Exmoor National Park Launches Storm Damage Appeal

Sections of the South West Coast Path, Two Moors Way and Coleridge Way have been largely blocked and the National Park Field Services Team, along with Teams from ENPA partners including the National Trust and other landowners, are working hard to reopen routes as soon as possible. ENPA warn that it may still be several weeks before some long-distance routes are fully reopen and it’s advising against attempting any affected routes in woodland areas until cleared.

You can donate to the Exmoor Storm Darragh Appeal at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor

Sarah Bryan CEO of Exmoor National Park Authority said:

“This comes at a time when we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Exmoor's designation of the National Park as well as the 75th Anniversary of the pioneering National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949) which helped ensure access for the nation to some of our most special places. The National Park has a fantastic network of paths that provide great benefits to people and support many of our local businesses. ENPA’s skilled Field Services Team are out working on trees full-time, along with tractors and other machinery to get our most important routes open and safe. We would encourage members of the public to report any rights of way still blocked by fallen trees via https://roam.somerset.gov.uk or email access@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk with location details and a photo.”

Exmoor National Park Rangers are putting extra time into inspecting routes and liaising with landowners across the landscape.

Exmoor National Park Authority Field Services Teams have already cleared over 120 trees from blocked routes including in North Hill, Minehead and the Pinkery outdoor education centre near Simonsbath. Teams are currently working to clear the Coast Path between Porlock Weir and Countisbury and the Tarr Steps circular.

Some popular walks at Dunkery Beacon, Valley of Rocks, Wimbleball and Haddon Hill and Porlock Marsh are open and Tarr Steps east bank walk is currently open as far as Hinds Pitt Bridge.

Update Thursday 19 December

After work by our field services team and partners to remove hundreds of trees on Exmoor coastal paths, the coast Path from Minehead to Porlock Weir is now cleared and open in time to enjoy your Christmas walk!

Heddon Valley to Countisbury is open and the Coast Path from Porlock Weir to Culbone Church is also now open.

The team are working hard on making the the Culbone access track safe and continuing towards Glenthorne. They are also working on the Tarr Steps circular routes and the Greenleigh access track.

We advise any users to take extra care, especially in wooded sections and in windy weather, as while we have been able to clear major obstacles there are still issues with weakened trees, hanging branches, damaged surfaces where root plates have torn up, and some trees which we have made passable but are still in place. This will all need to be addressed with a phase two programme of work once we have the most urgent things dealt with, not just on the coast path but elsewhere on the Exmoor network.

Thanks to everyone working with us and helping in the storm clearance effort!