Tarka Trail
Go to online mappingFrom - to: Braunton to Meeth via Barnstaple
Type: Disused railway path
Access: Barnstaple railway station
Surface: Tarmac and finely packed stone
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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. The route starts with a flat, traffic-free route, suitable for families, which runs along the banks of the River Taw passing through Chivenor, and crossing the tributary river Yeo on the new swing bridge at Barnstaple.
The route then takes you up the Torridge Estuary, passing Bideford and Great Torrington before finishing at Meeth. The Devon Coast to Coast route branches off at Petrockstowe to follow quiet lanes to Okehampton and beyond.
There are many valuable wildlife habitats along the route including estuary mud flats and salt marshes, oak woodland, hazel coppice, hedges, ponds, streams, ditches and meadows.
Further information is available on the Devon County Council website.
Local attractions:
- Braunton Burrows
- Braunton Museum
- Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
- Barnstaple Pannier Market
- Isley Marsh RSPB Reserve
- Dartington Crystal Factory, Great Torrington
Bike hire:
- Tarka Trail Bike Hire, Barnstaple
- Bike Trail Cycle Hire, Fremington
- Bideford Cycle Hire