Interesting information
There is no definite date of origin to the Tarr Steps, with various theories to support different ages. Some date it back as far as 1000BCE of the Bronze Age, but the official listing is to the medieval period.
Tarr Steps
- About this route
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The Tarr Steps are well worth a visit if you have made it to Exmoor National Park. This “clapper bridge” is the longest and oldest of its kind in Great Britain, dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. Tarr Steps is 50m in length, and the largest slab is 2.5 by 1.5 meters!
It’s an excellent spot for bird watching, with dense woods providing shelter for dippers, grey wagtails, and pied flycatchers as they dart through the dappled sunlight, safe from buzzards and other predators. You might also encounter other wildlife, such as dormice, otters, bats, red deer, and numerous butterflies. Enjoy the lush surroundings of sessile oak, birch, ash, hazel, and elm trees, all adorned with vibrant green lichens. - Getting Around
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The Tarr Steps are situated towards the southern aspect of Exmoor, near Withypool, 5 miles from the large town of Dulverton. There’s a car park and toilets close to the bridge, reached from the B3223 road (Withypool to Dulverton).
Use postcode TA229QA for Sat Nav directions.
- Facilities
- Car park ; Toilets
- Terrain
- Footpaths
- Accessibility
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