Dulverton: Walking Trails, River Landscapes and History

Dulverton lies in a steep, wooded valley at the confluence of the River Barle and River Exe. Walking trails, river landscapes and historic sites shape the character of the town. Options range from self-guided walks through the town to longer routes over hills, ridges and moorland.

Walking around Dulverton

The Dulverton Sound Walks are downloadable, self-guided audio tours based on voices from the Exmoor Oral History Archive. Both walks start at the statue of Lorna Doone on Exmoor Lawns and lead through the town. They are step-free; each walk takes about an hour. This makes it easy to distinguish the time required for these town walks from that of a longer hike, while the audio brings Dulverton’s voices and town routes together.

The Dulverton and Tarr Steps route takes considerably longer: it is 20.3 kilometres long and takes about five to six hours. It first leads over the hills, ridges and moorland above Dulverton, then returns to the town through the wooded valley of the River Barle. The changes in landscape and the time involved clearly distinguish this tour from the approximately one-hour Sound Walks.

A public footpath runs along the foot of Burridge Woods as part of the Exe Valley Way, parallel to the River Barle. This is distinct from a possible circular walk through Burridge Woods on the river’s south bank, returning via Marsh Bridge. The River Barle near Dulverton is also suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Alongside the footpaths described, there are therefore other options connected with the river landscape.

Meet Exmoor ponies

The Exmoor Pony Centre in Ashwick near Dulverton offers the chance to meet Exmoor ponies in the yard, in the paddocks and in the petting enclosure. If you would like to include an introductory riding lesson, you should book in advance: advance booking is required for lessons in the indoor riding arena. Meeting the ponies and taking a riding lesson are separate activities and can be planned accordingly.

River, bridge and watermill landscape

Barle Bridge crosses the River Barle in Dulverton. It is a five-arched stone bridge of medieval origin and continues to carry vehicular traffic across the river. This structure thus combines a historic bridge design with an ongoing transport function.

The weir and leat form an old urban watermill landscape with a history spanning more than 700 years. The leat flows through Dulverton and offers visitors several viewpoints. Historically, it once powered four mills. The mills are therefore part of the watercourse’s former use; the viewpoints give visitors a connection to this landscape running through the town.

Local history and events

The Dulverton Heritage Centre offers visitors an educational experience focused on the history, natural history and architecture of the surrounding area. It includes Granny Baker’s Kitchen, the Dulverton Room and an exhibition on the history of the Exmoor pony. A complete model of Dulverton’s historic railway station is housed in a separate building; the trains and carriages are movable. The station itself closed in 1966.

Dulverton Town Hall on Fore Street also offers a distinctive architectural connection to the town: it has detached double external staircases and a covered porch. If you would like to combine your visit with a market, you can plan around the Dulverton Farmers Market’s regular schedule. It takes place from April to September on the last Saturday of each month, from 10:00 to 14:30, at the Lion Stables Car Park; it is worth checking the specific date when planning.

In Dulverton, Exmoor Distillery offers tours and tastings related to its gin and rum production. Booking and availability may change, so it is sensible to check in advance for this activity. Together with the market, local history and the various walking options, this provides a selection of themes to help plan a stay in Dulverton.

Discover more destinations: Bagborough, Buckland Dinham, Burnham-On-Sea, Chilcompton, Queen Camel, West Coker, Nunney, Cucklington

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