Tarka Trail View: From The Iron Bridge At Beam Weir Looking Under The Old Foot Bridge Towards Bideford. Tarka Trail, Great Torring Stock Photo

Tarka Trail view looking across the iron railway bridge near Beam Weir in Great Torrington. This part of the pathway follows the River Torridge to Bideford and continues inland to Barnstaple. After the passenger service closed the line was still used to carry clay from the large quarry outside Merton to the port of Bideford. This section of the Tarka Trail is near Great Torrington and offers good views. The Great Torrington Railway Station is now the home of the Puffing Billy and the Tarka Valley Railway. This is one of the main access points for the Tarka Trail. The Tarka Trail covers a distance of 180 miles 290 km, following a figure-of-eight route through the North Devon countryside. The 31mile 48km section from Braunton to Meeth is level and mainly tarmacked being built on the disused Railway line. The river Torridge which flows alongside starts its life on Woolley Moors between Bradworthy and Morwenstow. After completing a long loop, it meets the Taw at Appledore then flows out into the Bristol Channel. It is famous for its setting in ‘Tarka the Otter’ by Henry Williamson and more lately in ‘Flow’ a novel for young adults by John Insull.