|
There is much more to England than meeting the Queen or shopping in Harrods and whoever limits their England visit to the capital city is missing out on a much more impressive range of landscape and history, not to mention outdoor activities in the freshest air on the island.
North Devon is lined with 180 miles of costal paths, all of which have magnificient views of the unspoilt and rugged coastline of England. All public footpaths are well marked and maintained either by the national trust or local authorities.
In nearly all public footpaths you will find some kind of ruin, attraction or some historical landmark. Prehistoric or ironage settlements are abundand in this area and because the coastal area looked so far out to sea, a number of fort remains can be found along the pathways. Most of these are marked and freely open.
North Devon coastal weather in early spring or winter is very changeable and often with blue skies while the capital city is still under cloud. Directly on the Atlantic, the warm winds blowing off of the water brings a very mild temperature all year round making walking enjoyable no matter what time of year you visit.
The Tarka Trail runs through much of the North Devon country side. This trail is a mixture of walking or cycling and stretches over xxx miles. Named after the book "Tarka the Otter", this trail covers the territory that the otter would have roamed and is considered one of the most beautiful and conclusive trails in North Devon.
Because there is so little in the way of development in this area, there is an abundancy of wildlife. Birds range from coastal to woodland and information on the local species can always be found in tourist information centers. It is not unusual to see rabbits and deer wandering around by the woodlands and over the moors sometimes you will come across ponies.
Please note that public footpaths often cross farmland or private land. If you find yourself in such a field, please keep to the side of the field by the hedgerow or fencing and be careful not to disturb or damage any private properties. You may go through fields containing livestock (sheep or cattle), this is usual and the cows or sheep are quite used to wanderers! Walk calmly past such animals, do not run. Running will agitate them and cause them to run with you - i.e. after you...!
England is not mountanous, but it is also not totally flat either! Mountain style walking boots are not necessary and in dry conditions, you could manage nearly all walks in flat sandals (Flipflops are not recommended!), although closed shoes are better, especially if you are wandering accross cow fields...
In the winter the paths can become muddy and slippery and we would suggest good waterproof walking shoes. Coastal paths can get very windy if you are directly open to the sea, and sea spray can be quite damp, so a warm waterproof jacket is advisable in cooler weather.
|
