Leisure Activities

Footpaths

Black Torrington Parish enjoys the benefit of some public footpaths, bridle paths and a section of The Ruby Way – an off road cycle/foot/bridle path created by Devon county council approximately 15 years ago following the former railway line to Highampton,  providing a safe facility enjoyed by many.

The Tarka Trail

Over 30 miles of the Tarka Trail is available to cyclists between Braunton and Meeth (near Hatherleigh), using the disused railway lines of North Devon. Passing through the largely unspoilt countryside as it was described by Henry Williamson in his classic novel ‘Tarka the Otter’ first published in 1927.

This off road cycle link (excluding the Meeth link) forms part of Devon’s Cycling Coast to Coast Route between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. The length from Barnstaple to Petrockstowe also forms part of the West Country Way Cycle Route between Bristol and Padstow.

The Braunton-Meeth section of the Tarka Trail is accessible from the North Devon Link Road (A39), also the B3233 and A386 between Bideford and Hatherleigh. There is also a rail link from Exeter to Barnstaple (the Tarka Line).

The Granite Way

This 11 mile (18kms) cycle/walkway runs along the north west edge of the granite massif of Dartmoor.The way has been constructed by Devon County Council in partnership and with the welcome support of a wide variety of organisations and individual landowners. These include: South West Regional Development Agency, the European Union, the Millennium Commission, Sustrans, Aggregate Industries and Dartmoor National Park Authority.