Access to the Trail is only minutes from the Tarka Holiday Park in North Devon. Without the need of a car, or even the worry of meeting one, the trail offers our visitors the opportunity to explore and discover the meandering river ways of North Devon namely Taw and the Torridge. By bicycle or on foot you can travel through rolling farmland and wild moorland, close to the rugged coastline and sandy bays.

West from Tarka Holiday Park in North Devon the trail takes you along the banks of the Taw to the Biosphere Reserve. This special place is now designated as an International Reserve by UNESCO and dependant upon the season it is an excellent location to view the migratory birds. Further along by the River Torridge is the seaside village of Instow, with its traditional pubs, finally reaching the port of Bideford.

To the Northwest of the Holiday Park in North Devon is the Great Field of Braunton Marsh – a site of historical importance close to the unique Braunton Burrows. The Burrows occupy 6 kilometres of North Devon coastline and provides the backdrop to some of the country’’s finest beaches. Saunton, Croyde, Putsborough and Woolacombe offer uncrowded sand and sea, even in the peak of summer. Sit and enjoy a cream tea or a ’shandy’ at sunset.

North Devon is such an experience, for a few days break or a relaxing holiday, we will be delighted if you join us, staying on our holiday park.

From booking your holiday to your journey home, we hope that our family hospitality will add to the enjoyment of the North Devon Holiday Park Experience.

Facilities on the Holiday Park include a fully licensed Clubhouse, serving a select menu either eating in-house or take-away. Light entertainment two or three times weekly (dependant on season).

A children’s adventure park for the younger ones, a small amusement arcade and for the under12’s the ever popular Bouncy Castle.

Families can challenge their talents on the pitch and putt course followed by a round of crazy golf, alternatively explore the wonderful countryside – bike hire is available on site.

Take a leisurely walk on the Saxon Track in the Park, leading to the small hamlet of Ashford with it’s attractive Church dating back to medieval times.

The pretty landscaped grounds our Holiday Park in north Devon offers you a choice of luxury and budget caravan units, serviced touring sites and extensive camping facilities. Shower and toilet blocks, laundrette and public telephone.

Yes – we are certainly pet friendly and can accept well behaved dogs. Certain grades of caravans can accommodate pets, we also have a designated exercise area.

Supermarkets are within easy reach of the Holiday Park in North Devon, our on-site shop, located in the Reception area, carries items for everyday needs. Our ladies of the Park (chickens to be precise!) are still happily laying their eggs. You will find these on sale in the shop.

We cannot guarantee the sunshine but we are committed to making your stay pleasant, comfortable and enjoyable at our holiday park in North devon.

The accompanying Tariff details further information. We will be happy to answer any queries not covered in our brochure or alternatively point you in the right direction.

FISHING

If wetting a line is just a casual pastime or even a way of life, then our local anglers would claim you could not choose a better location for fishing. Twenty plus species of sea fish, freshwater lakes, rivers and fisheries close by, North Devon boasts perhaps the best variety of angling in the U.K.

Coarse fishermen will appreciate the abundance of well stocked ponds and lakes nestling in beautiful countryside and holding fine specimens of Carp, Tench, Bream etc. All are available on day tickets.

For the Game fishermen, Salmon, Trout and Sea Trout are all available locally and offer superb sport. Tickets for fishing trips are available from local tackle shops. They will also be able to offer sound advice and information.

GARDENS AND PARKS

North Devon’s temperate climate makes it a horticultural paradise throughout the year. Many North Devon Gardens are privately owned and open to the public throughout the year. Lovingly tended by their owners they offer some exquisite varieties and displays.You will be spoilt for choice, but the R.H.S. Garden at Rosemoor in Torrington is a must.

GOLF

It is a real pleasure to play Golf in North Devon either on one of the championship courses or indeed a challenging club course. Glorious Golf in North Devon is a free publication highlighting the courses available. For details of Green fees and tee times we recommend you contact the clubs directly.

SURFING

Since the early seventies, the beaches of Saunton, Woolacombe, Croyde and Putsborough have been a British ‘mecca’ for surfers from all over the planet through all seasons. Don’t be surprised to meet international surfing stars out the back or up and coming young stars on the beach. As with all extreme sports, please seek and take heed of local advice from one of the many lifeguard stations on the beach. They will also advise you on tuition if you are a newcomer.

LEISURE CENTRE

A modern centre for those who don’t like swimming in the sea, clean pools, and otheractivities are available all year round. Situated on the Severn Brethren side of Barnstaple, easily spotted, located on the side of the River.

