Dulverton

The town of Dulverton in Somerset is a popular place for visitors coming to explore scenic Exmoor National Park; which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley and the Vale of Porlock and stretches across both Somerset and Devon counties. The National Park offers diverse landscapes enjoyed by walkers with hilly, open moorland and 34 miles of coast with several areas of the moor declared as Sites of Special Scientific Interest due to the variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. Dulverton is home to the Exmoor National Park Authority headquarters. Lying near the border with Devon, Dulverton has long been settled and is thought to have been a royal manor before the Norman Conquest. The town grew and developed during the Middle Ages with the establishment of markets facilitating trade and in wool and laundries to wash the fleeces, utilising the fast-flowing River Barle.

Dulverton has ample amenities, shops, eateries and pubs as well as a host of attractions and sites of interest within the surrounding area. The town lies in the beautiful wooded valley of the River Barle that along with the river, are both designated as biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Walks along the river pass under the Tarr Steps, a pre-historic ‘clapper bridge’ thought to date from around 1000 BC. Legend tells that the steps were placed here by the devil in order to win a bet. The impressive bridge is a Grade I listed building. Between the pretty town centre and the river is a wonderful meadow used as a recreation area and just south of the town is Briggins Moor, another biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.