Higher Shorston Lakes
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AROUND HIGHER SHORSTON
Along with our 19 acres and three lakes there are some great places to visit in North Devon and Cornwall. Some of the highlights are listed below:
Beaches at Bude, Widemouth, Sandymouth, Woolacombe, Instowe, Duckpool
Walks: Ruby Trail, Tarka Trail, South West Coastal Path
Watersports: Windsurfing, Paddle Board, sailing, sea fishing
Days Out: Big Sheep, RHS Rosemoor, Clovelly, Tintagel, Boscastle, Exmoor Zoo, Otter Park
Retail Therapy: Exeter, Barnstaple, Plymouth
CYCLING & WALKING
The Tarka Trail
Stretching over 102 miles from Ilfracombe on the North Devon coast to Plymouth on the south coast. The Tarka Trail follows the journey of Tarka the Otter in the classic tale written by Henry Williamson. The route can be broken up into easily managed sections for shorter rides. Entirely traffic free these routes are easy to navigate and enjoyable for novices and experts. You can also walk the routes and bicycle hire is available.
There are four main sections:
Sections 1) Braunton to Barnstaple Easy, flat, traffic-free, family off-road route along the banks of the Rivers Taw and Torridge, with scenic views across the estuary and tidal creeks towards Instow and Appledore. The route is signposted (NCN 27) from the Tourist Information Centre in Braunton and from the new Yeo Bridge in Barnstaple. Close by is the UNESCO Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve, a wildlife haven, near this section of the Tarka Trail. The Braunton Burrows Dune System is an active dune system, known for its exceptional diversity of flora and fauna including marram grass and rare species of flowers, birds and insects. The Trail also takes you near to Crow Point,where you can enjoy watching swans, ducks and moorhens in the drainage channels of the Taw-Torridge estuary.
Section 2) Barnstaple to Bideford You can join this section at Barnstaple railway station and head out westwards on this popular traffic free path towards Bideford. This route gives you superb views across the mouth of the Taw estuary and there are some interesting sculptures to peruse along the way before you reach Fremington Quay. Here, along with cycles for hire, there is a café, teashop and scenic spots for picnics before heading on to Bideford East-the-Water via Instow.
The restored Instow Signal Box, built in 1873, is worth a stop. You may also like a short diversion off the route to paddle along the sandy shore at Instow and wander amongst the shoreline shops. From the buffet carriage at the former railway station at Bideford East-the-Water, it’s a short crossing over the Bideford Bridge to Bideford Quay. On the Quay there’s plenty to do and see at this attractive riverside coastal town.
Section 3) Bideford to Great Torrington This section (again entirely traffic free) takes you up the Torridge estuary. With the river on your left, the path continues on the old railway bed that once carried clay from thequarries at Meeth to Bideford Quay. You pass along causeways and through cuttings, through tunnels and across bridges; if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of an otter or spot the turquoise flash of a Kingfisher whilst taking in the fresh country air on one of the many bridges across the Torridge.
Section 4) Great Torrington to Petrockstowe/Meeth This is the least well known but most peaceful and tranquil part of the Tarka Trail. It’s a really wonderful quiet and scenic stretch that heads south on the old railway path through East Yarde towards Petrockstowe and Meeth. Ahead of you, there are some great views of Dartmoor National Park, as you sail through wooded and remote countryside leading to the clay workings.
The last section from Petrockstowe Old Station to Meeth is a real treat, winding as it does through the edge of mixed woodland. Again it’s all level – only for the last few metres up to Meeth Halt will you really earn that drink at the 16th century inn in Meeth itself! Take care when leaving the Trail at Meeth Halt where you turn left and head the 200 metres up the main road to the village square.
