Source Spa and Wellness at Saunton Sands Hotel

Nowhere else is there a place quite like Source… North Devon’s finest coastal spa will take…

The Milky Way Adventure Park

Don’t miss out on this multi award winning, all-weather day out for the whole family. The Milky Way…

Leisure Club at The Barnstaple Hotel

The Barnstaple Leisure Club, part of the renowned Barnstaple Hotel, offers outstanding leisure…

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/

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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…
Hide & Sleep

Bideford

You don’t have to travel far for your next adventure: it’s all waiting for you with us here in Devon.
The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum

Bideford

The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum is a vibrant and family-friendly cultural hub situated within the picturesque setting of Victoria Park in the historic port town…
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.
Little Bray House

Barnstaple

Little bray house is 9 miles east of barnstaple and only 3 miles from exmoor national park.
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…
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…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 286 review(s)
Damage Barton

Woolacombe

Damage Barton is a 16-acre campsite set on a 600-acre beef and sheep farm in an AONB. It has been with Lethbridge family since 1962 and there are now three generations of the…
My Favourite Holiday Cottages

Barnstaple

Sandy beaches, soaring cliffs, green hills and wooded combes can all be discovered while staying in a holiday cottage in North Devon. There’s loads to do in this spectacular…
Easy Divers

Ilfracombe

Seal encounter dive and snorkel trips to Lundy Island with Easy Divers! Rated as number 3 of the top 10 Ultimate British Isles Bucket List experiences by The Independent and…
Sark Guest House

Barnstaple

Sark is a pleasant Victorian property, it is situated 10 minutes walk from the town centre
My Favourite Cottages

Barnstaple

My Favourite Cottages is a holiday home letting agency based in North Devon. The small, friendly agency specialises in offering quality self-catering properties, including…
North Morte Farm Caravan & Camping Park

Woolacombe

North Morte Farm is a family run caravan and camping park. We are proud to have been providing fantastic family holidays since the 1940s. We are only 500 yards from the coast…
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from 382 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…
Ultimate Adventure

Bideford

Ultimate Adventure at Inspiring Learning North Devon offers the most comprehensive range of outdoor activities available in North Devon, with an Ultimate twist.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 227 review(s)
Ocean Backpackers Hostel

Ilfracombe

Ocean Backpackers is situated close to the picturesque Harbour in Ilfracombe. This cool, clean, and friendly Independent Hostel offers excellent facilities for Groups, solo…
Brightlycott Barton

Barnstaple

The site consists of 23 pitches with 16amp electric points, 8 of which are level and the other 15 part level but do not require much work to get level,
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.