Route Info
The route starts at the car park in Simonsbath and takes you along the beautiful upland valley of the River Barle to the mysterious Wheal Eliza. It’s a “there-and-back” walk, so you return on the same route. Purchase a water and tear resistant route guide online or from an Exmoor National Park Centre
Distance - 3.8 km (about 2.5miles). Time - about an hour and 10 mins
Accessibility info
Watch the Video
Each Explorer Route has its own video full of info and what you might expect to experience on the walk.
Link to route on Ordnance Survey mapping
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Accessibility information
Ascent / Descent - About 250 ft / 76 metres
Facilities
At the car park at the start of the walk there are accessible public toilets. Near the start / end of the walk you pass the Exmoor Forest Inn, and nearby in the village are tearooms.
Terrain and surface
This route is graded under the ‘Miles for Stiles’ as Access For Some: Suitable for sturdy pushchairs, assisted wheelchairs and more robust, all terrain type equipment.
The route has an initial descent (max 1:10) on tarmac paths from the car park down to the woods close to the river. Although this section has a pavement, there aren’t drop kerbs, so It then heads downstream on the side of the valley, along a firm compacted stone path, with some exposed bedrock. This is quite undulating (max gradient 1:6) and in places can be muddy in the winter (though work is planned for Spring 2025 to improve this).
View a more detailed ‘walk-through’ video showing the path surface and terrain along the entire route.
Exmoor Explorers
This is one of our top ten shorter Exmoor walks. We have chosen our favourite walks to help you get a real feel for the wonderful landscape, history and wildlife of Exmoor National Park