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| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Devon attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Devon Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 24 |  |
Newton Abbot, Devon, England is in the South West of England within Teignbridge District Council's area. Close to the Dartmoor National Park with its beautiful scenery, as well as pretty beaches at Dawlish, Teignmouth & Torquay. Every Wednesday & Saturday there’s a market held in the square which has lot’s of bargains, there’s also a stall which does beauty products like Oil of Olay, Dove, Clinque & much more for cheap price’s then you would get on the High street. There’s also an indoor area which is interesting to see, you can get all sorts o9f things here from music, household to crafts & antiques. Out on the main streets there’s quite a lot to see & you know your never far from the sea as you can hear seagulls calling all day. There’s also a clock tower which strike’s the hour. Telewest Cable TV, high speed broadband & telephone services can be obtained in Newton Abbot as can NTL & BT Yahoo. Newton Abbot has a race course which host’s car boot sales all through out the summer, there’s also a Tesco’s & a B&Q so I’ve been told.
There’s a fabrics & crafts shop called Austin’s, in fact Austins seems to be the main shop of the town as its name’s everywhere. Downstairs is a huge toy area for children, all the sewing, embroidery & crafts are upstairs. There’s a cafe in town called ‘Three Cooks’ There’s a wide choice on the menu & they also do takeaway, waitressing service is available although some of the staff were a bit flustered when I last visited. Newton Abbot grew on the introduction of the railway in the 19th century. There’s a variety of activities during the year including:
• Cheese & Onion Fayre
• Town Criers Championship
• Victorian Evening
• Barham Cup Race (Newton Abbot Town Quay reception)
• Entry in the South West Tourism Regional "Britain in Bloom" competition
• "Newton in Bloom" competition run for residents & traders of the town Leave a Comment
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The mainstay of The Tarka Project is The Tarka Trail which was developed using existing footpaths and disused railway lines, with the first section, the 9 miles from Barnstaple to Bideford, completed in 1987. The northern circuit which takes in the stretch of the South West Coastal Path between Braunton and Lynton/Lynmouth before returning across Exmooor to Barnstaple was completed in 1991. The southern loop following the Rivers Taw and Torridge was completed the following year and the Trail officially opened in 1992 by HRH The Prince of Wales.
The present Tarka Trail, which is continually undergoing development as shorter loop trails are added, comprises 4 main sections: the 46 mile cycle/walkway between Ilfracombe and Meeth most of which runs on level, traffic-free, former railway lines (the exception being the stretch between Braunton and Willingcott), the northern loop following the coastal footpath from Ilfracombe to Lynmouth and returning over the moor to Barnstaple, the section between Barnstaple and Eggesford which requires either a train journey on The Tarka Line or a trip down the main A377 road, and finally the footpath south from Eggesford to Belstone on the edge of Dartmoor which then turns north again through Hatherleigh to rejoin the cycle/walkway at Petrockstowe.
The whole trail is waymarked with the distinctive "Tarka the Otter" logo, information boards and rest areas are frequent and all the main joining points accessible by public transport. Leave a Comment
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There seems to me no reason whatsoever why this section doesn't have, at least, a continuous footpath following the river: there are sections which are walkable, there are bridges across the river and the many streams, trodden paths under the railway bridges - yep, it's all there and given the investment in the other sections of the trail then just joining the existing pieces here shouldn't require a major investment.
So why not? Let's analyse:
This section of The River Taw has some of the best salmon and trout fishing in Devon and the privately owned tracts of river here, with their attendant fishing rights, change hands for sums of money in excess of what it would cost to buy a house and are bought-up by City folk who don't even live here, people who buy local properties as their "Devon Retreats" and perhaps do spend a little money locally (when they're here) but do very little to enrich us in the price-tag free true riches of life.
Hmmmm...there's something unethical here isn't there? When you think that British Rail (as it then was) could sell the 16 miles of its disused railway line between Bideford and Meeth to The Tarka Project for £1 in 1989 and yet here on the banks of The Taw we have plenty of accessibility but limited PUBLIC access. - Aye! The vested interests of the few depriving the pleasure for the many - Call me an "Old-fashioned socialist" if you like, but come the revolution guys..... Leave a Comment
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160 of the 180 miles of The Tarka Trail is footpath and for the most part entirely infernal-combusting-engine free (except for the odd section where the trail crosses a road). Of the footpath sections; many also double-up as cyclepaths, bridal paths and are even wheelchair accessible, thus opening up this magical hour-glass shaped wodge of Devon to tourists and locals alike.
