If you're cycling or walking the Tarka Trail or the Devon coast-to-coast, don't miss Yarde Orchard.
........or the burgeoning array of spring flowers on the way up......
Sited at the highest point on the Trail, Yarde Orchard offers.......
Great local and home-cooked food in our trailside
Cafe with a selection of cold drinks, cakes, snacks, teas and coffees - enjoy local ales and ciders or a glass of wine from the licensed bar.
A comfortable and inviting place to stay (max 14 guests) in our low-impact
Bunkhouse - whether for a single night stopover on your journey or as a base for a rich and varied holiday. Camping available in our yurt (<3 persons), 2-person ridge tents or your own small tent.
See
events page for live music and foodie feasts in the cafe.
Next events: FREEBORN MEN Sat evg. April 24, JO HAMILTON Sat 1 pm May 15
See greentraveller for reviews of Yarde Orchard and loads of other deeply green places to stay and visit
The inaugural list, launched in February 2010, includes only 75 ecotourism enterprises worldwide - Yarde Orchard features in the Small Places to Stay category (UK and Ireland) and is the only listing in Devon
So,
Yarde Orchard was set up in 2002 to encourage use of this less
frequented section of trail and to offer trail users facilities which
reflected green concerns and more sustainable ways of doing things. The
first venture, following clearance of the derelict site, was a café facility
with an emphasis on local and fairtrade produce, fresh food prepared on
the premises and an element of organic sourcing.
In 2008 a bunkhouse offering a range of accommodation options was added to the site, providing a green setting
to stay in, right on the Trail. The timber building (based on a former
chicken shack) includes solar water heating, woodfuel stove, rainwater
harvesting, a waste water system using composting and reedbed
purification as well as super-efficient insulation.
At
the heart of Yarde Orchard is the belief that Trail based holidays and
days out offer a healthier alternative to car-based excursions and a
greater sense of adventure and reward.....with reduced carbon footprint
as an added bonus. Following the trail – on foot or by bike - gives
access to some of the most beautiful and important landscapes in rural England, unattainable on tarmac roads and with minimum disturbance to the natural world.
With
a gate leading straight off the trail into the orchard, the facilities
are accessible without having to deviate from the trail or leave the
traffic free environment.