The concept of a Tarka Trail as a centrepiece for a
recreational infrastructure was set out in the Tarka Project Report of 1988:
As a positive incentive to the overall aim of the Tarka Project, to
create a Tarka Trail - a long distance walk in the Land of the Two Rivers - which would
enable walkers to explore North Devon and which would act as the catalyst for a range of
other initiatives
To explore opportunities for shorter circular walks and routes linking the Trail to other
attractions, features of interest and facilities
The Trail comprises of a 180-mile walking route in a large figure-of-eight
centred on Barnstaple (see map) tracing the journeys of Tarka the
Otter and passing many of the locations mentioned in the book.
The first section of the Tarka Trail comprised of the former
railway line from Barnstaple to Bideford, which was formerly known as the Taw/Torridge
Country Park created in 1987. The cost of acquisition of this section amounted
to £515,000 in 1986-87. British Rail sold the remainder of the railway line between
Bideford and Meeth in its entirety to Devon County Council for £1 in 1989.
Conversion of this section to a footpath was aided 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. Much work was needed to adapt and repair bridges across
the River Torridge and other structures.
The development of the rest of the Trail away from the former railway line was undertaken
in co-operation and consultation with many organisations, such as Parish Councils,
Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities and the National Trust. Where the route
followed water courses, the Otter Conservation Officer was consulted to ensure there would
be no disturbance to otters. |
Cyclists in the Landcross Viaduct (Iron Bridge) spanning the River Torridge,
the location of the 'Pool of the Six Herons' in the book 'Tarka the Otter'
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The northern circuit was opened on May 21 1991. The section between Barnstaple and
Bideford was made a combined footpath and cyclepath and the section from Barnstaple to
Meeth named the Tarka Country Park. Work on the southern circuit continued and the entire
180-mile route was declared open by HRH Prince Charles in May 1992. The entire Braunton to
Petrockstowe section was now a combined footpath and cyclepath (now called
'cycle/walkway').
The Tarka Country Park identity was finally subsumed by the Tarka Trail in 1994. The
Cycle/walkway was extended to Meeth in 1997 and further extensions of the cycleway along
the former railway line are planned.
Walker on the Tarka Trail footpath at Bray Woods on the Exmoor fringe |
Management of the Trail:
The Tarka Trail cycle/walkway (Devon County Council landholding on the former railway
line) is currently (December 1997) managed by Trail staff within the Countryside Services
comprising a head ranger, ranger, and two groundstaff. The rest of the Trail was formerly
the responsibility of a Countryside Access Officer funded by D.C.C. and the Countryside
Commission, who also had responsilbility for the Two Moors Way outside of National Park
boundaries. These responsibilities were incorporated into a new AONB service structure (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
in 1998 and ways are being investigated to gain community involvement in its maintenance.
Issues:
- Conversion costs and long-term maintenance costs of former railway lines and off-road
cycle tracks
- Appropriate levels of waymarking that make for effective signage while not being visibly
intrusive
- Staff resources
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Circular walks and linking routes