Dulverton
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Dulverton

Dulverton

Exmoor market town in the River Barle valley, used as a base for moorland walks

Dulverton is a small market town on the southern edge of Exmoor, tucked into the valley of the River Barle. It serves as the headquarters of the Exmoor National Park Authority and makes an excellent base for walking — the Barle Valley, Tarr Steps (a medieval clapper bridge upstream), and the open moorland above the town are all accessible on foot.

The town itself is quiet and attractive, with a handful of independent shops, a good secondhand bookshop, and a couple of pubs. There are no specific sights to tick off, which is rather the point.

Guide

Eating Out

Dulverton is small but eats well. Woods Bar & Restaurant on Bank Square is the long-standing favourite, with seasonal cooking, a good wine list, and a fire in winter. The Bridge Inn by the Barle bridge is the locals' pub of choice — good ales, ploughman's lunches, and a riverside garden in summer. Lewis's Tea Rooms on the High Street is the classic afternoon-tea stop for Exmoor walkers.

For walking food, the Exclusive Cake Co. sells excellent take-away cakes and savoury pies; Mortimer's is a deli for picnic supplies. Most places close by 9pm and several close one or two days a week — check ahead in shoulder season.

Guide

Getting There

Dulverton has no railway station — the nearest is Tiverton Parkway, around 12 miles south on the main Bristol-to-Exeter line, with hourly trains from London Paddington (around two hours fifteen minutes). From Tiverton Parkway, a pre-booked taxi reaches Dulverton in about 25 minutes; bus services exist but are sparse.

By road, Dulverton sits on the A396 from Tiverton (M5 junction 27) to Minehead. Most visitors arrive by car. The town has a small free car park and on-street parking is limited and easily filled in summer.

Guide

Things to Do

Dulverton is a base for walking, not a town of ticked-off sights. The Exmoor National Park Authority sits in the old workhouse on Exmoor House, and the surrounding hills, woods, and river valleys are why most visitors come.

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