TARKA TRAIL

The Tarka Trail was established in 1987 as the Taw/Torridge Country Park using the disused railway line between Barnstaple and Bideford. The railway line was purchased for £515,000 in 1986-87 from British Rail. In 1989, the remainder of the line between Bideford and Meeth was acquired in its entirety by Devon County Council for £1. Conversion of this section to a footpath was enabled by a £60,000 Derelict Land Grant from central government in 1989-90, plus a further £100,000 from Devon County Council and the Countryside Commission in 1990-91. A large proportion of the money was needed to adapt and repair bridges across the River Torridge. Parish councils, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities and the National Trust played a part in the development of the rest of the Trail which makes use of the Two Moors Way and the South West Coast path to traverse through open countryside, woodland, coastal paths and beaches. Their co-operation ensured minimal environmental impacts while..

Also known as: Station Masters Cafe Barnstaple, The Tarka Trail

Primary location: Devon United Kingdom