Alex Coomber
The Tarka Trail. Barnstaple to Meeth. Opened between 1848 and 1925. Closed in 1965. Barnstaple Junction, Fremington, Instow, Bideford, Torrington, Watergate Halt, Yarde Halt, Dunsbear Halt, Petrockstow and Meeth Halt. What started life in 1848 as a short freight only horse drawn tramway along the south shore of the Taw Estuary eventually ended up 77 years later as a 35 mile standard gauge railway serving the small towns, villages and scattered farming communities of North Devon. During its life. It was in part converted from Broad to standard gauge and in part converted from 3 ft gauge to a standard gauge light railway. After losing its passenger service in 1965. The route soldiered on carrying milk until 1978 and clay until complete closure in 1982. Since then. It has reopened as a level, traffic free, footpath and cycleway known as the Tarka Trail.
