RHS Garden Rosemoor

All RHS Gardens, Rosemoor included, have introduced safety measures: Strictly limited numbers…

My Favourite Cottages

My Favourite Cottages is a holiday home letting agency based in North Devon. The small, friendly…

Marsdens Devon Cottages

Marsdens Devon Cottages is one of over 30 truly-local brands bough together by Original Cottages -…

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:

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EasiGlide North Devon Segway Experience

Ilfracombe

EasiGlide North Devon Segway Experience is a great fun family activity where you get to try your skills on the very latest EasiGlide Segways whilst taking in the beautiful…
Sark Guest House

Barnstaple

Sark is a pleasant Victorian property, it is situated 10 minutes walk from the town centre
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 104 review(s)
The Darnley Hotel

Ilfracombe

An independently family run establishment.
Little Bray House

Barnstaple

Little bray house is 9 miles east of barnstaple and only 3 miles from exmoor national park.
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…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 339 review(s)
The Old Vicarage, Barnstaple

Barnstaple

The Old Vicarage is a delightful early Victorian house with many original features, spacious guest rooms, and modern en-suites set within its own peaceful garden only a few…
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…
Nature's Nutrition

Bideford

Nature’s Nutrition is nestled in the small busy town of Bideford along the pedestrianised section of Mill Street. We are a small, co-operative shop providing a vast choice to…
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.
Glen Devon Hotel

Ilfracombe

Welcome to the Glen Devon Hotel based in the beautiful area of Ilfracombe.
This family-run hotel is centrally located in a quiet position with beautiful sea and coastal…
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…
Animal Ark Cottages

Nr Barnstaple

Picturesque character self catering cottages, set in 4 acres of semi-rural countryside in the quiet hamlet of Kerscott, Swimbridge, North Devon.
Wootton Manor B&B

Umberleigh

Wootton Manor is a 16th Century Manor House found at the end of a half mile long private lane in the heart of rural North Devon with far reaching views to Exmoor National…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 175 review(s)
Ocean Backpackers Hostel

Ilfracombe

Ocean Backpackers is situated close to the picturesque Harbour in Ilfracombe. This cool, clean and friendly Independent Youth Hostel offers excellent facilities for walkers,…
Carlton Hotel: Club Bar & Brasserie

Ilfracombe

This newly refurbished brasserie is the perfect setting to enjoy a meal, freshly prepared using some of the best local produce around. Being so close to the sea, fish is of…
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…
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…
Raleigh Lodge

Bideford

Peace and Quiet in Rural North Devon. Raleigh Lodge is a peaceful 1 bedroom holiday cottage nestled in the beautiful rural countryside of North Devon.
Epchris House

Ilfracombe

A beautiful Georgian guest house, with nearly 2 acres of stunning gardens and a sun terrace for outdoor drinks and dining. Epchris house is located in the highly-sought…
Raleigh Barn

Bideford

Peace and Quiet in Rural North Devon
Raleigh Barn is a peaceful 2 bedroom holiday cottage nestled in the beautiful rural countryside of North Devon.

Tarka Trail North Devon

Follow in Tarka’s footsteps

Where to pick up the route

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