Tarr Steps Exmoor: The Oldest Clapper Bridge in The UK

Tarr Steps blows my mind. How on earth is this bridge still standing when it was possibly built in 1000BC? Imagine all the tales it could tell and the sights it would have seen over 30+ centuries! Absolute madness.

This ancient clapper bridge stretches across the fast flowing River Barle and it has to be one of Exmoor’s most special landmarks. Whether you plan to splash about in the shallow water, sit on the river bank with a picnic or head off on one of the scenic walking trails, Tarr Steps is a charming place to visit in the UK. Theres even free entertainment watching the odd car brave the ford crossing, while others contemplate it… then play it safe by turning around.

If you’re planning a trip to Exmoor’s magical Tarr Steps, here’s everything you need to know.

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Where is Tarr Steps?

Tar Steps is located near the edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset, England. The closest town is Dulverton which sits near the border of Devon, roughy 4 miles away.

The post code for the Tarr Steps carpark is: TA22 9PY

Car Parking For Visiting Tarr Steps

The Tarr Steps carpark is fairly large with parking bays spread out over tiered levels. Thankfully whenever I’ve visited, theres never been an issue finding a space. As for a quick heads-up, It’s a very narrow country lane to reach the carpark, so drive extra carefully as you might need to reverse in places to let other cars pass – we had to a few times.

The carpark for Tarr Steps is a short walk away from the ancient clapper bridge. It’s an easy downhill stroll to get there, so be prepared for an uphill slog back to the car when it’s time to leave. It’s not that bad really.

It’s a pay and display carpark, so make sure you purchase your ticket and display it on your dash before you head down to the bridge.

Cars are £3 for up to 3 hours, or £5 for all day.

Top tip: There’s a toilet block up in the carpark

Time For a Bit of History

Tarr Steps isn’t just old – it’s properly ancient. This 17 span clapper bridge (which basically means it’s made of big, flat slabs of stone laid across stone supports. A technique which used long before cement was a thing) is believed by some archaeologists to date back to around 1000 BC. That’s over 3,000 years old, which means it was built when people were still using bronze tools and the Iron Age was just kicking off. Others think it may have been built later, during the medieval period.

No one knows for certain who built it, when, or how they managed it without modern machinery like cranes and diggers! But it’s thought to be Britain’s oldest surviving clapper bridge. The massive stone slabs which weigh between 1 and 2 tonnes each, have mostly held their ground through centuries of foot traffic and storms. Although a few of the slabs have been swept away by powerful floods over the years. Thankfully each time it’s been carefully rebuilt stone by stone using traditional methods.

To help protect it, there’s now a sturdy wire barrier stretched across the river a little further upstream. It’s there to catch fallen trees and debris before they crash into the bridge. When we visited it was completely tangled with branches, but sadly, plenty had still made it through, and Tarr Steps was surrounded by driftwood and debris. I guess it just shows how fierce nature can be, and how much effort goes into keeping this ancient structure standing.

Myth and Legend Around Tarr Steps

Local legend says the Devil himself built the bridge and that he warned the locals not to cross it. So when a black cat attempted to cross and it disappeared in a puff of smoke before everyones eyes, a brave vicar followed, confronted the Devil, and won back the right for humans to use it. Apparently the Devil claimed the right to sunbathe on it though! Whether you believe the tale or not, it adds a brilliant bit of myth to the magic.

Places to Eat – Tarr Farm Inn

A lot of people bring a trusty picnic with them and set up on the river bank for a lovely chilled afternoon in the sunshine – a perfect option so the kids can carry on playing in the shallow water. However if you don’t fancy lugging a cool-box down with you, there are a couple other options for food and drink.

First up theres a couple snack vans right down by Tar Steps which serve hot and cold drinks, along with muffins, flapjack, filled rolls and ice-creams.

But I think the best place to stop is at pub right by Tarr Steps called Tarr Farm Inn. It’s got loads of indoor seating, and theres even more outside as the beer garden wraps around the pub and offers stunning views over the river.

They do cooked food, but we love to get a delicious cream tea (how very British) which always comes out perfectly warm – plus they aren’t stingy with the jam and clotted cream!

Stroll Along One of The Walking Trails

There’s a few different walking trails sign posted by the river, all varying in length. Sadly the circular river loop which we wanted to do was closed as the bridge further up the river needed some structural repairs.

Even though we couldn’t do the loop, we decided to still head that way and just make it a longer out-and-back stroll. We passed the unsafe bridge that was closed, and further along we thought our luck had changed when we eventually arrived at a different bridge to cross the river. Unfortunately the river bank path on the other side was marked private so we still had to turn back the way we came.

It was still a lovely shaded walk beneath the tree canopy and a nice gentle stroll beside the river (which was needed after our epic North Devon coastal walk the day before) The path does climb quite high in places, but it’s a gentle gradient and you hardly notice. Well, not until you look down and realise how far up from the water you’ve come!

When the closed bridge is repaired, the circular walk would be perfect for families with little ones. It’s fairly short (approx 2 miles in total) mostly flat, and filled with splash-worthy spots along the river. Sadly it’s not pram of wheelchair friendly.

Other Places to Visit Nearby

Exmoor is full of stunning walking spots, but here are some of my favourites:

Dunkery Beacon – The highest hill in Somerset!

Wimbleball lake – You can either do a short walk to the impressive dam, or go for the full circular around the lake.

Valley of Rocks -An epic coastal walk along a rocky cliff. The scenery reminds me a little bit of Iceland!

Sitting on Dunkery Beacon Cairn — Dunkery Beacon

Wimbleball Lake dam in Exmoor — Wimbleball Lake

Road to Valley of Rocks — Valley of Rocks

Where To Stay Near Tarr Steps

For this trip we stayed at The Barn at Lower Birch Farmhouse in Stoke Rivers which is around 45 minutes drive away. It was a lovely converted one-bedroom barn, with touches of 70’s charm and a free standing pink bath in the bedroom!

If that’s not big enough, Dulverton would be your closest option. If you’re happy to drive a bit, take a look at Exmoor in general.

living area Stoke Rivers Lower Birch Farmhouse North Devon Airbnb

What To Wear For Visiting Tarr Steps

If you’re planning on getting in the water, I’d recommend water shoes as the little rocks can be equal parts slippery and painful underfoot. If you really want to get involved and go for a wild swim (you’ll need to head upstream for deeper water) then obviously take some swim gear and a towel! We like to keep our quick drying towel in our backpack as it’s compact and dries super fast.

As for the walks you don’t need technical gear. Trainers will be fine for most trails, although if you’ve got walking boots or trail shoes, even better. The paths are natural so expect some mud, stones, and the occasional tree root jutting out to try and send you flying.

Do You Need to Pay to Visit Tarr Steps?

There is no entry cost to visit Tarr Steps, the only cost is the carpark – and maybe a cream tea if you can’t avoid temptation!

Final Thoughts

Tarr Steps is one of those places that just sticks with you. Whether you’re there to soak up the ancient history, splash about in the river, tuck into a cream tea, or head off on a woodland walk, it’s got something for everyone. It’s wild, peaceful, a bit mysterious, and totally magical.

We always leave feeling like we’ve stumbled across a hidden gem, even if it’s not that hidden! So if you find yourself in Exmoor, pop Tarr Steps on your list and have a fun time exploring.

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