May 2025 until further notice: Please be advised the bridge at Hinds Pitt upstream from Tarr Steps on the River Barle forming this popular circular route is currently closed for your own safety. Therefore, this route cannot be completed. You can still follow the River Barle upstream from Tarr Steps on either side of the river as far as Hinds Pitt, but you will need to return the same way, without crossing the river (for short walks we recommend the Knaplock Wood - East - side of the river). Closure notice with map (PDF)
Route Info
This circuit crosses the River Barle on the famous clapper bridge Tarr Steps and follows the banks of the Barle through woodland and meadows, designated as a National Nature Reserve. Purchase a water and tear resistant route guide online or from an Exmoor National Park Centre.
Distance - 3.5 km (about 2. miles) . Time - just over an hour
Accessibility info
Watch the Video
Each Explorer Route has its own video full of info and what you might expect to experience on the walk.
Link to route on Ordnance Survey mapping
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Accessibility information
Ascent / Descent - About 200 ft / 65 metres
Facilities
Between the main car park and Tarr Steps is the Tarr Farm Inn, and in the disabled car park beside the river there is often an ice cream and refreshments kiosk (seasonal) .
Terrain and surface
At the start of the walk, the route descends 140 feet from main car park to the river, which you reclimb at the end of the walk. If you would like to avoid this section there is a limited number of blue badge disabled parking spaces and a drop off point adjacent to Tarr Steps. From here a level path leads across a flat field beside the river which is graded Miles without Stiles: Access for All. The rest of the walk is much more gently undulating as it follows close to the River Barle, but is too rough for use by mobility scooters.
The path surfaces on the main route are a mixture of natural stone and earth, that can be uneven in places with exposed tree roots, with gradients up to 1 in 6.
View a more detailed ‘walk-through’ video showing the path surface and terrain along the entire route.
Exmoor Explorers
This is one of our top ten shorter Exmoor walks. We have chosen our favourite walks to help you get a real feel for the wonderful landscape, history and wildlife of Exmoor National Park