Tidal and Trail reopens ahead of Easter Holidays in Devon 

The newly named Tidal and Trail (T&T), is reopening ahead of the Easter holidays, offering hundreds of adults and children unique access to the beautiful Tarka Trail cycle route in North Devon. T&T, originally known as Bideford Bicycle Hire, was acquired by leading education platform Inspiring Learning, to enhance its outdoor learning facilities in the area, providing direct access to both land and water-based adventures.

It is being run by long-established brand Skern Lodge, the outdoor adventure company owned by Inspiring Learning, which has been in the area for 40 years.   

With over 120 bikes available, including hybrids, mountain bikes, tandems, bikes with child trailers and dog trailers as well, they have something for everyone to get out and enjoy the spectacular scenery. T&T is located on the stretch between Meeth and the Taw Estuary, a flat part of the trail which makes it safe for families and children to enjoy the outdoors.  

As part of the acquisition, Inspiring Learning has refurbished the site to make it more welcoming to customers, including new gates and fences, painting, and general tidying up of the area. In the coming months it is also looking to introduce indoor and outdoor seating areas overlooking the river and its own café.  

As well as material changes, Skern Lodge is well known locally for its work to improve biodiversity, which has seen it planting over 400+ British native trees, sowing seeds of scarce plants and installing bird boxes in the area. It won the Business Award at the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere 2021 Nature Awards and want to use this experience to help enhance and enrich biodiversity, as well as sustainable business practices in the area.  They are already a collection point for used inner tubes and tyres, which they send off to be recycled, to help reduce the amount of rubber tyres entering landfill each year.  

Adrian Avery, Community Engagement Project Officer for Torridge District Council, said: “Skern is a key partner organisation in the Bideford area. They provide opportunities for various groups and individuals through outdoor activity, life skills, training, leadership and also residential opportunities in a beautiful area. 

We like to work with Skern as their team are extremely proactive and keen to support the local community. The Tidal and Trail project is an exciting project for the Bideford area and beyond. We are excited to see it happen and continue to working closely with Skern on upcoming projects.”  

Skern Lodge team member Flavia Smith, who is running the centre, said: “Tidal and Trail is unique in its brilliant location and affordable rental options which give everyone the chance to enjoy this stunning area on a bike. We have seen a strong increase in demand for activities over the past few years and have some brilliant events over the Easter holidays to tempt the locals and tourists onto the trail. These include our new Sunset Cycle Sessions over Easter weekend itself from 4-8pm to offer evening cycle options, and a free two-hour maintenance session to teach 10–16-year-olds the basics of bike maintenance. We’re delighted to be reopening and have many exciting plans for the upcoming months.”  

As well as hiring out bikes, Skern is also looking to make use of T&T’S attractive waterside location on the Taw estuary to introduce paddleboarding sessions for its customers. This will add a more comprehensive and enhanced range of water-based activities for schools, apprenticeships and corporate groups visiting Skern Lodge to participate in outdoor education programmes.   

Families can also purchase snacks on site, including bottled water, fizzy drinks and ice creams to quench their thirst after a cycle and future plans for the site include its own café.