This campsite directly on the Tarka Trail through Devon may be small but it is pretty perfectly formed. It’s especially good for campers who arrive on foot or by bike. There are just five pitches here, which share a green acre with apple and pear trees, some ancient and some newly planted. But this idyllic setting is not the only thing that recommends Yarde Orchard as a resting place for weary travellers. There’s also the fact that the camping pitches are tucked behind a lovely licensed cafe serving a menu of mostly organic, local food and drink.
This is a place to refuel and recharge after days exploring North Devon – and, on that note, there’s free electric bike charging here too. Little touches like that, and the provided picnic benches and barbecues in the camping field, make this place particularly good for those who are travelling light. The camping itself is a simple affair of grassy unmarked pitches with access to flushing loos and warm showers.
The cafe, and the fact that there’s a bunkhouse on site, makes this a sociable place for adventurers who want to swap stories. But you don’t need to be on the trail to enjoy it here. The orchard is surrounded by nature and blessed with dark skies at night making it a good place to hang out for longer than just a stopover. It’s well placed for exploring North Devon with the walking and bike routes providing just one way to get around. You can also hop in the car for day trips around the North Devon countryside and coast. RHS Rosemoor is only three miles away, harbour villages, sandy beaches, and the wilds of Dartmoor are all about half an hour’s drive.
Pitch your tent on a private grass field, picnic tables available and with the dark skies, you can see the milky way. Owls and bats will be your neighbours. We have direct access to the Tarka Trail a long distance cycle and footpath here in North Devon. There is a cafe on site open 10-4pm providing meals for campers.Yarde Orchard Campsite is directly on the Tarka Trail, the 180-mile route around North Devon, and also on Sustrans Routes 27 (the Devon Coast-to-Coast) and 3 (the West Country Way). It’s a handy stopover for anyone passing through but those connections also mean it’s a great place to base yourself if you like walking and cycling as you can head out in either direction during a stay here. It’s also well-placed if you want to explore North Devon with RHS Rosemoor and the market town of Great Torrington both within four miles of the campsite. The North Devon Coast is about half an hour’s drive. You can visit pretty harbour villages like Clovelly and sandy seaside resorts like Westward Ho! The northern edge of Dartmoor is also about half an hour’s drive away, with Exmoor about 45 minutes to the north.
There’s a cafe on site which serves seasonal mostly organic, locally-sourced and fair-trade food – what more do you need to know? It has a simple menu of baguettes, salads, nachos, cakes, coffees and ice creams. It’s also licensed and has a range of West Country ales and ciders for sale too. If you’re heading off on an adventure on the Tarka Trail, you can order packed lunches to take with you. There are occasional pizza nights on site and for takeaway food on other nights, take a look at what’s on offer at Smythams Holiday Park, less than two miles from site. They have a changing rota of visiting food vans throughout the summer months. The Globe Inn at Beaford is a recommended pub which serves food, about six miles from site.