Room Information

Luxury Caravans

Midland Holiday Park Luxury Caravans

Our family extend a very warm welcome to you at our Holiday Park. We are committed to making your stay with us, pleasant, comfortable and stress-free.

The self-catering caravans have refrigerator, gas fire, colour T.V. hot showers, kitchen areas, full inventory and car parking alongside each caravan. This year new caravans have been included in our fleet hire and some of the most modern and up to date caravans are now available for your holiday. A touch chilly in the evening, try one of the centrally heated and double glazed units, really spoil yourself. Our premium caravans now have combi DVD T.Vs, relax and watch that film you have longed to see, or, keep the kiddies entertained whilst you spoil yourself with a G and T and put your feet up. All premium grade caravans are non-smoking.

Annual ”Super Site” Pitch

12 month Personal Hard-standing pitches.

* Consisting of a concrete base with a grass to the side.

* You have the luxury of you own water supply, electric point and gray waste drain-away.

* Never be turned away by a fully booked holiday park, as you have your own granted pitch, all paid for bar the £3 (per night) for the electric usage when you are here.

* Use your Super-site as a pickup point to carry on the journey further down the coast, cutting down on fuel cost and travailing times.

Your personal peace of Devon will cost you as little as £1,045 plus V.A.T. That’’s less then £3.40 per day.

Information on annual and seasonal pitches for 2007

Option 1 Seasonal Pitch Fee £750 + V.A.T.

Occupation period on site- Friday 23rd March 2007 to Friday 26th October 2007.

This fee allows usage of the caravan during the season by the owner and three other persons, plus one car, awnings are also included free of charge. Electricity will be charged at the nightly tariff rate of £3. Your caravan remains pitched on site during the season. This option gives the convenience of your caravan being ready for use and includes water connection and drainage.

Option 2 Annual pitch Fee £1045 + V.A.T.

Occupation period on site 50 weeks.

As per option 1 your caravan remains pitched on site ready for occupation by yourself and three other persons and includes water connection and drainage. With option 2 you have the additional bonus of being able to use your caravan at any time throughout the year with the exception of the first two weeks in January. Awnings are free of charge with electricity charged at the nightly tariff rote of £3 per night.

If you wish you may allow other persons to use your caravan subject to them paying at our standard tariff rates.

New and Used Caravans

As always, every year the manufacturers try to come up with new designs, gimmicks, dramatic colour changes in order to tempt our customers to change their caravans for newer models. With the new style range of vans it is difficult to select favourites, but of course now the all important “mod-cons” are essential if you wish to take advantage of our 50 week licence. Newly acquired, we are now able to offer our holiday vans for an extended season – yes – 50 weeks – no kidding!! To enjoy this amazing opportunity to slip quietly away autumn, spring, summer and winter why not enquire about the new style of caravan, centrally heated, double glazed and don”t forget the under floor insulation, makes all the difference.

Local Information

Whether you are an experienced visitor to this beautiful locality or you are fortunate enough to be setting out to discover it for the first time, you have chosen a location that many believe to be the finest in Britain.

Places to Visit

Clovelly

A must for anyone visiting the region, once a bustling fishing port famous for the herring and mackerel. The impressive harbour dates back to the 14th Century with many beautiful cottages. An area famed for smuggling, offering the visitors a chance to stand in the cobbled streets and use their imagination !

Bideford

Once considered the most important Port in England, second to London. Today Bideford sits tranquilly on the banks of the Torridge, it’’s bridge spanning the water. Sit and while away a few hours taking a coffee along the quayside.

Now a very popular place to spend New Year’’s Eve.

Great Torrington

Perched on a ridge overlooking the River Torridge the Cavalier town of Torrington was the site of the last major conflict of the English Civil War. The home of Dartington Crystal and the fabulous Rosemoor Gardens. Enjoy a unique attraction where costumed characters take you back to the 17th century.

Ilfracombe

A traditional Victorian resort where you can enjoy a stroll on the promenade and browse the souvenir shops. The quaint harbour with numerous fishing vessels, not to mention the Oldenburg where either day cruising or sunset cruising along the coastline towards Lynton and Lynmouth can be enjoyed.

Instow

Well worth a stop on the Tarka Trail where you can take a leisurely boat trip across the estuary to the ancient free port of Appledore. Maybe spend the day on the beach messing around in the sand dunes and have lunch in one of the pubs or restaurants overlooking the Bay.

Lundy Island

About 11 miles from the North Devon Coast in the Bristol Channel the island is three miles long and half a mile wide. It rises 400 feet above sea level and is an amazing area of outstanding natural beauty. Lundy abounds with wild life, Sika deer, Lundy ponies, Soay sheep, Basking sharks and dolphins. Birds so rare that they bring bird watchers to the Island from all over Britain. Trips to Lundy are available via the Oldenburg departing from Bideford and Barnstaple. Details are available locally.

