UK’s incredible 3,000-year-old bridge that most people have never seen – ‘magical place’

The UK's oldest bridge dates back thousands of years, and it is located in a truly magical spot. Britain is home to many iconic and historical bridges, with famous examples including Tower Bridge in London and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. But the oldest bridge in the country dates back thousands of years before these iconic structures. It is a small yet charming little bridge located in woodland, and it looks like it has been unchanged since it was built by ancient Britons. 

The Tarr Steps is a bridge located in Exmoor National Park, Somerset. The steps attract history fans and people who enjoy charming English scenes that look like they have been taken off the front of a postcard. According to Visit Exmoor, the ancient clipper bridge dates back to 1000BC, making it about 3,000 years old. It is made of stone slabs that reportedly weigh between one and two tons each. With 17 spans, it is 180 feet in length and has been designated a Grade 1 listed structure because of its historical significance. 

For those wanting to visit the bridge, there is a designated car park and toilet facilities. You will come across the Tarr Steps when exploring this stunning national park, and you will likely become enchanted by it straight away. 

The bridge has a fascinating history and rich folklore. The word Tarr is said to come from the Celtic word 'tochar', meaning 'causeway'.

Folklore suggests that the bridge was built by the Devil himself. Anyone who attempted to cross it was said to be killed immediately. The story goes that locals sent a cat across the bridge and watched it get vaporised. 

It has been incredibly well preserved and is considered the longest of the approximately 40 clipper bridges left on the island of Britain. Restoration work has had to take place over the years, as the rover itself has naturally changed, meaning slabs have at times been washed away by water. 

People have praised this bridge as a stand-out visitor experience, along with the surrounding woodland. One TripAdvisor reviewer said: "Magical place! It is fantastic and our dogs love visiting this area for walks. The water is really clean and there are lots of amazing shaded walks around it."

Another shared: "The stone slabs are large and uneven but its quite safe and the river is more like a wide, shallow creek.
It’s a pretty primitive bridge structure. There’s no cement, no mortar and very little technique. A series of hefty, boulders are simply stacked upright like piers and flatter stone slabs are laid across the top."

A third wrote: "I visited this place decades ago when travelling with my parents and it has hardly changed. It is a great experience but it was tempered on this occasion by the fact that a lot of driftwood had piled up against the side of the bridge and it had not been cleared. There is a really nice pub close by where you can eat and drink."

While the bridge is visited by huge numbers of people every year, it is sometimes closed due to safety concerns. 

However, protecting the bridge appears to be of importance to local authorities. In 2025, it was reported that a plan to reroute the river was in place to protect the fridge. Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) were reportedly working on a scheme which would restore some of the Barle’s natural floodplain.

This, if completed, would protect the bridge even during heavy rainfall. The Tarr Steps had to be rebuilt following flooding in 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2023. This led to the construction of the nearby Great Bradley Bridge in 2024.