The Tarka Trail takes you right to the old station, where theres a cafe in an old carriage (summer months and some weekends). To the extent permitted by law, Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes. You could borrow a farm bike and lock it up at the bus stop. to Meeth . Exploring the Tarka Trail - Section 4: Torrington to Meeth The Murders, Ghosts seen and heard, strange happenings, working girls and more Go-to place to discover events for more than 20M people globally. Subscribed to personalized events updates! This gently down-hill walk or bike ride is our favourite part of Devons Tarka Trail to do from Wheatland Farms eco lodges. This century-old steam train continues to run on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the magnificent Dandenong Ranges 40kms east of Melbourne. The Tarka Trail is a 180 mile, figure-eight loop inspired by the route travelled by Tarka the Otter. Many locals consider it the best cafe in town, and it serves up a wide range of light bites, lunches and legendary cakes. Breaking News!!! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Its one of the country's longest continuous traffic-free walking and cycling paths and is ideal for families or less experienced cyclists. (Their cafe is not dog friendly :-( ). We didnt eat but the food looked good and seemed to be enjoyed by those that were eating. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. This route is on the National Cycle Network. Puffing Billy Steam Train Ticket Package Options Return Ticket - Belgrave to Lakeside (Departs 11:15AM & 12:45PM) Free cancellation (24-hours notice) Instant confirmation Fixed date booking A small car park enables easy and immediate access to the Tarka Trail. Heres our guide to the Tarka Trail, including the best places to eat and drink, where you can hire bikes, and most importantly where to stay when you visit. Supporters can choose from road map, terrain, cycle map & satellite imagery. What is the Tarka Trail and where is it? - Great Torrington Town Council Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In the evening, bats hunt for moths along the river bank. From here to Bideford is about 5 miles. Our salad is only a small garnish as advertised on our menu however upon your feedback I have made sure the kitchen team are aware of you comments and again are offering a value for money portion. The Tarka Trail is a recreational route opened in May 1992 which describes a figure of eight, centred on Barnstaple, through the beautiful countryside of North Devon. Be the first to review "Puffing Billy" . m. Notes Routes 27 and Route 3 criss-cross The Tarka Trail with sections where off-raod cycling is available. and the milk train traffic, freight trains and the occasional passenger special used the line until 1982. Thomas Humphreys on LinkedIn: Conference info Make a mid-way pitstop at The Waterside, just past Chivenor. Check out our full collection of self-catering holiday cottages. | Registered office Travel Chapter House Gammaton Road Bideford EX39 4DF Company No. Your support helps to give children access to the training and equipment they need to ride a bike safely - starting a cycle of good that can go on to benefit their health, education and future. Walking or cycling, The Tarka Trail offers the best way to experience the beauty of North Devon. Quirky Devon train station cafe and tea rooms is up for sale Tarka Valley Railway - Great Torrington - Visit North Devon Tours will start promptly at the advertised time. Great Torrington Tourism Great Torrington Hotels Bed and Breakfast Great Torrington Great Torrington Holiday Rentals This gently down-hill walk or ride crosses the Torridge at Beam Weir, made famous in Henry Williamsons book Tarka the Otter, before meandering along the valley, through a long tunnel, across another bridge and into the former station at Bideford, where theres a cafe in an old railway carriage. Great Torrington. The large farmhouse table is perfect for big sociable mealtimes and the enclosed garden with patio is the perfect suntrap for those days you want to stay at home! The final section of the trail starts at the Puffing Billy caf - the old Torrington railway station building which is crammed full with railway memorabilia, including original . You can also download a PDF (231kb) of the map using the button below. It's one of the country's longest continuous traffic-free walking and cycling paths and is ideal for families or less experienced cyclists. Your email address will not be published. Thank you for your nice comments re; the burger you are correct it is nothing fancy, it is prime beef burger from our local butcher, served with our twice cooked hand cut chips, burger relish and a small garnish. At this point the trail criss-crosses over the winding River Torridge through wooded valleys and vast river expanses, offering some of the most scenic sections of the Tarka Trail. E.g. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This longer and hillier section of the Tarka Trail is slightly more challenging than the flatter parts before it, making it more suitable for older children. We have a large selection of breakfast, brunch, lunch options, and of course home-made cakes and scones! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Tarka Trail Inspired by the route travelled by Tarka the Otter from Henry Williamson's famous 1927 novel, the Tarka Trail is a 180 mile, figure of eight walking and cycling route that traverses unspoiled countryside, dramatic sea cliffs and beautiful beaches enabling you to explore and experience the very best North Devon has to offer. An Intimate VIP Afternoon with Paul Gascoigne "GAZZA", Launceston Folk Dance Club Centenary Dance, St Piran's Day - Celebration of All Things Cornish with Launceston Community Connections, Imagine yourself to wellness with the Causley Trust. The paninis have hardly any fill in and are served with a childs portion of some cheap crisps. We're offering a FREE programme of activities this Spring for over 55s: - Property for Sale in Beech Road, Stibb Cross, Torrington, Devon, Ex38 The station dispatched trains toBidefordandBarnstaple, as well as toExeter St Davids. Covers the North Devon area, including Exmoor, Ilfracombe and the North Devon coast, Exeter, Okehampton and Bude. With no road crossings, this part of the trail is suitable for kids but keep an eye on them in the long tunnel. Magdala House, near FremingtonThis is a charming holiday home with a rustic farmhouse feel which has been designed with family fun in mind. PUFFING BILLY - Station Hill, Torrington, Devon, United Kingdom - Yelp Youll cross the Torridge again over a bridge where people often fish the tidal waters, than pass close to saltmarsh and a reedbed as you approach Bideford. Walk or. Stopped here on a Cycle rather than Fremington Quay and massively regretted it! View this route on OS maps This article focuses on the fourth and final section of the trail (12 miles), from the Puffing Billy caf at Torrington to Meeth. If thats not open, the is a pub close by and plenty of other cafes etc over Bideford Long Bridge in the town itself. Nothing fancy about it we let the ingredients speak for themselves. Reviews There are no reviews yet. distance Connecting Actively to Nature (CAN) returns to Skern Lodge for 2023! If you're already a supporter please login to enable embeds. Lovely place to stop and have a break when cycling the Tarka Trail. In 1925 the narrow gauge Torrington and Marland Railway was rebuilt as a standard gauge line and opened through to Halwill Junction as theNorth Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway. Keep an eye out for their pizza nights, too! Station Rd, Torrington, EX38 8JD, , United Kingdom, North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway. Interesting building, free wifi, friendly staff, great (mostly locally sourced) food (big fan of the porridge with mixed berries), decent portions, reasonable prices, a variety of coffee and cakes for those so inclined and cask ale.Yes, staffing levels can sometimes seems bit low and it does get very busy at times but there are worse places to wait for your food (and I've never actually had to wait very long in any event).A must if enjoying this end of the Tarka Trail. The Puffing Billy & The Tarka Trail Torrington North Devon England UK Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When on a visit to Devon, youve got to pop into one of this countys quaint country pubs for a tasty Sunday roast or a pint. Find out what we stand for and how our work around the UK is making a difference. Terrain varies from flat family-friendly sections to more challenging stretches. Why not check out our guide to the best beaches in North Devon or our locals guide to North Devons best walks? The most popular stop along this section of the trail is Fremington Quay Cafe. Explore fantastic walking and cycling routes across the UK. Theres ample cycle storage and lovely views over the river, plus the highly Instagrammable interior will please any teen cyclists in your peloton. Puffing Billy - CressPress Instow has a wide selection of pubs, many of which are dog friendly. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We called in here for our halfway stop having cycled 21 miles from Braunton and what a pleasant surprise. Thank you for your lovely comments, especially the one about the staff as it is feedback like this that keeps us all motivated to keep delivering friendly consistent service. What we do Cycle Hire Cycle Hire Info Cycle Servicing 0 The station was closed for regular passenger services in 1965 under theBeeching Axe. youre close to the bus route again here just come off the trail and cross over the Torridge on the road bridge. PUFFING BILLY OPERATES DAILY (except Christmas Day). A selection of walks from the Old Bowling Green. We used to allow embedded maps for free but Google made a change to the way they charge for maps which means we can no longer do this, sorry. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Puffing Billy Railway | Visit Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges When you arrive in Barnstaple, make tracks for the Station Masters Cafe next door to the railway station. Tree Trail (about 3km) 2. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Find on the map and call to book a table. The leasehold interest of The Puffing Billy is on sale for 65,000. The bread was pretty low quality and the salad is just a sprinkle of rocket and some tomatoes/cucumber. These cookies do not store any personal information. Offering food and drink inside the station, and outside in the garden, the venue also hosts touring art exhibitions. , it opened on 18 July 1872, operated by the, . Find properties for sale in Beech Road, Stibb Cross, Torrington, Devon, Ex38 8hz from the thousands of available properties on the market today. The Puffing Billy Trading Co. occupies the Victorian railway station, full of railway memorabilia and original features. This trail follows the Puffing Billy steam railway through the Dandenong Ranges from Clematis/Emerald to Gembrook Whilst only 15km long, this trail offers a full range of experiences for users - hills, forests, farms, rural villages, picnic facilities, heritage railway. If youre car-less and have young children with you we can sometimes run you down there. Great Torrington is a friendly and welcoming town, with good local amenities, independent shops, cafes and regular local markets. A lovely clean place to eat and drink. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces. You can either leave the Tarka Trail on the line of the old tramway route and finish in the beautiful town of Great Torrington or continue on the route across the river on the railway to where the path currently ends at Meeth. The Tarka Trail makes use of disused railway tracks to take you into the beautiful North Devon countryside. There are so many things to do in Devon that youll be spoilt for choice wherever you choose to base yourself during your holiday. Youll soon come to the bridge at Beam Weir. It's a soothing ride past the enormous lakes and meadows of the old clay quarries and mines here, and you may even spot the reserve's herd of Exmoor ponies. Puffing Billy Cafe is #5 of all Great Torrington restaurants: online menu, 1396 visitors' reviews and 85 detailed photos. If you dont have your own bikes, you can hire some from Torrington Cycle Hire, just opposite the pub (01805 281461). Where to stay? Adjacent to the Tarka Trail, this character cottage for two is nestled in a picturesque wooded valley just outside Torrington. Popular shops and eateries are within walking distance and the beach is a short ten minute drive away. It's a really wonderful quiet and scenic stretch that heads north on the old railway path from Torrington and through East Yarde, Petrockstowe and Meeth. So far only a short demonstration line has been set up, and planning permission was granted for 300 ft (91 metres) of track in the direction of Bideford.The railway has been fenced off from the Tarka Trail ensuring the safety of all involved. Property for Sale in Lavender Cottage, Frithelstockstone, Torrington Puffing Billy Station Hill, Great Torrington EX38 8JD England +44 1805 623050 Website Menu Closed now : See all hours See all (67) 4.0 344 Travellers' Choice 2022 RATINGS Food Service Value Details PRICE RANGE 397 - 596 CUISINES British, Cafe Special Diets Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options View all details There is also a shop to purchase some of the items. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Southlands Retreat, BrauntonSleeping five, this stylish and modern home is only half a miles walk to the cycle hire centre in Braunton.Theres a surfboard rack if you fancy exploring up the coast with your boards, and two four-legged visitors are welcome, too. For more info on the 16 hours 23 minutes, 99.7% Traffic-free | 69.9% Asphalt, 28.0% Unsealed firm, 2.1% Unsealed loose.