Tidal & Trail
Explore the beautiful 34-mile Tarka Trail cycle route with our Tidal & Trail bicycle hire.
Tidal and Trail is a perfectly located Hire shop in Bideford on the banks of the river with direct access to the Tarka Trail. It is in easy reach of all local bus routes and has onsite parking if arriving by car. Situated in the middle of the cycle trail, you can choose to cycle south towards Torrington and Meeth, or north to Barnstaple then onto Braunton, taking in the wonderful countryside views Devon is so famed for.
Enjoy some of the great local produce from one of the many pubs or cafes along the route. We also have a shop for refreshments and repair services, selling bicycle spares, accessories, cold drinks and ice creams to enjoy before or after your cycle.
Hire fleet of over 100 bikes
We run a hire fleet of over 100 bikes and as well as hiring bikes to individuals, families and groups of friends we can also cater for large school/corporate parties and hen & stag parties too. We have free car parking for our customers and private access onto the trail, offering 34 miles of safe traffic-free cycling.
The Dawes, Land Rover or Claud Butler hybrids offer the comfort of a touring bike and the gears of a mountain bike, they have a back rack for carrying bags and mudguards.
Buggies/Trailers are towed behind our bikes and can carry 1 or 2 children with lots of room in the back for a picnic. We have adult trikes (3 wheels) for those who are a bit unstable on two wheels. The Trikes have a large basket on the back for carrying your bags, picnics or small dogs.
Bikes for children
We have bicycles to suit all ages and abilities from tandems, trailers, tag-a-longs and trikes, to mountain bikes & hybrids.
For children, we have both standard two wheels, plus Tag-a-longs, trikes, buggies and child seats for little ones still learning. Child seats can be fitted behind our hybrids and can carry a max weight of 22kg. The child seats have a three point safety harness fitted, though the child does need to be able to sit up on their own.
Tag-a-longs are fitted to our hybrids and are recommended for 4 to 8 year old children. They are ideal for kids that ride with stabilisers or those who tire quickly.
The Tarka Trail
180 miles of discovery
Following the old railway line safe from the dangers of traffic, through tranquil Tarka country, the trail is a level and traffic free cycle way cutting through Devon’s beautiful countryside.
The route north follows the Torridge estuary, soon coming to the village of Instow. Stop here for lunch or laze on the beach and gaze across to the historic fishing port of Appledore. Take a picnic or visit one of the many cafes or pubs on route to enjoy the local produce.
The trail continues on towards Barnstaple, following the Taw estuary past fields, marsh and a wild life reserve, a bird watcher’s paradise. The trail south is totally different as at first it follows the valley of the river Torridge, from side to side through the woods and a tunnel, crossing the weir, until reaching Torrington station.
Onwards from here the trail climbs gently through the sheltering woods to East Yarde. For the cycling enthusiast with lots of energy remaining you can carry on to Meeth Holt.
Repair services
We offer a full range of workshop repairs from small adjustments to full servicing. We will assess your bike and discuss all options with you, give an estimated cost and time-frame for all repairs.
Our Basic Bike Health Check starts from £30 and includes:
• Full safety check
• Wheel & tyre check
• Brake & gear check and adjustment
• Drive train checked & lubricated
• Recommendations for future work
With all services, parts are an additional cost. To book your bike in, see our contact and booking details below. We won't keep you off the saddle for long!
Bookings
We take bookings for morning hire (half day) or full day hire (9am - 5pm). See our price guide and bike fleet rates to the right.
To book a slot, please see our booking system below for available dates. To book specific extras such as a tag-a-long, buggy or child seat, or if your preferred booking shows no availability, please contact us via the enquiry form below.
Please include arrival time and bike/rider specifications in your enquiry. You can also contact us directly via the telephone number provided.
Want to make an enquiry?
We're open 7 days a week through Summer & School Holidays, Wednesday - Sunday all other times.
9.00am to 5.00pm
During this time our phone lines are open and our team are here to help you with bike hire and further enquiries.
Landline: 01237 425437
Mobile: 07823 591416
Torrington Street
Bideford,
Devon
EX39 4DR
