Tarka Trail

The Tarka Trail in its entirety is about 180 miles long made up of footpaths, Sustrans routes, roads and Bridleways. Fictionally it follows the route in the book Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson. The original line passed by Yelland, Instow, Bideford and Pectrockstow Moor and on to Okehampton from Sticklepath. The official route for this trail for horses is between Servis Farm and Petrockstowe Moor (Meeth). We have followed the route for 23 miles on Google Earth from Sticklepath to Petrockstowe Moor (Meeth) in which we have found no obstructions to horse riding, although is up to riders if they do decide to ride it (assuming conditions haven't changed since a Google Earth camera passed through there.) You can also carry on along the Cycle route into Meeth itself. Sticklepath originated during the Tertiary period and is on a geological fault – the Sticklepath - Lustleigh Fault Zone of Devon and the Bristol Channel. The official route for horse riding is from Servis Farm to Petrockstowe Moor (Meeth) a distance of about 8.4 miles. Other sections rideable on the Tarka Trail in the area, are from Woolacombe Grid ref SS4586 4337 to Putsborough Grid ref SS4483 4059, a bridleway. Also Saunton Grid ref SS4582 3758 ending up on the beach at Grid ref SS 4582 3245 also a bridleway. (We'd advise to check the condition with the local council or bridleway association if intending to ride these two bridleways.)