Trek Notes - England

The Tarka Trail


General Information
Based on Henry Williamson's classic novel Tarka the Otter, this superb circular trail traces part of the otter's journey through the Exmoor National Park and along the Exmoor and North Devon Heritage Coast.

Highlights of the trail include the village of Landkey, famous for its Mazzard orchards; tranquillity of the moors; the charming villages of Lynton and Lynmouth linked by a water-powered cliff railway; the fantastic rock formations of the Valley of Rocks; the magnificent oakwoods of Woody Bay; the views from Great Hangman; the pretty thatched village of Croyde and its wonderful beach; the eerily beautiful dunes of Braunton Burrows; and the wildlife. Horned sheep, Exmoor ponies and red deer roam throughout Exmoor . Buzzard, kestrel, raven, curlew, skylark and lapwing inhabit the moor, dipper and heron frequent the rivers and the rugged cliffs along the coast support a wide variety of nesting seabirds including guillemot, razorbill and kittiwake.


Total Distance: 77 miles (123km)
Duration: 7 nights, 6 walking days
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 11 miles (17.5km)/15 miles (24km)
Waymarking: The Tarka Trail is clearly waymarked and is very easy to follow
Season: March to October

Starting point of holiday: Barnstaple
End of holiday: Barnstaple
Most convenient railway station: Barnstaple

Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Barnstaple

Day 2: Barnstaple to West Buckland, 11 miles (17.5km)

Day 3: West Buckland to Challacombe, 11 miles (17.5km)

Day 4: Challacombe to Woody Bay, 131/2 miles (21.5km)

Day 5: Woody Bay to Ilfracombe, 15 miles (24km)

Day 6: Ilfracombe to Croyde, 13 miles (21km)

Day 7: Croyde to Barnstaple, 131/2 miles (21.5km)

Day 8: Depart Barnstaple


Accommodation & Meals
7 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail.
Traditional cooked breakfast


What’s Included
Door to door luggage transfer along the trail.
A set of maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail
An information pack containing an itinerary, detailed instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.
Emergency assistance

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