Lynton and Lynmouth

Always spoken of together and often referred to as North Devon’’s answer to Switzerland. The Victorian powered cliff railway connects the two beautiful villages and a ride on the railway between the two is almost compulsory.

Barnstaple

Decked in flowers and the nearest Town to Tarka Holiday Park. This multi award winner of Britain in Bloom is the oldest Borough in the Country. A provincial market town with it’’s Victorian Pannier Market still operating daily ( 6 times per week) and the famous Butchers Row. The thirteenth century bridge offers access to national stores and the town itself hides quaint individual shops and modern facilities for indoor and outdoor shopping. The Queens Theatre has a year long programme of varied and interesting performances, many visiting stars and performers amazed at the support and encouragement offered by North Devon’’s discerning population. The town has a wide variety of quaint and interesting eating houses, restaurants, fast-food outlets all combined to give the visitor selection and value for money during their stay.

The Jurong Bird Park is located in the western area of Singapore, and the pastoral surroundings that it has, adds to the charm of the place. It is more close to an adventure ride, as you move out from your crowded town, which is flashing all of busy lights and is full of masses, to a place which slowly gets quieter and quieter as you pass by the time. Its entrance is just similar to that of Jurassic park but somewhat smaller in size in comparison to the original one. The only difference is that instead of listening to the roars and thundering, you will get the experience of the warmth of the staff of the park, and the echoing chirruping of the different species of birds.

If you are looking for some souvenirs and gifts that you want to take back home as the remembrance of the Jurong Bird Park, souvenir shops are must visits. The gifts that are available here are absolutely original and pretty charming. They are completely inspired by the birds. You can get a wide range of gifts, ranging from a keychain to number of t-shirts. All these gifts will someday remind you of the wonderful time you had spent here at the bird park.

The park truly lives with its birds, there is absolutely no moment of dullness within this landscape that holds lively colors and a fresh mantra of existence. It has different attractions, that interest both the kids and adults, thus is a family oriented place to visit, and for sure these places will entertain you completely.

You indeed get to see the indigenous species of birds of paradise, here at Jurong Bird Park. The major attractions of the bird park also include the Swan Lake, which is the musical turn of events, the parrot paradise and not to forget the pelican cove. Almost bird of every size, shapes and forms, and from all the parts of the world, are displayed here either in large enclosures or habitations. Also some of them are put in open air viewable. You can also try to feed them and make them rest on your hands. This is a true sensory experience that helps you to get a complete insight of the birds and their lifestyles, as to how they live and pass their time.

Peter Joseph enjoys to write about travel, aviation and adventures. To know more about Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Singapore zoo, Jurong Bird Park and Wildlife Singapore visit www.wrs.com.sg

The Singapore Jurong Bird Park is located in the westerly area of Singapore and the rustic locale just adds to the rustic charm. It feels like an adventure as you leave the busy lights and mass crowds of the town centres and the charming suburbs – languishing slowly through a busy highway that slowly but sure becomes quieter and quieter as the kilometres go by. Reaching the all familiar sign, you will be treated to an almost minituaristic Jurassic park like entrance, only instead of a roar and a thunder shaking rumble – you will experience the warm smiles of the staff and the calls of different species echoing through the air.

The many gift and souvenir shops are also a must visit for anyone who wants a complete journey and bring home something to remember the place by. The gifts are original, charming and completely bird inspired – from keychains to t-shirts that serve as a reminder to the wonderful time you have had in the westerly bird park.

The park definitely lives up to its mantra of a place with living colours and there is never a dull moment within its landscape of birds and different attractions that will keep both adults and kids happy. Be frightened and in awe at the birds of prey show and be astounded by the beauty of the birds of paradise. Walk through pelican cove and parrot paradise, not forgetting an almost musical turn of events with an attraction called Swan Lake. From every corner of the world, birds of all shapes, forms and sizes are put on display, either in large habitations or roaming free within large enclosures and open air viewables. You can even feed and let them land on your hand – a total sensory experience that gives you an insight to birds and how they live, breathe and pass the time.

Travel through the whimsically named panorail and ‘fly’ together with some of the birds as you get a birds eye view of the attractions and the entire park in an informative and fun ride. It is not just a tourist attraction, but an experience in itself, a wonder, a jewel within an island known to be one giant city. You might even get a glimpse of events and even a gander at love taking flight as some couples choose this picturesque location to get married. Visit the Jurong Bird Park today – you won’t be disappointed.