Devil
The Devil's Sunbathing Spot
Cross if you like. Not when he's sunbathing.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Medieval clapper bridge of stone slabs
- Legend from
- Exmoor tradition
- Tone
- Light-hearted
A bridge built in one night, and a Devil who likes to lie on it in the sun.
Tarr Steps is a long clapper bridge of huge stone slabs over the River Barle on Exmoor, seventeen spans and about fifty-five metres long. Edward Hutton records the local story that the Devil built it in a single night and claimed the right to sunbathe on it. He threatened to destroy anyone who crossed. A cat was sent over first to test him, and was torn to pieces. Then the parson of Hawkridge stepped on and the two traded abuse, until the Devil gave way and let people pass, except when he chooses to sunbathe.