley Holiday Park

Ilfracombe

Situated in the picturesque harbour town of Ilfracombe our award winning park, owned and managed by the Dovey family for over forty five years, offers the perfect destination…
Cloister Park Cottages

Great Torrington

Once a vicarage, Cloister Park is an 18th century Grade II listed house surrounded by a large garden. There are two self-catering cottages in the former stables to the house.…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 57 review(s)
Huxtable Farm B&B

Barnstaple

Escape to this beautiful award winning 16th Century Medieval farmhouse, with quality en-suite B&B accommodation, Jacob sheep and their wool products, Wi-Fi, log fires,…
Country Life Brewery

BIDEFORD

Established in 1998, using the brew plant from Lundy Island, the brewery was originally located at the families’ pub near Westward Ho! The Brewery moved to The Big Sheep in…
Barnstaple Pannier Market

Barnstaple

Enjoy the charm and friendly atmosphere of one of Britain's largest indoor markets. There's something for everyone.
Largely unchanged in over 150 years, Barnstaple's…
My Favourite Cottages

Barnstaple

My Favourite Cottages is a holiday home letting agency based in Barnstaple, North Devon. We specialise is quality self-catering properties from one bedroom cottages, cottages…
Portmore Golf Park

Barnstaple

At Portmore we are more than a just golf club, we are a homegrown, family business. We pride ourselves on delivering the best service, great golf and excellent food. Our goal…
Langs Farm Shop and Tea Room

Bideford

Award winning meat produced on the family run 300 acre farm. Local food, cider and ales for sale.
Where to buy?
Direct from the farm shop
Awards:
British…
$Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium$

$Add Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium to your Itinerary$
Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium

Ilfracombe

We are Chocoholics and dedicated to all things Chocolate.
We live, eat and breath the wonderful stuff. Making chocolates with love in our kitchen, here in the…
Stay In Devon

Devon is a beautiful county and so it isn’t surprising that so many people want to stay there, we’re committed to making sure that our guests have the best possible…

Itinerary Planner

Tarka Trail North Devon

Follow in Tarka’s footsteps

Where to pick up the route

Facilities

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