This route is scenic and some interesting animals are encountered - a wild boar farm and further on are alpacas. There are a couple steep climbs, but this gives a chance to stop and take in the views. A welcome pub at West Down is under new ownership and is open for longer hours....

Linda McCarthy

From Barnstaple direction it makes it easier to go under the tunnel and from Ilfracombe stay on the footpath all the way to the tunnel - as the cycleway is on a higher level you dont need to use it....

Tim Ryan

A couple of good places to stop for refreshments if wanted....

Jane Gough

I cycled this route in the rain but it is a perfect surface for wet weather as tarmac does not get muddy. Enjoyable, even in the rain - and if it isn't wet there are plenty of picnic tables around and a few eating establishments to break up the route if required....

Jane Gough

The route starts in the middle of Torrington and uses a main road to get to The Tarka Trail. There are various info boards along the route, explaining the industrial and ancient history of the route, and also the nature on the route....

Helen Gough

I walked from Simonsbath to Barnstaple and had reservations about the route, seeing that there was a lot of road walking. It's not long though until you get to a stretch of lane walking. I had to wait a while to get across, and then comes Grange Hill which is another stretch of road walking and leads into Bratton Fleming. Once you leave the road at Bratton the walk is off road for a long way. I enjoyed this walk, despite the road walking....

Helen Gough

I really enjoyed this route walking from Parracombe to Barnstaple (less uphill). After Twitchen however the walk really improves. The route goes through Bratton Fleming, where there is a shop, but not directly on the route. There is a short bit of road walking in Bratton, which isn't ideal. The walk into Barnstaple is pretty good as it is mostly off road....

Helen Gough

You can't access the reservoir trails where the route says, you have to walk on to the car park....

Helen Gough

Nice walk when on footpaths, and a lovely bit which goes down a small stream. I'd say about a third of the walk is on small country roads...

Oli Sturdy

This route is the same as GreBar4 between Torrington and Tawstock, but then goes into Barnstaple using the lane through Lake....

Helen Gough

I walked from Torrington to Barnstaple and enjoyed this route....

Helen Gough

The majority of this route is the same as Norbar(1) following the Tarka Trail a shared route with cyclists between Barnstaple and Bideford....

Tim Ryan

Also wheelable as it mostly follows the Tarka Trail a shared route, so cyclists also using the way....

Tim Ryan

A lovely - and easy route for the most part, as it follows the Tarka Trail which is totally tarmacked between Barnstaple and Bideford....

Tim Ryan

The exception is the section between Filleigh and Nags Head. There is a pub at Nags Head and others just off route at Swimbridge and Landkey....

Tim Ryan

It is hilly and strenous, but the hard work is really worth it for the views and the quiet countryside you get to walk through. I walked from Ilfracombe to Barnstaple and the route starts off using the coast path, before heading inland through woodland in Langleigh and Slade, passing the Slade reservoirs and heading up to Mullacott via the Alpaca farm. After that there is a lot of lane walking to Cheglinch then West Down, but they are so quiet, I didn't come across any vehicles. From West Down there is a really nice section along a track through woodland and along coombes, before again using very quiet lanes through Fullabrook wind farm....

Helen Gough

I did not walk along the A377 which is a dangerous road to walk. I turned off onto the minor road used in route2 but then took the first footpath to the right across fields onto the minor road along the valley which route 2 later joins....

Eliza

Good café at Chivenor business Park right next to trail....

JohnMyerson

It wasn't easy to find the field exits, but maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention....

Helen Gough

This route is along the old railway line, mostly on the tarka trail and is flat, tarmacked and it's only problem is the volume of bike traffic. Even on a midweek midmorning there were so many bikes, almost none following the rules of the route. It felt like one of the least relaxing and enjoyable walks I have done for ages....

Emily Howells

I walked this route from Barnstaple to Northam. The first portion is on the Tarka trail, which is easy from a surface and navigation perspective but loses a star due to volume of bike traffic, making this very unrelaxing a route. I preferred the section after this, heading up to Northam on footpaths and small roads....

Emily Howells

This route is plotted through Whitehills Plantation and Locks Plantation where there is no right of way. BarSou2 is an alternative....

Helen Gough

I really liked the 2nd half of the walk, which in my case was Collacott to Barnstaple which I would give 4 stars, but the first half being mostly lanes was only a 3 for me....

Helen Gough

Very enjoyable apart from slightly dicey walk along stream bed which didn't last too long. Best avoided after heavy rain. Otherwise recommended for scenery and views....

Jane Gough

The footbridge over the stream at Hoe looks to be on its last legs, but the stream is shallow and narrow, so can be stepped over if the bridge gives up. From Heaton, Cleave Lane has eroded and you have to walk along the shallow stream....

Helen Gough

This route mostly follows the former Barnstaple - Bideford railway line, now known as The Tarka Trail. At the Barnstaple end, the path forks (if coming from Bideford), this route takes the right hand fork, which gets you to the Longbridge and passes the railway station, which will be very useful for some....

Helen Gough

Northam to Bideford is along some roads, and footpaths, but just after Bideford the route follows the Tarka Trail and coast path to Barnstaple....

Helen Gough

I walked this route today and really enjoyed it. There might be another good route that goes around the east of Codden Hill? This route misses out on 5 stars simply because of that challenging stream, walking along the A377 (on a path) and some narrow lane walking which some people will not like....

danravenellison

I started to follow this route from Bideford, but where it leaves the Tarka Trail there is a section of road walking that I decided was too dangerous....

Helen Gough

Dangerous section walking along the B3232, a fast narrow road with no path or verge....

Helen Gough

There is a 1km section walking on the busy A377, where there is no path and the road has a 60mph speed limit...

Helen Gough

Do not attempt to follow this route where it goes along the B3230. The road is busy, typically narrow (this is Devon) and there is no path. It is dangerous....

Helen Gough

Very well used by commuters, walkers, joggers, cyclists and tourists. Can be busy....

Helen Gough

This route follows the old disused railway that is branded as the Tarka Trail locally & is a well surfaced tarmac track used by walkers, cyclists & runners. It mostly hugs closely the banks of the Taw Estuary & has beautiful views. As it nears Braunton it passes close to Chivenor Marine Base....

Tarkacountry