We will be renting an apartment in Ilfracombe as a base for 5 of us to see some of North Devon.

My husband and I will be renting a car and bring his sister with us after spending a few days near Bath.

My husband's brother and his wife will be flying into Heathrow and need a way to get to Ilfracombe, and they will also need a way back to Heathrow as will the sister since my husband and I will be driving on for another week.

So, what is the best way from Heathrow to Ilfracombe? A bus seems to be a long trip.

The " Visit Ilfracombe" website suggests a train to Exeter and then the Tarka Line to Barnstaple.

What is the Tarka Line? Anyone done this?

"<i>A bus seems to be a long trip.</i>"

No matter the mode - it will be a long trip. The best - though still a slog, would be to go into London, take the train via Exeter to Barnstaple where you could pick them up.

Trains leave from paddington station so this is one of the few times the Heathrow Express makes most sense. from London to Barnstaple takes about 4 hours.

Thanks janis

So they would take the Heathrow Express which I see is a high speed train to Paddington Station and then a train to Exeter?

Is this Tarka Line to Barnstaple something different?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarka_Line

Trains are operated by First Great Western, a major train franchise in the West country, while the line is supported by a local partnership.

Is the Tarka Line the only way from Exeter into Barnstaple?

Instead of going into London Paddington, a more direct route would be by the buses from Heathrow to Reading which is a stop for trains from London to Exeter. See www.nationalrail.co.uk for schedules.
You always need to change at Exeter to get to Barnstaple. There are buses (www.stagecoachbus.com) but the trains are quicker.
The railway to Ilfracombe closed around 40 years ago, so buses are the only option from Barnstaple.

I forgot to add that the buses to Ilfracombe are run by First.
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/sout...home/index.php

The Tarka line is a scenic railway route named after Tarka the Otter from the book by Henry Williamson who lived in the area. Part of a longer Tarka trail.

Here is some information

http://www.carfreedaysout.com/tarka

hi wrenwood,

as others have explained, the Tarka line is the rather whimsical name for the railway line between Exeter and Barnstaple.

once they get to Barstaple, the only alternatives are the bus, taxi, or a lift from you. Barnstaple to Ilfracombe is [from memory] about a 45 minute car-ride, but that is dependent on the traffic, which in Barnstaple can be appalling at peak times. once you are out of the town it's plain sailing.

if they pick the bus, I'm pretty sure that the bus station is not in the same place as the train station. I would check that out before you all decide how to do this.

regards, ann

Yes - getting the coach from LHR to Reading would work too -- I just thought transferring at Paddington would have a bit less schlepping. Or maybe not -- I've been to and through Reading station but not transferred from bus to train there . . . .

"but not transferred from bus to train there . . "

I frequently need to travel west from Heathrow. There's no one best way of doing it.

The train connection via Paddington (faster but extortionately expensive: Heathrow Express; from T1-3 and T5. Cheaper: Heathrow Connect from T1-3 and T4)is more predictable and offers a completely flat connection at Paddington with easily available luggage trolleys.

The RailAir bus connection via Reading (where trains arrive 25 mins after leaving Paddington) can be subject to traffic delays, so if you've booked for a specific train you might not want to take the risk. The westbound connection involves going up a reasonably gentle ramp from the bus stop to a concourse: virtually all westbound trains use the platform with a completely flat route from the concourse. Bus stop-train distances are practically identical at Reading to train-train distances at Paddington (typically, about 70-100 yds carriage to carriage). But trolleys aren't always available at the Reading bus stop (you sometimes need to go scouting round the station to find one that's available) and the eastbound connection (from the west to Heathrow) always involves crossing the tracks. The lifts for this are poorly signed, and though just about all the platforms have escalators, they're just one option and it's easy to find yourself trying to use a staircase. With any kind of cumbersome luggage, you need to ask the staff (there's always a few around) for advice as soon as you get off the train.

By and large, leaving the central bus/tube/railway station complex (at T1-3) at the same time, you'll catch the same train whether you get the train to Paddington or the slower bus to Reading. The time balance works differently if you're starting from T4 or T5

FWIW, although it's almost always slightly cheaper to get the bus to Reading, I almost always end up finding a reason to come into Paddington and change there.

Ann, both Google Maps and Via Michelin say Ilfracombe to Barnstaple is 19 min-22 min, but will keep in mind the traffic.

Ok, so both Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect are trains from Heathrow to Paddington Station, but "Connect" is cheaper and ~ does it take a little longer, or run less frequently?

We'll be coming in and leaving on United (terminal 1 I think?) Brother and sister-in-law will be traveling Delta airlines, forgot to see where that comes in)

Average journey time on Heathrow Connect is 25 mins according to their website. Some trains stop more frequently than others.

They go every half hour. Timetable also on website.

https://www.heathrowconnect.com/

"<i>Google Maps and Via Michelin say Ilfracombe to Barnstaple is 19 min-22 min</i>"

You'll learn General rule of thumb - add 25% to 35% to any on-line drive time calculator.

It is about 15 miles and that would take nearly 30 mins at the BEST of times. Normally longer - and especially longer if it is a summer weekend.

hi wrenwood - I can't help you with the Heathrow end, I'm afraid.

<<both Google Maps and Via Michelin say Ilfracombe to Barnstaple is 19 min-22 min, but will keep in mind the traffic.>>

yes, but how long do they say from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe? [LOL]

seriously, unless they have suddenly beamed half the car-driving inhabitants of Barstaple up to the moon, you can double what google and michelin say due to the traffic in the town. it's horrendous, with a really awful "ring-road". they were building an up-stream bridge to relieve the congestion but I don't know if it's finished yet. i hope it helps.

Thanks Ann, we will definitely allow for lots of time to and from Barnstaple

And thank you all, my husband has done all of the booking for his family. Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!