Exmoor 'Must Do': Tarr Steps, 7.5 miles

Directions

1. Looking at the front of the pub, follow downhill to the right on the lane through the village, heading East in the direction of Winsford. You’ll soon leave the village and the road quickly rises steeply. It’ll be over soon!
2. After a third of a mile you’ll see the finger markers guiding you over a stile to “Footpath Tarr Steps 4”, as shown in one of the walk images. “MW” is a reference to the Moors Way.
3. From here the journey is straightforward, following established paths through woodland, then fields and river bank paths, with some crossing point options to the other bank along the way. As long as you follow the River Barle you’ll reach Tarr Steps!
4. While you’re here, pay a visit to the Tarr Farm Inn, just 50 metres away from the bridge.
5. It can get busy here, not surprising given that Tarr Steps is one of the key locations to visit in Exmoor. So while you’ve likely seen few people on your walk to this point, things change (there is a lane down to Tarr Steps from the B3223 at Winsford Hill, via Liscombe, and a public car park c.350m above the Tarr Farm Inn).
6. Now head over the clapper bridge onto the lane and almost immediately look out for a public footpath on your right which rises quite steeply up the hillside on a narrow track – the Exe Valley Way.
7. This narrow track does a zig zag as it enters fields. You’ll follow waymarked paths through fields from here, initially steeply uphill before finding more level ground in a few fields time.
8. As you approach Parsonage Farm at ///maximum.fires.warms footpath options are either straight on through the farm, or right to follow a farm track uphill. Turn right here, continuing on the Exe Valley Way.
9. You’ll likely be sharing fields with sheep as the path levels out again, before starting to descend to the side of Westwater Farm to your right hand side. There’s a gate that brings you to the road, before the farm.
10. Turn right as you join the road, and follow it round some bends, uphill on your way back towards Withypool. You have about 1 ½ miles to go from here, with the first ½ mile up this hill which is called Worth Lane.
11. The road levels out with safe walking on the verge now. If you’re inclined, Withypool Hill is on your left, a 160 feet / 50 metre climb. Otherwise, follow the road to eventually start a descent into the village.
12. Admire Landacre Bridge as you cross the River Barle again. This medieval bridge is a listed monument.
13. Don’t overindulge at the tea rooms, now on your right. It’s a short walk through the village to the finish at The Royal Oak, where your righteous pint awaits.

Notes

Tarr Steps is a 17-span clapper bridge (derived from the Latin 'claperius', meaning 'pile of stones') and is constructed entirely from large stone slabs and boulders.

It’s the longest of its kind in Britain. It was first mentioned in Tudor times but may be much older. In times of flood the bridge has had to be repaired several times as stones of up to two tonnes have been washed up to 50 metres downstream.

The name 'Tarr' is thought to be derived from the Celtic word 'tochar', meaning 'causeway'.

It's only because the local sedimentary rocks form such suitable slabs that it was built at all.

At 59 yards (54m), Tarr Steps is by far the longest of the 40 or so clapper bridges left in Britain.

The best pub walks are meant to be shared.

If you’ve followed this route, found a better path, got lost, uncovered a standout pint somewhere else, or simply have a story to tell, I’d be delighted to hear from you.

This site is as much about shared discoveries as it is about the walks themselves.