A SURVEY of Exmoor National Park’s 620 miles of public rights of way has shown 93 per cent are now ‘open and easy to use’.
Volunteers have surveyed the routes using nationally agreed criteria and shown Exmoor National Park Authority’s (ENPA) rights of way and public access team have met or exceeded a 90 per cent score for a 10th consecutive year.
ENPA access and recreation manager Dan Barnett said: “This is a great effort by our team.
“Our rangers and field services team have been working hard to uphold our high rating and the result shows this, despite challenges faced in the last few years.
“We know things are not all perfect and keeping up with vegetation cutting this year has been especially difficult, but we are working hard to find new ways of doing things and keeping standards high.
“We are also very grateful to our fantastic volunteers, who help us to survey the paths, report back on issues, and help out in practical ways, too.
“Our rights of way network is one of the special features of Exmoor and is key to unlocking the immense potential for outdoor recreation within the national park.
“Along with our access land and permitted access, it offers unrivalled access on foot, horseback, or bicycle for everybody to enjoy.”
The public rights of way network is managed and maintained by ENPA under delegated powers from Devon and Somerset County Councils, meaning that most maintenance duties, signing, and surface repairs are undertaken by the authority.
The authority’s field services team also makes gates, stiles, and the iconic signposts seen across Exmoor from wood grown and processed at its Exford depot in its own tree nursery and local timber operation.
In the ENPA 70th anniversary year there have also been some notable improvements to the Exmoor public rights of way network, including:
Enhancements to six popular Devon and Somerset sections along 36 miles of Exmoor South West Coast Path now part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. Walkers can now enjoy revived ancient paths and more scenic views following the coastline more closely between Minehead and Combe Martin at spots such as Hurlstone Point, Cobbler’s Park, North Hill, and Glenthorne.
The construction of Great Bradley Bridge which is due for completion by October in time for Exmoor Day and ENPA’s official birthday. The River Barle crossing will provide a secure, sustainable route along the Two Moors Way between Tarr Steps and Withypool and offer better protection to local wildlife and offer a boost to tourism in the area.
Accessibility Improvements. Using special ‘Access for All’ funding from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs the authority is completing a variety of improvements to assist people with a disability to obtain the most from the public path network, including better information and improvements to surfaces and gates in some locations.
The 267 square miles national park is this year celebrating 70 years since it was designated in 1954.