Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
labelled footpath, past
Highercombe Farm
and onto the moor. Head right at the road, then straight on at the
cattle grid. Soon there's another road and cattle grid; cut left here, onto the open moorland and
Winsford Hill
's lower slopes. The valley views are fabulous; look out for the free-roaming Exmoor ponies with anchor brands
on their backs.
Eventually high moorland gives way to a wooded river valley, where a right fork leads to the mighty stone
slabs of
Tarr Steps
(
Click here
). After an icy paddle (if the river isn't flooded), the
Tarr Farm Inn
(
Click here
)
is an idyllic spot for lunch.
Cross the Barle via those massive stone steps, then peel right following the blue waymarked route up
Par-
sonage Farm drive
. At the road, go straight on through the fields (by now following yellow waymarks) into the
village of
Hawkridge
. Head past the church to fork right down Row Lane, joining the Exe Valley Way to
Dulverton. This plunges back into the tranquil woodland framing the river: a mossy, Tolkien-esque landscape of
ancient trees, that's home to dormice, frogs and otters. As you cross the stone footbridge at
Castle Bridge
,
the wood-fringed embankments of the Iron Age hillfort
Mounsey Castle
rise from the opposite bank. The
footpath then hugs a river that snakes to
Marsh Bridge
; stay on the south side of the waterway here. Follow
it back to Dulverton, walking over the
River Barle bridge
, up Bridge St, then High St and back to Fore St.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Exford & Around
POP 500
Tucked into the banks of the River Exe at the heart of the moor, Exford's pleasing muddle
of cottages and slate-roofed houses cluster around a village green. Although hunting with
hounds was banned in 2005, the village remains the base of Devon and Somerset Stag-
hounds (who used to do the hunting); they ride out three times a week in season (late-
summer/autumn to spring), monitoring and managing the deer.
Activities
Exmoor's highest point is 4 miles northeast of Exford, at
Dunkery Beacon
(519m). An 8-mile
trail to the summit climbs from Wheddon Cross, 5 miles east of Exford, revealing stun-
ning views. Look out for Exmoor ponies and red deer on the way.
Or hike from Wheddon Cross to the local beauty spot of
Snowdrop Valley
(
www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm
)
, which is carpeted by snow-white blossoms in
spring.
Sleeping & Eating
