The Tarka Trail tends to be best known for its cycleway element using the former railway lines of North Devon – Braunton, Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington and south to the Petrockstow area. But it should be remembered that for walkers, the Tarka Trail is much more. It comprises a total of 180 miles in a figure of eight centred on Barnstaple, all of it reflecting the wanderings of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson’s 1927 classic. This walk from Barnstaple to Landkey, although generally easy and based on the urban centre of Barnstaple, follows a length of the route not so readily associated with the Tarka Trail. It is designed to use the regular local bus service to return to Barnstaple.

Fact File
Barnstaple is the hub of public transport for northern Devon and is well served by buses from all over this part of the County. It is also at the end of the Tarka Line branch railway from Exeter. A regular bus service runs between Landkey and Barnstaple. For timetable details contact Traveline on 0870 608 2 608. For Tarka Line railway timetable details contact 08457 484950.
Walk Length: 8km/5 miles; 6 stiles; no steep climbs.
Facilities: Barnstaple – all facilities; Bishop’s Tawton – pub, buses; Landkey – pub; Landkey Newland – pub, post office/stores.
OS Maps: Landranger (1:50,000 ) 180 Barnstaple and IIfracombe Explorer (1:25,000) 139 Bideford, IIfracombe and Barnstaple
Note that the walk follows the Tarka Trail, and is waymarked using an otter pawprint log.