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Exmoor
Exmoor combines wooded river valleys, open moor and a dramatic coast across Devon and Somerset. Tarr Steps and Heddon Valley offer two quite different introductions: a sheltered riverside outing and a valley leading towards the sea.
This guide covers the wider National Park. Choose a particular starting point and published route before travelling; the whole area does not have one entrance, one car park or one set of opening hours.
Exmoor at a glance
Where
Devon · Somerset
Your visit
Choose a short outing or a longer walk using the route information below.
Before you arrive
Check current opening times, route conditions and local notices.
Why visit Exmoor?
A good Exmoor day need not involve a long moorland hike. Following a river through woodland gives time to notice changing light, water and birds, while a coastal viewpoint brings a sense of the scale of the landscape. Choose one area rather than trying to see everything in a day.
The park includes farms and communities as well as protected landscapes. Public paths and access land provide opportunities to explore, but National Park status does not mean every field or woodland is freely accessible. Keep to permitted routes and respect temporary restrictions.
Walks and places to explore
Tarr Steps and the River Barle
The clapper bridge is a memorable riverside starting point. The official Explorer route uses stone and earth paths with roots, uneven ground and gradients up to 1 in 6. The descent from the main car park must be climbed again on the return. Do not mistake the whole woodland circuit for an accessible level walk.
Heddon’s Mouth viewpoint
The official route follows the west bank of the river towards a viewpoint above the beach. The optional descent to the beach crosses uneven rock and shingle. An improved route is suitable for hired off-road Trampers; scooter users should follow the recommended direction and waymarks because some stretches are narrow.
Choose an Exmoor Stroll
For a shorter outing, browse the authority’s Exmoor Strolls collection. These routes have step-free and stile-free options with graded access information and route videos. Select the surface and gradient that suit your group, rather than treating every route described as a stroll as equally easy.
Accessibility and easier visits
At Tarr Steps, a short level riverside section can be reached from the limited Blue Badge parking and drop-off area. The complete Explorer circuit is rougher and is not suitable for mobility scooters. Check the route video before choosing it.
Heddon Valley has accessible public toilets at the start of the official walk and an off-road Tramper hire option. Book equipment with the provider in advance and discuss suitability. The beach itself is a separate, more difficult destination.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Choose Dulverton for the southern park or a coastal gateway for Heddon Valley. Rural public transport varies by route and season: check both outward and return journeys before deciding on a walk. Narrow lanes can take longer than a map suggests, so avoid a tightly packed itinerary.
Parking and cost
Use the designated parking for your chosen starting point. Tarr Steps has a main car park and limited riverside Blue Badge provision; check current payment instructions on arrival. Heddon Valley parking is managed separately. Do not park in passing places, gateways or on verges if a site is full.
Opening and admission
There is no single National Park admission ticket or daily opening timetable. Visitor centres, private attractions and individual car parks have their own arrangements. Check current path notices and the opening times of any facility your visit depends on.
Toilets and refreshments
Plan toilets and refreshments around your starting point. The Heddon’s Mouth route lists a pub, shop and accessible public toilets at the start; Tarr Steps has the Tarr Farm Inn and sometimes a seasonal refreshments kiosk. Carry food and water for walks away from these stops.
Dogs and responsible visits
Keep dogs close and on a lead around livestock and where signs require it. Give nesting birds and other wildlife space, close gates as directed, and take dog waste away. A quiet valley still contains working farmland and sensitive habitats.
Wildlife and changing seasons
Woodland and rivers
Spring and summer bring woodland colour and birdsong; a slow walk beside the river offers a different experience from a moorland crossing. Watch from paths and leave banks and vegetation undisturbed.
Open country through the seasons
Moorland and coastal views change with weather and season. Autumn woodland can be rewarding, while winter outings need shorter daylight and exposed conditions factored into the plan. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Make the most of your day
Carry a map and weather protection. Avoid slippery river crossings after rain and stay clear of cliff edges and the base of unstable cliffs. Follow the authority’s Path News before setting off, and change plans if flooding, closures or weather affect your route.
Official visitor information
Official Exmoor walking and path updates · Tarr Steps route and access information · Heddon’s Mouth route and access information · Accessible Exmoor
Visitor details checked 5 October 2026. Opening times, charges and access can change; check the official sources before travelling.