Tarka Trail
Holiday Option
- Tarka Trail
Circular trail beginning at Barnstaple
77 miles (123 km)
6 to 8 walking days
from £500 per person
View tour details
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 Coasts.
From Barnstaple, a centuries-old market town at the head of the Taw Estuary, the Tarka Trail meanders through the heather-covered hills, ancient oakwoods and secluded river valleys of Exmoor to reach the coast at Lynmouth, and then returns to Barnstaple along one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in the country. The beauty and variety of scenery is amazing. It ranges from rolling pastures, hedgerows, woodland, farms and villages of white cob and thatch to windswept heather moors, steep hillside meadows grazed by sheep, deep wooded valleys and clear-flowing rivers shaded by oak and alder to dramatic 'hogs back' cliffs, steep wooded combes, waterfalls plunging into the sea, lofty headlands, secluded coves and seemingly endless beaches of golden sand.
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.
Holiday Highlights
- Visiting the largest sand dune system in England, Braunton Burrows, famously featured in Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter.
- Following the wonderful coastline between Lynmouth and Ilfracoombe, including ‘Great Hangman,’ the highest point on the South West Coast Path.
- Admiring the variety of rich environments, from North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve, the heather covered expanse of Exmoor and the Taw Estuary.
Tarka Trail
| Total Distance | 77 miles (123 km) |
| Start and Finish | Circular trail beginning at Barnstaple |
| Availability | 15th March to 15th October |
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Tour Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TARK1 | 7 nights, 6 days walking | £500 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| TARK2 | 8 nights, 7 days walking | £570 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| TARK3 | 9 nights, 8 days walking | £640 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| Our prices are based upon two people sharing a room. If you are walking on your own, or are part of a group, but require a room of your own, the following charges apply: | |||||
| Solo Walker Supplement: | £25 per person / per night | ||||
| Single Supplement: | £15 per person / per night | ||||
| You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops. For each extra night add £45 per person. All of our prices are in British pounds (£). Use our currency converter to convert British pounds (£) to your country’s currency. | |||||
| The price that you pay includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, door to door luggage transfers for every day of your tour, maps, guidebooks and a tour pack detailing specific information about your holiday. | |||||
