Exford: Walking Trails, River and Historic Buildings

Exford lies on the River Exe and in the heart of Exmoor National Park. The river and national park give the village two geographical reference points. Walking trails lead through farmland and moorland or as far as the source of the River Exe on the open moor. If you are looking for hotels in Exford, you can choose your destination based on whether walking, riverside scenery or architectural history matters most to your stay. The local points of interest differ: trails have named destinations and different forms; the buildings reflect different historical contexts.

Walking between Exford and the Open Moor

The Exford and Dunkery Beacon circular walk starts in Exford and leads through farmland and moorland to Dunkery Beacon. Its circular route and named destination give the walk a clear framework. The two landscape types shape the route; conditions can vary seasonally. Take this change into account when planning, rather than considering the route only in terms of its destination.

The Exe Valley Way includes an additional link from Exford to Exe Head, the source of the River Exe on the open moor. This link is listed as 7.5 miles (12 km). This presents two different ways to plan: a circular walk to Dunkery Beacon and a measured route to the river’s source. The route’s form, destination and length are concrete differences that can guide your choice. Exford is a reference point for both, but each trail has its own route and destination.

Church, Bridge and Local Remembrance

The Church of St Mary Magdalene has a 15th-century tower and contains design features by Sir Ninian Comper. These two details offer different perspectives on the church: the tower is dated, while Comper is named as the designer of the features. Anyone interested in architecture will find both a dated reference and a clearly attributed design here.

Exford Bridge also combines a specific type of structure with a historical context. It is a road bridge over the River Exe and was rebuilt in 1930 on a medieval site. The distinction is important: 1930 is the date of the rebuilding, while the site is medieval. This gives it a different historical context from the church tower, which dates from the 15th century.

Exford Memorial Hall was built as a memorial to the ten men from Exford who died in the First World War. The number and local connection make the reason for it specific: it commemorates men from Exford. A medieval rood screen from West Quantoxhead, reinstalled in the Church of St Mary Magdalene in 1929, adds another historical context. Its origin and reinstallation mark different stages in the history of this architectural feature. Together, the buildings show different connections to the past: a dated church tower, a bridge on a medieval site, a memorial and a rood screen that came to Exford from another place.

Exford Horse Show in August

The Exford Horse Show is an active, established event held in mid-August. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the specific date for that year before travelling. This lets you take the event date into account without conflating it with the walking trails and buildings described as available year-round.

Discover more destinations: Baltonsborough, Burrow Bridge, Fivehead, Milborne Port, Wells, Catcott, Nether Stowey, West Huntspill.

For the broader travel overview: Somerset.