The Tarka trail is named after the children’s book Tarka the Otter, by Henry Williamson. The author, who lived in the area, based much of the story on locations along the trail. Its success led to the name being adopted for this now popular route. The trail, which can be cycled or walked (or run or scootered – whatever takes your fancy!) stretches 21 miles between Braunton and Meeth, in North Devon. Once an old railway, it is flat and tarmaced, ideal for cycling – our choice of transport for this leg of the 500 Fresh Air Miles. We hired bikes from Tarka Bikes in Barnstaple where we set off south along the shores of the Taw and Torridge estuary through Bideford towards Great Torrington before retracing our pedals to Barnstaple.