Exmoor National Park celebrates Rights of Way and Access achievements
Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is celebrating achieving high standards for public access, with 89 per cent of Exmoor’s 1000km of public rights of way rated “open and easy to use”, according to the latest survey for 2025/26.
The findings highlight the crucial role played by ENPA Rangers, Field Services team and Volunteer network. They uphold these standards despite financial challenges, increased vegetation growth, the impact of recent years’ weather patterns from storm damage causing blocked paths, flooding destroying footbridges and dealing with fire.
In addition to survey success, ENPA continues to maintain and improve access infrastructure across the National Park. The field services team produces Exmoor’s iconic gates, stiles and fingerposts using timber grown and processed locally at its Exford depot, ensuring heritage-appropriate installations while supporting sustainable resource management.
ENPA also offered a Ranger Apprenticeship in the past year to enable a young person to learn and develop skills, knowledge and qualifications. The apprentice worked with the team on everything from public access management to engagement activities, nature recovery and heritage conservation project work.
Dan Barnett, ENPA Access and Recreation Manager, praised the collective effort behind the results: “This is a fantastic effort by our team. Our rangers and field services team work incredibly hard to uphold our rating, despite rising costs and environmental challenges such as longer growing seasons and storm damage. In 2025 for example, the number of hazardous or windblown trees rose by over 500 per cent. Whilst keeping on top of the day-to-day maintenance tasks, like vegetation cutting and fixing gates and signposts, we are also working to improve the public access network, making it more accessible for more people. We’re also extremely grateful to our fantastic volunteers, who offer invaluable support surveying, practical repairs, issue reporting - all vital activities that help maintain Exmoor’s network of paths across coast, moorland, woodland and villages.”
Photo credit Shaun Davey c/o Exmoor Commons
ENPA Rangers and Field Services Team look after:
1000km of public rights of way – You can view the full access and recreation map on Exmoor here
251 sets of steps
19 Boardwalks
183 Kissing Gates
328 Stiles
665 Bridleways Gates
67 Pedestrian Gates
3000 signposts
316 Bridges
955 Field Gates