The Tarka Trail - Part #1 Barnstaple to Instow and other Barnstaple, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

This is something that I haven't done for far, far too long; cycled purely for the pleasure, enjoying both the scenery and the exercise with the mid-October sunshine for company to keep my heart warm and its honey melting ;)

The Tarka Trail itself comprises a 180 mile figure-of-eight loop around North Devon with Barnstaple as its focus and comprises sections of stunning walks, easy cycling and sections for horse-riding. This is something I've been meaning to do for years and finally last week made a start by cycling from Barnstaple south to Instow along the Torridge River and is now my new project to further extend my cycling range until I've managed the whole of the local loop from Braunton down to Meeth.

This made for a beautiful afternoon out, commencing with a light late breakfast at The Riverfront Cafe in Barnstaple and then following the completely level (and traffic-free!!) path down to Instow with its sandy beach and the pair of pubs!!! and then returning by the same route with a coffee stop at The Quay Cafe at the old railway station at Fremington.

This really is worth doing, even for this 40-a-day (plus how many beers??) guy and getting the old endochrins working made the evening's beers all that more deserved!!!

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Phone: (01237) 423655
Address: The Tarka Trail, North Devon
Directions: Just follow the cycle path signs!! The blue ones with a pictogram of a bike on them!!!
Website: http://www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail.htm

The Tarka Trail heading west (and slightly north) from Barnstaple once again follows the old railway line. This time for about 6 miles to the town of Braunton following initially the Taw estuary before turning inland at Chivenor.

As with the trail going south the path is pretty much level and traffic-free and makes for a really pleasant cycle, certainly as far as Chivenor, with the estuary to one side and (once out of Barnstaple) the gentle rural landscape of the upper reaches of the Taw Valley. I must admit to being a little disappointed by the path after it left the river but then maybe that's just me (plus the fact there were no pubs on that stretch!!!) but it is still a good easy cycle.

One thing tho' is that where the trail arrives at Braunton the signage seems to disappear and so I missed getting into Braunton directly; managing to find a not unpleasant, tho' slightly strenuous, detour via the rollercoaster dunes of the military training area and then the glorious beach at Saunton Sands - HA! Well I did need the aerobic exercise (but perhaps could do without the accompanying aching buttocks!)!!

Arriving eventually at Braunton none of the pubs really seemed to beckon - now there's one for the book: John arriving somewhere where there ARE pubs but not going into one!!! There is however a cracking pub back towards Barnstaple called the "Tarka Inn" which did become my eventual lunchtime destination - see "Off The Beaten Path" tip for details.

All in all tho' a cracking couple of hours out and the eventual beers felt well-deserved ;)

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Phone: 01237 423655
Address: West and slightly North from Barnstaple.
Directions: Follow the blue and white signs with pictograms of bicycles on them marked "Tarka Trail to Braunton"!!!
Website: http://www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail.htm

Having followed the banks of The River Taw west from Barnstaple the 6 miles to Instow the Tarka Trail then veers southwards to follow The River Torrington with the next main town being Bideford, a further 3 miles along. On this particular day I was treated to an absolutely perfect mid-November Devon day with a crystal clear Devon Blue sky and golden sunlight for company, both of which made the cycle a real treat (plus of course the prospect of a couple of beers with lunch at Bideford adding their own little extra plus!).

The day was so beautiful and the cycle so invigorating that the lunchtime beers were postponed until later and a very pleasant couple of hours spent wandering around the town with the camera (and with the most special person in the world :-X), taking in The Burton Art Gallery, a wander up to The Pannier Market (and its Butcher's Row) and just generally being a happy and contented person!!!

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Phone: 01237 423655
Address: As per the tip title!
Directions: This section runs from the former station at Instow to the old Bideford station (tho' note that the Bideford station is in fact in East-the-water!!!)
Website: http://www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail.htm

This is a very short cycle/walkway section of The Tarka Trail (about 2Km) along the River Taw to pick up the A377 heading south towards Eggesford and its main advantage is that it allows you to avoid the town centre traffic. It has the added plus that it is level until the hills before Bishops Tawton but once you arrive you do have to get off and walk (unless of course you are super-fit!) - GREAT freewheel cycle down the hill on the other side tho' :-))

The only drawback is that there are no pubs ON this stretch - HA! But plenty at both ends!!

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Phone: 01237 423655
Address: South along the River Taw (both banks)
Directions: This stretch can be picked up either side of The Long Bridge
Website: www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail.htm

This is pretty much a perfect small town museum with a wealth of local information regarding the town itself as well as the surrounding area. The exhibitions, over two floors, cover every aspect of Barnstaple and North Devon's history commencing with the archeological and geographic and then following the human story from prehistory through to the present day.

In addition to the insight into people's lives there are also a couple of rooms devoted to the the area's natural history with the Tarka Gallery introducing the fascinatingly diverse ecology of the countryside and its many rivers and a room dedicated to the marine life found off the coast.

On the upper floor there is a room dedicated to temporary exhibitions which include showcases of local artists, the annual photography competition as well as more museum-style presentations (at the time of writing (Oct 2008) this is an exhibition entitled "A Harvest of Jugs" which features a fine array of the vessels comissioned from local potters by the local farmers for the pouring of the celebratory ales and ciders at the traditional supper at the end of the harvest.

Whilst this isn't a particularly large museum it is well worth an hour or two of anyone's time and also doubles up as the local tourist information centre.

The museum (and information centre) is open year-round Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 5 pm (except Christmas week) and admission is free.

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Phone: 01271 346747
Address: The Square, Barnstaple
Directions: At the town end of "The Long Bridge", quite literally on The Square.
Website: www.devonmuseums.net/barnstaple