Tarr Steps

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  • Dominique G
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely experience!
    The location is awesome, just by the River Barle and the lovely old stone slabs bridge. You can go from there on amazing walks. The hotel is so nice, the food is delicious, comfortable en-suite bedrooms, very kind staff. We've already been staying there a couple of times and can't wait to go back!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 7, 2023
  • randyOxford
    Oxford, United Kingdom55 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning, well worth a visit!
    The road is a single track road so drive with caution…car park is £3 for three hours, you won’t need longer and there are toilets by the car park. Nice walk down to the Tarr steps, there is an incline on the way back. A great loop walk (you will get to a bridge to cross over) with stunning views…best views are on the left. Lovely greenery and the sound of the river is such a treat. Just as good as going to the beach!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 8, 2024
  • John H
    Coventry, United Kingdom62 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely circular walk
    Lovely circular walk around the area from the steps. Easy parking and well marked direction signs, not busy was hence we were there but could be in mid summer. Recommend good sturdy footwear but not essential.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 13, 2024
  • Dawn F
    Southampton, United Kingdom245 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful walking spot
    Beautiful place for a walk. We did the short circular which wax really well signposted. It's about 1.5 miles I think. The clapper bridge is obviously the star of the show but as we walked along the river every step seemed to bring a new gorgeous view into sight. Lovely!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 24, 2024
  • Tom B
    Chesterfield, United Kingdom964 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Walk
    Good car park and toilets ,cash and card pay and display. More of a good footwear walk than flip flops. The river is beautiful and the map shows the lane going through it, but signs warn no vehicles and the ford has some holes a motorcycle tried it got stuck and fell over. The walk along the river is great and very worth doing. There is also a very nice pub with good food. The birds will take crumbs off your plate. Few hours well spent. The path is rough in places with some climbs and decents but not hard.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 15, 2024
  • Stephen F
    Wrexham, United Kingdom19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Atmospheric
    An atmospheric spot to combine the old bridge with a lovely circular walk. Bring a picnic and rug for a perfect visit. There is a cafe for those who want a backup meal etc. The car park wasn't full at 11:30 on a Saturday afternoon with one level still empty ( room for 30 more cars ) and it was £3 for 3 hours or £5 all day and a toilet block. However the dog walkers who bag poo and leave it are a disgrace and spoil a lovely place. The dogs are not the problem it's the owners!
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 3, 2024
  • The Rakish Reviewer
    Swindon, United Kingdom331 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Atmospheric and slightly other-worldly.... but timing is everything
    This location is on the southern edge of Exmoor and isn't for the nervous driver. If like me you like narrow winding roads with passing places then you're in for a treat. This is a 'clapper' bridge meaning constructed with multiple spans of large flat stones. It's date is uncertain, but it certainly dates back to medieval times and potentially much further. It's probable this is a design that would have been common across the UK 800-1000 years ago. Tarr Bridge has a car park around a ten minute walk away - it's a long gradual slope down. Clearly it's dog friendly and I saw a wheelchair user navigate their way onto the bridge - but they are a braver man than I Gunga Din. Much depends on when you visit and how many others share the experience with you. We went towards the end of the season and fairly early. As a result, we had the place to ourselves for a time and saw 3-4 others during our visit. The atmosphere is laden with a sense of history and had a slightly other worldy quality at least for me. Though the bridge has been damaged and restored post flooding, it's clear this has been a crossing for over half a millenium and it's well worth a visit. Given the distance from the car park those with limited mobility may wish to have some help on hand or allow extra time. Plan for bad weather - we had a beautifully sunny morning but had it been raining on the return journey we'd have been drowned rats. There is a beautiful circular walk available which seems to be popular and scenic.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 26, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Wanderlust Hols
Weston super Mare, UK356 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Family
Located between Withypool and Dulverton and found at the end of a narrow country lane, there is a large 'pay and display' car park a short walk from Tarr Steps. Here you will also find information boards and toilets.

The ancient clapper bridge and Scheduled Ancient Monument, Tarr Steps crosses the pretty River Barle. While the steps themselves are impressive and very fun to cross, the experience is over rather quickly. After a few photographs we picked up the circular walking route through Tarr Steps Woods, following the river as we went.

Considering it was April (2021) Tarr Steps wasn't particularly busy the day we visited. We very much enjoyed our walk and decided to extend it by walking best part of the way to Withypool and crossing the river, instead of using the footbridge. Crossing the River Barle was lots of fun (my daughter and I had our aqua shoes with us) but it was freezing cold and a lot deeper in the middle than it looked! We always choose the more adventurous option though, if we can.

