Robber's Bridge, Stone arch bridge in Oare, United Kingdom
Robber's Bridge is a stone arch structure made of granite that crosses Weir Water and connects the routes through Oare Valley. It has served for centuries as a packhorse crossing, enabling the movement of goods across the remote Exmoor landscape.
The structure was first documented on the Oare Tithe Map of 1842, though it likely existed for much longer as a crucial trading route. Its foundations may date back centuries earlier, making it a long-standing crossing point in the region.
The bridge stands in the heart of Doone Valley, which inspired R.D. Blackmore's novel Lorna Doone through his grandfather's time as Oare's rector. The story has made this remote area a literary landmark that readers continue to visit and explore today.
Access comes via a narrow road from Porlock Hill, with parking and grassy space for activities nearby. Finding the bridge requires some navigation skills since it sits in a remote location without major signage.
The bridge takes its name from actual outlaws who operated in this remote Exmoor area for centuries. These criminal bands shaped local history and later inspired Blackmore's fictional Doone family in his novel.
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