The anomalous 20 mile stretch between Barnstaple and Eggesford however requires either a train journey or to use the main road (the A377) - or, thinking about it, you could always kayak it!! None of these options are unpleasant. Both the road and the railway line follow the Taw Valley, meandering, as does the river, through the lush mid-Devon pastures, crossing and recrossing the main river and its many major and minor tributaries - and of course if you kayak it...just don't take any turn-offs!!
OK cycling the road is a road cycle but the road isn't hugely busy, the gradients mostly gentle and the scenery spectacular - HA! Just don't try it in the dark unless you want to be shruskammed ;) The trains run regularly throughout the day and all stop at Eggesford (where they pick up the token) and the Tarka Trail returns to normal with cycle and footpaths continuing from there.
Cont... Leave a Comment
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Having heard that there were lots of pubs in Braunton, about 6 miles east and slightly north of Barnstaple, the town seemed a natural choice for my next Tarka Trail cycling destination. This stretch of the trail runs, once again, on the disused railway line and follows initially the north bank of the River Taw before veering inland at Chivenor. Whilst a little more built-upon than the south bank this section still affords sweeping river vistas and pastoral rural landscapes as well as some interesting off-trail digressions.
One small word of warning here tho' is that on arrival at Braunton the signage isn't quite as clear as it could be and I found myself taking a wrong turning and ending up in the middle of the sand dunes of the Ministry of Defence's training area - fortunately it wasn't a "Red Flag" day! Also fortuitous is that the rough tracks thro' the dunes do lead out onto Saunton Sands, one of N Devon's best, yet undeveloped, beaches and so the detour wasn't a problem at all.
Finally arriving at Braunton, taking the main road back from Saunton Sands, none of the town pubs really beckoned and so I continued back on the trail the couple of miles to catch a couple of fishcakes (;-)) at The Tarka Inn (4th down) washed down with a perfectly decent pint of Guinness and with a great view across the river to Fremington.
Yep, another great day out and a few beers in Barnstaple rounded it off nicely!!!! Leave a Comment
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It had been a long, long time since I had cycled purely for the pleasure of it and I had all but forgotten the simple joy of pedalling along with no particular hurry to get anywhere specific, just enjoying the fresh air, the changing scenery and the casual bonhomie of the passing encounters with my fellow travellers.
Having recently moved back to North Devon and being about 4 miles from the nearest pub (apart from mine of course) I reckoned it would be a good idea to invest in a new bike (well 2 in fact :-X)). Having bought them I decided that whilst the nearest pub was all very well and fine, there must be more to cycling than just darting off to there whenever the chance arose - i.e. there must be other pubs within my cycling range!!!!
This is why I am falling in love with The Tarka Trail - there are crackin' pubs all along it :-)))
This, my first outing, took me the 6 miles from Barnstaple along the banks of the Taw to join The River Torridge at the picturesque harbour town of Instow and coincidentally The Wayfarer Inn ;-) This really was a beautiful cycle on an unseasonally sunny and warm November day with the gulls and wading birds, feeding in the sun-sparkled shallows of the tidal rivers, and the stunning Devon country side for company. The walkway/cycle path is almost completely level as it follows the disused railway line passing under Victorian viaducts, with the occasional railway gradient marker, bringing to mind the days when the route would have been used by workhorses of steam locomotives hauling goods and passengers from the north to the south of the county.
This really did make for such a pleasant day out that it is now one of my new little projects to cycle the whole trail in the very near future (and visit all the pubs on it too!!!). Leave a Comment
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This short, 3-mile, section of The Tarka Trail leaves from the former Instow railway station to arrive about half-an-hour later (having so many photo-ops en-route!!) at the former railway station of Bideford - HA! Which is actually in the entirely separate town of East-The-Water!!!
