Chains, Geological site in Exmoor, United Kingdom
The Chains is a high plateau in the northwestern part of Exmoor National Park that rises above 1,500 feet (460 meters), with Chains Barrow marking its highest point at about 1,599 feet (487 meters). The landscape consists of open heathland interspersed with moorland and crossed by small streams.
The area was developed in the 19th century by John Knight and his son, who constructed a dam across the River Barle to create Pinkery Pond for an irrigation project. This engineering work permanently altered how water was managed across the region.
Scientists examine pollen sequences preserved in the peat layers of The Chains to understand vegetation patterns throughout the Flandrian period.
The area sits within a triangular zone between Simonsbath, Challacombe, and Lynton with multiple walking paths crossing the heathland. The open terrain offers little shelter from weather, so visitors should prepare for changing conditions.
Long Chains Combe contains several standing stones designated as protected monuments, bearing witness to prehistoric activity in the area. These markers stand within a landscape where transitions between ancient woodland types remain visible today.
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