Simonsbath Walks - Circular River Walk
This small village sits in a remote spot high in the centre of Exmoor.
It's a popular place to start a walk with a car park, a fine local pub and a number of waymarked trails branching off onto Exmoor Forest.
This circular walk from the village uses a sections of the Two Moors Way and the Tarka Trail to explore the surrounding area. On the way there are pleasant riverside stretches along the River Barle and River Exe, as well as some excellent views from the high points.
You can start the walk from the public car park in the village. From here you can pick up the long distance waymarked footpath and follow it south east along the River Barle to Flexbarrow and Cow Castle Hill fort. The elevated fort sits at a height of 332 metres, commanding fine views over the moors.
The route continues to Great Fernby Ball where you turn west to Burcombe and Great Cornham. You continue north to Tangs Bottom and Exe Head where you turn east to Dure Down and Great Ashcombe.
The final section then leads south through Ashcombe Bottom and the woodland of the Ashcombe Plantation before returning to the car park at Simonsbath.
Postcode
TA24 7SH - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsSimonsbath Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Simonsbath Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Simonsbath OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Simonsbath Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Simonsbath
- Challacombe - This small Devon village sits on the edge of the Exmoor National Park
- Wistlandpound Reservoir - This pretty reservoir on the edge of Exmoor has a nice walking trail running around the perimeter.
- Nutscale Reservoir - This small reservoir is located on Exmoor near Minehead
- Arlington Court - This walk explores the grounds of the National Trust's Arlington Court on the edge of Exmoor in north Devon.
- Withypool to Tarr Steps Circular Walk - This circular walk from Withypool uses a section of the Two Moors Way to visit the famous Tarr Steps
- Lorna Doone Walk - Explore Exmoor's beautiful Doone Valley on this fine literary walk.
- Tarr Steps - This circular walk visits the famous Tarr Steps before a lovely riverside stroll along the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park
- Landacre Bridge from Withypool - This circular walk takes you from the little village of Withypool to the medieval Landacre Bridge on Exmoor
- Lynton and Lynmouth - The town of Lynton and village of Lynmouth sit side by side on the Exmoor coast in north Devon
- Two Moors Way - Travel from Ivybridge to Lynmouth through the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks on this splendid walk through Devon and Somerset
- Tarka Trail - This wonderful walk through Devon follows the path taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of that name
- Pinkery Pond - This circular walk visits Pinkery Pond in the Barle Valley area of the Exmoor National Park.
Pubs/Cafes
Back in the village you can enjoy some well earned refreshment at the Exmoor Forest Inn. The inn dates back to 1789 and serves high quality dishes. There's also a garden area, decent rooms and a campsite if you'd like to stay in the area.
Dog Walking
The moors are a fine place for a dog walk and the Exmoor Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the west is the village of Challacombe where you will find some pleasant trails, an old mill and a noteworthy stone pub dating to the 16th century. The circular waterside trail around the scenic Wistlandpound Reservoir is also located in this area.
To the north west there's Pinkery Pond, a remote beauty spot with a picturesque pond popular with wild swimmers. You'll also find the 487m high Chains Barrow Hill in this area.
Photos
Simonsbath
Simonsbath Bridge
River Barle entering Simonsbath. Just to west of village and south of junction of B3358 with B3223.
Exe Head. This is the source of one of the South West's great Rivers, The Exe. Standing by the gate in Grant Shermans' picture the trickle starts in the gulley on the left. Tarka Trail- Two Moors Way on the right. This water enters the English Channel at Exeter/Exemouth some 42 miles as the crow flies or 58 meandering.
View towards the Barle valley from Cow Castle.
Wheal Eliza. Ruin of C19th iron mine near Cow Castle
Exmoor: river Barle Looking west above Cornham Brake. Seen from the South Molton road near Simonsbath
Barle Water