Unspoiled countryside, dramatic sea cliffs and the longest, continuous cycle path in the UK are waiting to be discovered. Sleeping two, its an ideal romantic getaway and is half an hours walk from the Tarka Trail at the point where it crosses the River Torridge. Situated a stones throw from the old signal box in Instow, this newly refurbished apartment has sliding doors opening out to a patio area, with the Tarka Trail just beyond.Its the perfect size for a small family and includes allocated parking an absolute must in popular Instow. If you walked, you can catch the 315 bus back from Bideford Quay just cross the bridge, turn right and youll find the bus stops.Puffing Billy is about 17 miles from our lodges and cottage, but if you take the bus your day out starts a mile and a half away at the Winkleigh Bus stop. 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. Puffing Billy is currently operating with limited capacity, book your tickets early, so you don't miss out! On grouping in 1923 the Torrington to Barnstaple line became part of theSouthern Railway. Thanks Again, Hi Luke, Sorry to hear you felt the food was not upto your standard, we often get many good/great comments on our paninis, unfortunately we have had some issues with our paninis which was addressed by our supplier and will not be a issue moving forwards. There is also a goods brake van, coal truck and buffet carriage on a restored stretch of track. Subscribed to personalized events updates! The station was closed for regular passenger services in 1965 under the. Puffing Billy 220mm x 110mm Black Ink on Cream Card . 0 These make the perfect place to rest and enjoy your surroundings. Unspoiled countryside, dramatic sea cliffs and the longest, continuous cycle path in the UK are waiting to be discovered. Free for all train ticket holders, passengers can also explore the Menzies Creek Museum - home to more than 80 railway-related exhibits. Either drive or take the 315 bus from Winkleigh to the Puffing Billy stop just the far side of Great Torrington. We only have one walk available for download at the moment but hope to add more over the coming months. The 180-mile trail forms a figure-eight around the North Devon coast and countryside, but were looking at the most popular section: the 32 miles of traffic-free, flat path between Braunton and Meeth. The leasehold interest of The Puffing Billy is on sale for 65,000. Popped in here after a visit to Dartington Crystal. Burger and chips looked okay but nothing fancy. 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. Stay tuned with the most relevant events happening around you. How about making it an independent day out for early teens? Its a lovely walk for anyone, but especially suitable for walkers with a dog that prefers a gentle pace and even terrain. The Puffing Billy Trading Co. occupies the Victorian railway station, full of railway memorabilia and original features. Will be back soon, hopefully! This section of the trail from Barnstaple to Bideford is great for a family day out as there are lots of places to stop for refreshments on the way. 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. ml, energy It is temporarily operating as a cafe offering good coffee, other non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of sandwiches, pastries and other snacks during the daytime only. What's not to like? As you travel through this beautiful area of North Devon you may spot Deer, Rabbits, Squirrels, Otters, Kingfishers, Salmon and many other species of birds, wildlife and flowers. A museum and cafe in the town named Torrington 1646 will transport you back in time to those dark days and give you a chance to relive the battle for yourself. In regards to the price a panini is 6.80 or 5.44 Ex Vat we try to keep our prices to a minimum but we pay our staff fairly and use local suppliers for our coffee, meat, fruit and vegetable etc;. E.g. Puffing Billy to Bideford on the Tarka Trail. View this route on OS maps We did wait a while for the food to arrive but it was a peak time so only to be expected. Youll start at the Puffing Billy cafe, cross the River Torridge at Beam Weir, made famous in Henry Williamsons book Tarka the Otter (theres probably a copy in your eco lodge), before meandering along the valley, through the old railway tunnel, across another bridge and into the former station at Bideford, where theres a (summertime) cafe in an old railway carriage. PUFFING BILLY OPERATES DAILY (except Christmas Day). more. Find properties for sale in Lavender Cottage, Frithelstockstone, Torrington, Devon, Ex38 from the thousands of available properties on the market today. Offering food and drink inside the station, and outside in the garden, the venue also hosts touring art exhibitions. Youll soon come to the bridge at Beam Weir. Lovely outdoor seating area, a very extensive menu and very prompt service. There are times when the sun doesn't shine in Devon and the rain comes to say hello. Either drive or take the bus from Winkleigh to the Puffing Billy stop just the far side of Great Torrington. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The trail takes you right to the old station, where theres a cafe in an old carriage. The most popular stop along this section of the trail is Fremington Quay Cafe. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pingback: Torrington 1646 | Wheatland Farm. 16 hours 23 minutes, 99.7% Traffic-free | 69.9% Asphalt, 28.0% Unsealed firm, 2.1% Unsealed loose. This gently down-hill walk or bike ride is our favourite part of Devons Tarka Trail to do from Wheatland Farms eco lodges. Lovely place to stop and have a break when cycling the Tarka Trail. The Tarka Trail will take you through ancient villages, wooded valleys, along the banks of rivers, high over moorland with spectacular views of Dartmoor and Exmoor and along dramatic sea cliffs and vast expanses of beautiful beaches. Walk to the Puffing Billy cafe from home and its always great to meet for a coffee. 