Cycling
Devon on two wheels
The Tarka Trail offers a safe, scenic cycling route with beautiful views across the estuary and plenty of inviting spots to pause for a drink or snack. As one of the UK’s longest continuous almost entirely traffic-free paths, it’s perfect for families and those less confident on a bike. Following former railway lines, the trail leads you through peaceful North Devon countryside, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination.
Tarka Trail
The Tarka Trail is a 180 mile long, almost entirely traffic-free cycling and walking route through North Devon, following former railway lines. It offers gentle gradients, estuary and countryside views, abundant wildlife, and plenty of places to stop, making it ideal for families and leisurely riders.
Drakes Trail Cycle Path, Dartmore National Park
Drake’s Trail is a 21-mile traffic-free cycle and walking route linking Tavistock and Plymouth along the western edge of Dartmoor. It follows old railway paths through river valleys, tunnels, viaducts, and wooded moorland, offering scenic heritage views.
Granite Way Cycle Path
The Granite Way is an 11-mile mostly traffic-free cycle and walking route from Okehampton to Lydford, running along a disused railway line. It offers easy gradients, sweeping Dartmoor granite landscapes, and historic features like the Meldon and Lake viaducts.
Tidal & Trail (Bideford Bike Hire)
Tidal & Trail offers over 100 bikes to hire, with direct access to the 34-mile traffic-free Tarka Trail. Options include hybrids, trikes, tag-alongs and kids’ bikes, plus bike servicing and refreshments onsite.
Instow Bike Hire
Instow Bike Hire offers modern Wisper e-bikes and traditional bikes from its base on Instow seafront, just minutes from the scenic Tarka Trail. They also provide helmets, locks, and multi-day hire, plus full servicing and repairs.
Tarka Trail Cycle hire
Tarka Bikes is a family-owned cycle hire business in Barnstaple, providing bike rentals and repairs for the Tarka Trail. They offer e-bikes, tandems, and children's attachments.
Waterside Bike Hire
Based by Braunton, right next to the Tarka Trail. They offer quality e-bikes, mountain, hybrid, and road bikes, plus helmets, locks, and accessories. With free parking and an on-site café, it’s perfect for a family outing.
E-bike Trail Tour & E-bike North Devon E-Bike Trail Tours offers guided electric-mountain-bike rides for small groups (up to six) across North Devon. Their full-suspension e-bikes and qualified British Cycling guides cater to beginners through to experienced riders, taking you off-road through scenic trails.
Recommended by our team
For a memorable day out on two wheels, the Tarka Trail is an unbeatable choice. Its sweeping estuary scenery and easy, traffic-free route make it ideal for keen cyclists as well as anyone looking for a relaxed ride with plenty of spots to pause for a drink or snack.
If you’re not bringing your own bike, several nearby cycle hire providers can get you set up, including Waterside Bike Hire in Barnstaple, Instow Bike Hire, and Tidal & Trail in Bideford.