What Tarr Steps actually is
A clapper bridge is a stone-slab crossing held together by nothing but weight and gravity. Tarr Steps is the largest in Britain: 17 spans of Devonian sandstone, some weighing two tonnes, laid across piers of stacked stones. Nobody knows exactly when it was built — estimates run from the Bronze Age to the medieval period — and the first written record appears in the Tudor era.
The bridge has been swept away by floods repeatedly, most recently in 2012 and 2016, and rebuilt each time from the original stones. It is a scheduled ancient monument, which is why you will see a notice asking walkers not to cross during floods.
The best walks
- Tarr Steps circular (2.5 km, easy, 1 h): the classic stroll over the bridge and back along the west bank through oak woodland — ideal for children and mixed-ability groups.
- Barle Valley to Withypool (8 km one-way, moderate): the finest river walk on Exmoor, following salmon pools and old drovers' tracks. Arrange a pick-up or walk back the same way.
- Tarr Steps to Dulverton (9 km, moderate): open moorland above the valley, then down past Marsh Bridge into town.
- Sunrise walk: arrive before 07:30 and you will often have the bridge entirely to yourself, with mist on the water.
River swimming & picnics
The Barle runs clear and cool over gravel, and the pools just upstream of the bridge are the most popular wild swimming spot on Exmoor — shallow enough for families in summer. Expect 14-18 °C in July and August. There are no lifeguards, no bins and no toilets at the bridge itself: take everything home.
Parking, access & practicalities
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Parking | Two paid car parks (east and west bank); the fee maintains the site and fills early on summer weekends |
| Accessibility | Short level path to a viewpoint; the bridge itself is step-free but uneven, and the riverside paths are not wheelchair accessible |
| Dogs | Welcome, but keep on leads near livestock and in spring |
| Facilities | Tearoom and inn a few minutes' walk from the car park; no toilets at the bridge |
| Best season | April-June and September-October; avoid after heavy rain, when the steps flood |
Eating and staying nearby
The thatched Tarr Farm Inn sits right beside the site and serves Exmoor ales and local produce. For a base, Dulverton is 15 minutes away with the widest choice of hotels, and our hotel comparison covers prices by village. Tarr Steps combines naturally with Dunkery Beacon or Dunster in a single day.
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For rainforests, lemurs and Indian Ocean islands, see Travel to Madagascar.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page are checked against the following authoritative sources. Where we state a figure, a designation or a protected status, it comes from the body named here rather than from a secondary summary.
- Tarr Steps scheduled monument record — Historic England
- Exmoor National Park maps and access — Ordnance Survey
Corrections to any claim on this page are welcome and are actioned: tell us.