The cyclepath/walkway here follows the east bank of the mouth of the River Torridge heading south towards Meeth, its terminus in central Devon, and is easily accessible as a footpath by the excellent local bus services, tho' cycling will require starting from Barnstaple.
On the day that I took these photos (there being many more days to come as I continue the trail southwards) I had sort of intended to stop off at The Wayfarer in Instow for lunch and then just make a swift in and out of Bideford before returning to Barnstaple and the crazy guys at The Rolle Quay pub.
Lunch tho' became very much a secondary thought on this crisp November morning, the sky piercingly blue, the cycle a total pleasure and the endochrins stimulating the senses - Ach, lunch (even the alcoholic variety) could wait until the camera had done its bits and the brain absorbed all of the town it could manage before the stomach rebelled and took control!
Yep, that first beer at The Kings Arms about 2.30 was certainly a just reward and the "Cod and Prawn Pie" equally so for the morning's effortless exertions.
Another great day out on the Tarka Trail :-) Leave a Comment
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The Tarka Trail is a 180-mile figure-of-eight loop of walking, cycling and horse-riding pathways which encompass a "taster" of the magnificent diversity of land and seascape that Devon has to offer. Centred around the thriving mini-metropolis of North Devon - Barnstaple - The Tarka Trail strikes both northwards and south following at times disused railway lines, wooded river valleys, coastal stretches with sheer drops into the Atlantic, the chalk and cheese twins of the county's two moors, and in-between, tracts of rural serenity with ever-fattening herds of sheep and cattle grazing on the lush water-laden greenery which so defines the County of Devon.
The seeds of the trail were sown in 1988 as a local government initiative to counter the then decline in the quality and character of life here in mid to north Devon with modern farming practices, industrial developement and urbanisation threatening the fragile rural ecostructure.
Not only was the rural ecostructure under threat, with particular concerns regarding the water quality of the two main rivers in the area (The Taw and Torridge), but also economically the area was in decline with unemployment above the national average and incomes well below.
And so The Tarka Project was born with a view to reversing both the economic and environmental decline of the area and its success is now viewed as a role model in how the developement of sustainable tourism in an area can have far-reaching benefits, economically, environmentally and socially, given a little seed-funding and a not particularly expensive long-term commitment (approx 70K per annum).
Cont... Leave a Comment
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Burgh Island just off the South Hams coast has a wonderful history, a favourite haunt of wreckers & smugglers in centuries gone by. Home to mead brewing Monks & there is still a ruined chapel on the sumit.
The pub on the Island is the Pilchard Inn, which dates back to 1339, named because if the islands connection with the local long gone Pilchard fishermen.
At low tide it is possible to walk to the Island at high tide there is a huge tractor which takes you across.
The Island is also home to the wonderful art deco Burgh Island Hotel. The hotel, first built in the late 1800s was later renovated to the art deco building you can see today.
A variety of famous people stayed here during its hay day including Agatha Christie, Amy Johnson, Winston Churchill, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor to name a few.
I HAVE to stay here one day, I shall have to save my pennys as the cheapest room is £260.00 a night! Leave a Comment
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Galmpton is a pretty riverside village set on the River Dart. It is also where I went to school & lived with my family.
There are 2 pubs, a youth hostel, Village shop, campsite, hair dresser & a butchers who service this now sizable village.
There is a riding stables & a boat yard which you can walk though & continue along the riverside towards Stoke Gabriel.
Galmptons claim to fame is it was home to the wonderful Agatha Christie, author of many murder mysteries, including Murder on the Orient Express & Death on the Nile. Her daugher still lives in the village at the Greenway Estate. The gardens are now managed by the National Trust & certain days it is possible to walk around the grounds.
Continue past Greenway to the tiny harbour where you can hire a motor boat & make your own way up or down the river. There is also a small ferry boat which takes you to the village of Dittisham on the opposite side.
Check out the web site for opening times of Greenway
Galmpton, Torbay, South Devon Leave a Comment
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- Deer Park Hotel
Weston, Honiton, Devon, England S33, Devon - The Fisherman's Cot
Bickleigh, near Tiverton, Devon, England S33, Devon - Tor Cottage
Chillaton, , Devon, England S33, Devon
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on September 16, 2004
on December 6, 2007
on July 13, 2004
