Exmoor - Tarr Steps and Dunster

The Tarr Steps is a clapper bridge across the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park. The stone slabs weigh up to two tons each. The bridge is 180 feet (55 m) long and has 17 spans. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument. It is an ancient form of bridge constructed with large unmortared slabs of stone resting on one another; this is the largest example of its type and is one of the best-known monuments on Exmoor.

Its age is unknown, as several theories claim that Tarr Steps dates from the Bronze Age, but others date them from around 1400 AD. It has been restored several times in recent years, following flood damage.

Tarr Steps

The area around here is beautiful, and the riverside walk was an obvious attraction! It didn't disappoint as it was peaceful and unspoilt.

View of the River Barle as we crossed a bridge to continue our walk back on the other side of the river.

The wire bridge which captures most floating debris in the event of a storm

As we arrived back at the start, this group of young people were crossing and proceeded to sit on a large grass area and resume their schooling. Very nice too!

From here, we drove to Dunster to have a good look round. Leaving the car park, we set of toward the church and arrived at this building which turned out to be an old tithe barn, now used as a wedding and events venue.

The Tithe Barn was originally part of a Benedictine Dunster Priory and has been much altered since the 14th century and only a limited amount of the original features survives.

The Priory Church of St George is predominantly 15th-century with evidence of 12th- and 13th-century work. It was shared for worship between the monks of Dunster Priory and the parishioners, however this led to several conflicts between them. One outcome was the carved rood screen which divided the church in two with, the parish using the west chancel and the monks the east. Strange ways people have!

A dovecote is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be free-standing structures in a variety of shapes or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in the Middle East and Europe and were kept for their eggs and dung. A mark of affluence in England in times past.

An old water pump on the side of Parham House, in Dunster. I remember using one of these a lot when I was growing up. 

A restored 18th-century watermill built on the site of a mill mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. The mill is set in peaceful surroundings alongside the river Avill and at the entrance to the Dunster Castle River gardens. The watermill is fully operational. You can often see original milling here and even buy the flour produced. We had a brief wander around but did not stay long as we have looked around similar many times - including in our own village.

Gateway at the side of the mill leading into the castle gardens

Mid/late 18th century picturesque bridge built by HF Luttrell (of Dunster Castle) to replace the medieval mill bridge over River Avill. Built of brick and stone with two pointed arches. Low brick parapet on the south side. Parapet to north side is raised but damaged.

Dunster Castle has been at its commanding location since the Middle Ages: a perfect site for a castle, both visually impressive and easily defended.

The de Mohuns family arrived soon after William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066. William de Mohun constructed a timber castle on the site of a Saxon hillfort as part of the pacification of Somerset.

Nothing remains of the de Mohuns’ castle except the 13th-century lower-level gateway with its massive iron-bound oak doors.

The medieval castle was fortified by a stone curtain wall and bastion towers along the north side of the lower ward.

In 1376 the de Mohuns sold the castle to the Luttrell family, who were responsible for most of what we see at Dunster today. They built the gatehouse in 1420, created a Jacobean mansion in 1617, defended and saved the castle during the English Civil War and updated the castle in the Victorian era.

The family eventually gave the whole castle and grounds to the National Trust who manage it today.

A couple of images of the Castle. One from up in the hillside gardens and the other from ground level and at the front.

The Foresters Arms in Dunster. 

Two of the beautiful buildings around this interesting town.

The Gallox Bridge, Dunster. A medieval packhorse bridge that has been in use for over 500 years. The bridge was probably built in the 15th century and was used by shepherds bringing wool fleeces from the high moors of Exmoor to the busy wool market in Dunster. The name ‘Gallox’ comes from ‘gallows’, a reference to a place of public execution on a hill outside the village, where the lords of Dunster Castle would hang thieves.

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