Travel
Getting to and around Exmoor National Park
Exmoor National Park is situated in South West England with good links to the rest of the country. It is however one of the more remote National Parks, but the effort of arriving here is rewarded by the great experiences on offer.
We encourage you to ExploreMoor and to enjoy a car free, care free Exmoor.
Jump to Travelling by bus or coach; train; car or on foot, bike or horseback.
Travelling by bus or coach
Exmoor National Park is served by a number of different bus routes, including what is reputed to be the country's steepest bus route and one of the most scenic too - the Exmoor Coaster.
A summary of services operating either to, or primarily within the National Park, can be found below.
Key - Destinations in bold are within Exmoor National Park. Destinations in (brackets) are not served on all journeys.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information no responsibility can be taken for any inaccuracies or changes. Please visit Traveline for further details. Some services can be disrupted and so best to check with individual operators on the day of travel for confirmation.
National Express operate coaches to Taunton, Tiverton, Minehead and Barnstaple where local connections can be picked up.
Berry's operate a SuperFast Service between London and Taunton / Tiverton.
Megabus operate services to Taunton and Barnstaple.
Exmoor Coaster (First - Adventures by Bus) - (open top)
Route - Blue Anchor*, Dunster*, Minehead, Allerford, Porlock, Culbone, County Gate, Countisbury, Lynmouth., Woody Bay station, Blackmoor Gate*, Combe Martin*, Ilfracombe*.
*Selected summer services only.
7 days a week all year - Summer service: 7 journey's a day (8 on weekends / school holidays). Winter service: 2 services a day (3 services weekends and school holidays).
10 Service (Riddlers)
Route Minehead, Selworthy, Porlock, Porlock Weir
All year. Monday - Saturday.
25 Service (First - Buses of Somerset)
Route - Taunton rail station, Milverton, Wiveliscombe, Bampton, Dulverton.
All year. Monday - Saturday.
28 Service (First - Buses of Somerset)
Route - Taunton (Taunton Rail Station), Bishops Lydeard (West Somerset Railway), Williton, Watchet, Washford, Dunster, Minehead.
All year. 8 days a week.
198 service (AtWest)
Route - Dulverton, Bridgetown, Wheddon Cross, Exford, Timberscombe, Dunster, Minehead
All year. Monday - Saturday.
301 Service (Filers)
Route - Barnstaple, Milltown, Illfracombe, Watermouth, Berrynarbour, Combe Martin
All year. Monday - Saturday.
309/310 Service (Filers)
Route - Barnstaple, (Arlington), Blackmoor Gate, Parracombe, Woody Bay Station, Barbrook, Lynton, Lynmouth
All year. Monday – Saturday
398 Service (Dartline)
Route - Tiverton, Bolham, cove, Bampton, Exebridge, Brushford, Dulverton
All year. Monday - Saturday.
467 service (Ridlers)
Route - Dulverton, Bridgetown, Winsford, Exford, Wheddon Cross, Timberscombe, Minehead
Mon -Fri (term time only)
678 service (Exmoor Community Bus)
Route - Dulverton, Brushford, Exebridge, Bury, Upton, Brompton Regis, Timberscombe, Minehead
All year. Thursday.
Travelling by train
When travelling to Exmoor National Park why not let the train take the strain? Train travel can be a great experience and part of a holiday in itself opening up a whole range of new opportunities for you to enjoy. Advanced bookings not only provides you with significant savings but also provides you with a seat reservation.
For full details visit National Rail. The 'Man in Seat 61' can provide you with lots of tips to make the most of train travel. To find a taxi service operating train stations please search TrainTaxi.
Please note there is no mainline rail operating within Exmoor.
Intercity trains operated by GWR and Cross Country from London, the Midlands the far South West serve both Taunton and Tiverton Parkway stations, situated approximately 60mins bus journey away from Exmoor National Park.
From Taunton take the 28 service to Minehead or 25 service to Dulverton.
From Tiverton Parkway take a local bus or taxi to Tiverton bus station and take the 398 service to Dulverton.
The Tarka Line is a branch line connecting Exeter (with access to mainline services) to Barnstaple – approx. 30mins bus journey from Exmoor National Park.
From Barnstaple take the 309 / 310 raillink service to Combe Martin, and Lynmouth (through ticketing is available covering the train and bus.
The West Somerset Railway is a heritage steam railway skirting the eastern edge of the moor from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, gateway to Exmoor. Bishops Lydeard can be reached by bus service 28 from Taunton Railway station. The line terminates at Minehead with onward bus services across the Moor such as the Exmoor Coaster. Alternatively alight at Dunster beach for a short walk to the historic town of Dunster within Exmoor National Park.
A 1 mile stretch of the former Lynton and Barnstaple Railway currently operates as a heritage service between Woody Bay and Killington Lane.
The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water powered funicular connecting the twin resorts of Lynton and Lynmouth. Open Mid February - November.
Travelling by car
Follow the M5 to:
- Junction 23 at Bridgwater and follow the A39 (for Minehead and the north east of Exmoor),
- Junction 25 at Taunton and follow the A358 for Minehead and eastern Exmoor)
- Junction 27 at Tiverton and follow the A361 (and continue on the A361 ad A399 for north west Exmoor or follow the A396 (for southern and central Exmoor).
If travelling from the South East you can also approach via the A303 / A358 to Taunton and the M5.
Driving around Exmoor
Take care on country roads and be aware of livestock.
Details of parking and annual permits available here.
Please be aware when using Sat-Nav that postcodes in rural areas often cover a large geographical area so should not be solely relied upon away from main settlements.
Travelling by foot, bike or horseback
Leaving he car behind has to be one of the best ways to really explore Exmoor.
Cycling
Sustrans National Route 3 - The Westcountry Way crosses the moor and provides links with rail stations at Barnstaple, Tiverton Parkway and Taunton. The route links with the wider national network of sustran routes and runs from Lands End to Bristol. For details of cycling around Exmoor visit our cycling page.
Walking
For details of walking within Exmoor and Long Distant Walking routes visit our walking pages. Slow Ways is an evolving network of mapped routes connecting all the National Parks with major settlements - take a look here.
Horse riding
Exmoor has a well earned reputation as one of the best horse riding spots in the country. Over half of the extensive public rights of way network is classified as bridleway and there are numerous stables and riding schools across Exmoor. Riding can be a great way to explore some of the remoter and more wild parts of the National Park such as the Doone Valley.