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The River Barle provides a pleasant paddle through beautiful and remote countryside where otters, deer, foxes and all types of waterside birds can often be seen. The river offers continuous grade 2 whitewater which is not usually technically difficult but which can be very fast flowing at high levels. Trees and other obstacles frequently present hazards and the isolation of the upper stretch means that groups need to be well prepared for any emergencies. Access is possible under the terms of the BCU agreement between Tarr Steps and the Anchor Inn, Exbridge, a distance of about 10 miles. The River Barle runs within the boundaries of the Exmoor National Park which is an area of outstanding natural beauty so please ensure that you keep to the Country Code. Roads are narrow and winding and steep in places, with sheep and cattle roaming free so drive carefully. Our canoeing activities are closely watched by the riparian owners and many local people who have in the past been so pleased with our behaviour that they offered us the one month extension to the canoeing season which we now enjoy. Please do not abuse this goodwill and put our access at risk.
All map references are taken from the Ordnance Survey Exmoor Tourist Map.
TARR STEPS (868322) marks the present upstream limit of the agreement, and the start of a popular 6 mile paddle to Dulverton Bridge. There is no parking at the river itself as this would block the turning circle and offend the farmer. Instead you can park about 200 yards up the road in the car park provided, where there are also public toilets. The following water level descriptions may give some guidance on what to expect:
If you can get under the stone clapper bridge at Tarr Steps the water is low, grade 1/2. If there is up to 6 inches between the water and the underside of the bridgeit is normal, grade 2/3. If the river is level with the bridge it is high, grade 3, and not suitable for novices, and if the water flows over the bridge it is in flood, grade 4, and only suitable for very experienced paddlers.
At normal flows most of this section is fairly straight-forward although at high flows the speed of the current can present problems to swimmers as break-outs are few and far between, and trees can be a danger. There may also be a cattle fence (barbed wire) just below Marsh Bridge (908289). There are two potentially tricky places on the lower part of this section, the first is Dulverton Weir, about ½ mile above Dulverton Bridge (916284) where the trees on the island can cause problems along with the weir itself. This weir has recently (March 1998) had some unusual repairs and it is now difficult to find a clean shoot at low water. The second is just above the egress point at Dulverton where the last of a series of drops has a nasty hole which usually tips novices in.
Two EMERGENCY ONLY exits can be used between Tarr Steps and Marsh
Bridge:
1)Hawkridge Ridge, public footpath to road, right bank,
(873304)
2)Hinan Farm, private property, right bank, (886293).
Egress
is at a slipway immediately before the bridge, using the Exmoor National Park
HQ land. There is ample car parking and a pub at this point.
DULVERTON BRIDGE (912278). From the Exmoor National Park Headquarters to Exebridge is a simple paddle of about 4 miles. The access point here is a slipway on the left bank immediately upstream of the bridge. Toilets are behind the National Park Offices; shops and pubs are in the town.
If rocks are showing below Dulverton Bridge it is low, Grade 1, and you have got a rock dodge ahead! If rocks are not visible and you have up to 2 yards clearance below Dulverton Bridge it is at normal level, Grade 2. If there is less than 2 yds clearance below the bridge the river is high, Grade 3, and care will be needed even for experienced paddlers.
This section is fairly straightforward at most levels with only a few natural rapids, one large weir and one or two smaller weirs to tackle. The larger weir, which is about 1mile downstream of Dulverton contains some dangerous salmon catching apparatus and low slung wires and must be portaged on the left.
There is one EMERGENCY ONLY exit at Brushford Bridge on the left bank (926258). The main B3223 road follows the river from Dulverton to Brushford Bridge on the right.
About ½ mile above Exbridge the Barle joins the River Exe and almost immediately you will come across a new, gauging weir which often has a great play wave. You can then carry on the short distance to EXBRIDGE (930245) where the landlord of the pub will usually allow canoeists to park on his property if he is asked first. The egress point is immediately below the bridge on the left bank where the pub garden meets the river. It is possible to carry on down the River Exe all the way to Exmouth and the sea.