Exploring the stunning landscapes of Exmoor National Park could become significantly easier and more enjoyable with a new comprehensive plan focused on improving walking and cycling routes across the park.
Spanning the Devon-Somerset border, Exmoor boasts an extensive network of public rights of way, permissive paths, and bridleways, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in its natural beauty without relying on cars. However, limited public transport options, the absence of nearby mainline rail services, and costly taxi fares can make traveling within the park challenging, especially outside the busy summer tourist season.
In response, the Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) has unveiled an ambitious active travel plan that charts out potential upgrades to the park’s walking and cycling infrastructure. The goal is to encourage more visitors and locals to explore Exmoor while reducing their dependence on motorized transport.
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Councillor Andrea Davis, chair of the ENPA, explained, “Walking, cycling, and horse-riding offer the best ways to experience our remarkable national park, with added health benefits. Our paths provide vital access to nature and support the local economy through visitor spending. To realize the full potential of our network, it must evolve to offer greater travel options and appeal to a broader range of visitors and communities.”
Exmoor features over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of paths, including a section of the South West Coast Path—part of the King Charles III England Coast Path—and two key National Cycle Network routes: route 3, which grazes the southern edge via Dulverton, and route 51, stretching from Minehead to Ilfracombe through villages such as Selworthy and Porlock.
A 2021 visitor survey underscored walking as a favorite activity, with 65% of visitors taking short walks and 60% embarking on longer hikes exceeding two hours. Despite this enthusiasm, transport remains a challenge and a major contributor to the park’s carbon footprint—car travel accounts for 35% of emissions.
The active travel plan outlines 11 broad objectives to address these challenges, including improving path connectivity, enhancing safety for all users, and creating accessible routes suitable for families and less confident cyclists.
Dan Barnett, ENPA’s access and recreation manager, shared insights from the development process: “We gathered extensive input through online consultations with residents and visitors, alongside data analysis and national guidelines. This plan aims to dismantle barriers to active travel, offering better leisure routes and safer, more convenient options to move around without a car.”
Proposed improvements may include enhanced village path links, safer road crossings for walkers and horse riders, and new cycle routes designed with families in mind. Delivery of these projects depends on securing third-party funding from central government grants, developer contributions, and non-profit organizations. The plan establishes a strategic foundation for future investments, with major projects expected to roll out in stages as funding becomes available.
Collaboration has been key to the plan’s development, with ENPA working closely with Somerset County Council, Devon County Council, and other stakeholders. Mr. Barnett emphasized, “This plan is a resource for everyone—local communities, parish and town councils—to promote active travel. Since many car trips are short, often under five miles, switching to walking or cycling offers huge potential for healthier, greener travel.”
For more information on the active travel plan, visit the Exmoor National Park Authority’s website.