After walking back along varied terrain on the other side of the river, we were able to take more photographs at a now quite empty Tarr Steps! Once we returned to our in-progress campervan we pulled out the chairs, table, stove and kettle and enjoyed a brew and a spot of late lunch with the wonderful local wildlife.

Highly recommended day out. Such a beautiful part of Somerset.
Written April 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jchristina41
Rugeley, UK105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Lovely walk and scenery. Not advisable for families with pushchairs as ground / turrain is uneven. Plenty picture moments, opportunity to swim in the river, cafe nearby where you can buy food and drink, access to a large grassed area ideal for family picnics and swimming.
Written August 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jasjam98
Reading, UK824 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Family
Drove here via amazing norrow roads . The 20% gradient was a bit hairy but luckily did come across a car coming the other way . The river crossing was far to deep for a normal car .
Great one way circular walk - ensuring social distancing . Takes about 1 hour .
The water was freezing but we managing a paddle .
There is a small trailer cafe serving hot , cold drinks and very tasty scones .
Fantastic day out !!
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LeicestershireDex
Broughton Astley, UK203 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
Vistied this finally when in the area - we didnt go last time we were here. Glad we did as had a really enjoyable walk and the steps are amazing. As eveyone has said - its a clapper bridge and VERY old! There are numerous walks you can do. Our dog enjoyed himself and as he is 14 we only did the circular walk which was about 2+ miles ish. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes and not flip flops as we saw folks trying to manoeuvre around the terrain! Its not a difficult walk. There are a few ups and down along the way but most folks with an average level of fitness would manage. The water is crystal clear. We didnt see any Kingfishers but other folks said they had seen some. The Inn at the bottom does lovely food and on a nice day would have been perfect to sit outside and admire the view. Although it was Summer it had been raining and the paths were a little muddy and wet we had a great time. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. I followed the Sat Nav directions another reviewer had posted from Dulverton and had no problem with access.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sedwards552016
Croydon, UK32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Beautiful area to discover with riverside and circular walks available. Ideal for walkers and dog owners. We did the circular walk to Withypool and back which included the river, farmland, woods and the village itself.
Car park is at the Tarr Steps and was £3 for all day. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry W
Bracknell, UK1,384 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Just wow. What a lovely find and only £3 to park as long as you like in the car park, day rate, not longer.
A gentle drive down some narrow roads leas you to the car park, the it’s a 500m walk down to the river and the first steps over it. There is a lovely circular walk along the babbling river to a bridge where you start your return. There are further walks away from the river, but we did not have time, this time.
It’s so beautifully clear and we saw some crayfish in the water.
Written October 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PeterPietro
Horndean, UK461 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
With Covid restrictions recommending one way traffic across Tarr Steps completing the hour or so round trip alongside the river and back was something that we'd probably not have done otherwise but it was very worthwhile. In the main the path is on the level so no-one need be afraid of completing this walk. You can then end with refreshment at the Tarr Farm Inn and Restaurant.
Written October 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave from South England
Chichester, UK50 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Lovely location and stunning circular walk which took a few hours to do. Family of 4 with 10 year old and 8 month year old Dachshund. Everyone loved it, including the dog. There were a few coffee trucks on site providing snacks and hot drinks at average prices. The Tarr steps themselves are interesting and unique but the circular walk along the river is the highlight. We did plenty of rock hopping which ended up with most of us getting our feet wet but excellent fun.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Allan C
Ipswich, UK542 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Peaceful spot revisited after far too long an absence. Thereis now a car park and an information point up the hill which is fine if you are doing the circular walk but a bit expensive if you are just going bown to the steps and back up. Now being partially disabled we felt justified in driving down and briefly using one of the parking places provided at the bottom.Go early or late for maximum peace at this lovely spot.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ViLoWo
Cornwall, UK52 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
Despite the crowds of people it is actually a very tranquil place to visit and it's lovely to see so many families enjoying quality time time there having picnics and going paddling in the clear water. The circular walk needs to have better signage and walkers should be made aware that it involves crossing over the Steps which is a challenge for those unsteady on their feet or suffering from vertigo. The walk is unsuitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. It's a steep climb back to the car park where the ticket machine is not easy to use and only accepts credit cards, so discriminates against those people who wish to use cash.
Written September 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Tarr Steps - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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