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Born: 1895
Died: 1977
Tarka Country, based on the classic tale of “Tarka the Otter”, covers over 500 square miles from the tip of Dartmoor to the Exmoor Coastline.
Henry Williamson wrote Tarka the Otter in the 1920’s whilst living at Georgeham. The countryside with its wild moorland, rocky coast, tumbling rivers and deep wooded valleys was paradise to him after living in the bleak London suburbs. Tarka is an old Celtic word that means “little water wanderer” and the Tarka Trail today is based on the otter’s journey which began and ended at the Canal Bridge near Great Torrington.
Encompassing the areas finest coastal and countryside scenery, the 180 mile trail follows paths, old railway lines, minor roads, coastal footpaths, meadows and moors and includes the Tarka Line railway between Exeter and Barnstaple.
Coastal towns are visited en route including Lynton, Lynmouth, Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. Inland towns include Great Torrington, Bideford, Hatherleigh, Okehampton and Barnstaple. The North Devon Museum at Barnstaple has a Tarka Country Exhibition. Williamson’s final years were spent alone at Ilfracombe and his cottage at Capstone Hill now bears a plaque to his memory.
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