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. If thats not open, the is a pub close by and plenty of other cafes etc over Bideford Long Bridge in the town itself. Returned here for lunch for the second time in a matter of months and it was even better this time. There is also a shop to purchase some of the items. A few metres on the bus stop is on the corner). The Puffing Billy: Friendly cafe on Tarka trail - See 337 traveller reviews, 67 candid photos, and great deals for Great Torrington, UK, at Tripadvisor. - See 251 traveler reviews, 202 candid photos, and great deals for Devon, UK, at Tripadvisor. A little further south is a section of the trail that is open to horses. Torrington Cycle Hire: Cycle trip - See 84 traveler reviews, 24 candid photos, and great deals for Great Torrington, UK, at Tripadvisor. to Meeth . Beginning in the pretty village of Braunton, the route is incredibly easy to follow. If you want to cycle youll have to go out and back again. During the English Civil War, the town was of strategic importance and in 1646 was the location for the Battle of Torrington. The Tarka Trail is a combination of footpaths and bridleways with a large section being an old, converted railway line. . in hospitality, hope to continue the good work of the previous owners whilst putting their own stamp on the Puffing Billy! Tours will start promptly at the advertised time. Why not check out our guide to the best beaches in North Devon or our locals guide to North Devons best walks? After the railway line was closed the station became a public house and then a restaurant and finally, as you see it today, a licensed cafe. Absolutely delighted to create this fully funded programme with Active Devon and Torridge District Council this Spring at Skern Lodge. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Torrington Tarka Trail Haunted History Tour A guided walk down the old railway track, hearing true tales of Torrington and surroundings. If you dont have your own bikes, you can hire some from Torrington Cycle Hire, just opposite the cafe (01805 281461). Break up the journey with a visit to Yarde Orchard Cafe at East Yarde. Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group. Lovely setting and restoration of the former station. 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 entire route is centered around the ancient market town of Barnstaple, the principle town in the North Devon region. A carvery on Sunday is great way to end your Tarka Trail journey. (view on map). A bit further and youll come to a wooden bench, one of 30 pieces of art comissioned for the trail as part of Sustrans Art in the Travelling Landscape project.Near hear you can detour into the woods on a permissive path that takes you to Weare Giffard, but apart from a bit of exploring I think Id stick to the trail. For family days out along The Tarka Trail you may want to visit our places to visit page, or our Get Inspired page featuring towns, villages and places of interest along the trail. If youre car-less and have young children with you we can sometimes run you down there. Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square, Bristol, BS1 5DD. Make a mid-way pitstop at The Waterside, just past Chivenor. 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. Located in a former Victorian railway station, The Puffing Billy is right on the Tarka Trail, making it a perfect stop at either end of this section. The well-marked, 180-mile Tarka Trail winds through undisturbed countryside and is inaccessible by car. 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. Alongside the main north and south Tarka Trail routes are a series of short, circular walks designed to take a couple of hours, helping you to explore the villages and points of interest along the trail. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Theres even a grassed area for kids complete with wooden pirate ship where they can let off steam! The Puffing Billy: Lovely stop on the Tarka trail - See 344 traveler reviews, 67 candid photos, and great deals for Great Torrington, UK, at Tripadvisor. It was busy, so we were glad we had reserved a table. The route then takes you up the Torridge Estuary, passing Instow and Bideford. Set in the beautiful Torridge Valley, alongside The Tarka Trail in. Find a route on the National Cycle Network. If you walked, you can catch the bus back from Bideford Quay just cross the bridge, turn right and youll find the bus stops. sport cycling distance 20.84 ml energy 0 kcal ascent 0 m descent 0 m Notes Ride with Steve, Sunny cool day. youre close to the bus route again here just come off the trail and cross over the Torridge on the road bridge. When youre worn out, relax in the enclosed garden with a BBQ or in the bubbling private hot tub. Sign up now to hear more about our latest news, views, events, campaigns, policy, impact and other activities. The River Torridge - Views of the River Torridge Circuit partir de Taddiport - niveau cyclisme sur route - Intermdiaire. Terrain varies from flat family-friendly sections to more challenging stretches. Thu Jul 13 2023 at 07:30 pm, Puffing Billy, ,Torrington, United Kingdom, Launceston, United Kingdom Great Torrington Tourism Great Torrington Hotels Bed and Breakfast Great Torrington Great Torrington Holiday Rentals From 1880 it connected with the narrow gauge freight only, . At the highest points, you might spot Dartmoor on a clear day. Situated at the centre of the North Devon Area of With car parking, cafe and facilities, Fremington Quay is an Arguably the most spectacular coastal views along the Tarka Trail, lovely walks with dogs cycle rides great views very pleasant, hi all me & a friend done the Devon coast to coast & loved it. Routes 27 and Route 3 criss-cross The Tarka Trail with sections where off-raod cycling is available. kcal, ascent Theres a rack to lock your bikes to. Walk or. I have spoken to the kitchen in regards to the crisp portion to ensure we are consistent in our offering. Good service. please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article. It extends for 180 miles. If you walk you can get the bus back. 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. Great Torrington. We had cycled along the Tarka trail from Bideford for afternoon tea. Not cheap, but reasonably priced, tasty coffee which is hot and reasonable choice of cakes etc. Escape to Devon on a South West getaway. A passenger service operated until 1965 when the line again reverted to carrying goods only until the line through Torrington was closed completely.