The Tarka Trail

The Tarka Trail is a 180 mile figure-of-eight walk and partial cycling route in north Devon based around Barnstaple; a stretch of the route utilises the Tarka Line railway. The Trail follows the route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of that name. The route is comprehensively waymarked in most places.

More information about walking the Tarka Trail and cycling parts of it.

It passes through numerous towns, including Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington, Hatherleigh, Okehampton, Lynmouth and Ilfracombe.

Click here to download the Tarka Trail guide in PDF format.

You will experience a vast variety of landscapes, including amazing wooded river valleys, rugged moorland, coastal cliffs and sandy bays. Walking varies between easy and strenuous depending on the location.

It coincides with the South West Coast Path for part of its route, Two Moors Way for another part and the Dartmoor Way for a third. There are links with the West Devon Way, Two Castles Trail, Little Dart Ridge and Valley Walk and Dartmoor Way.

Train access via the Tarka Line is from Exeter; buses serve much of the route, and run parallel to the whole section of route between Ilfracombe and Okehampton.

Content © Devon County Council.