Fingle Bridge & Fingle Woods, Dartmoor
“How clear the rushing waters gliding beneath the three gray arches! how rich in colouring have the lichens and ferns rendered its hoary walls! and, whether we look up-stream to the hills, softly meeting one another with foliage changing from bright green in the foreground to misty blue in the distance, or downward to where the old mill with its moss-grown water-wheel, nestles beneath the woods.. we shall confess that a scene of greater beauty it has never been our lot to view”. (John Lloyd Warden Page, 1893)
JL Warden Page was pretty excited about the beauty of Fingle Bridge, and after our visit there at the weekend we completely understand why.
It is stunning.
If you are looking for a day out on Dartmoor, where you can relax, have a paddle and a picnic, walk the kids and the dog through the woods AND visit some interesting historical buildings, look no further than beautiful Fingle Bridge.
Straddling the River Teign since the 17th Century, the stone arch bridge is set in the beautiful ancient woodlands of Fingle Woods. The site is owned by The National Trust and Woodland Trust who bought it in 2013 to restore it for the benefit of wildlife and public access.
The woodland is so untouched, and the trees so tall that you could be on the set of Walking with Dinosaurs. We all sat on a log and imagined a diplodocus making it’s way through the wood to drink.
In season the river is home to brown trout, salmon and sea trout. However, fishing permits are restricted so do contact these guys, don’t just rock up with your fishing gear (you’ll probably get into a lot of trouble).
If you want to adventure further you can stroll up to National Trust’s Castle Drogo or along to lovely Whiddon Deer Park from Fingle Bridge.
Wooston Castle Iron Age hill-fort, is located at the top of Fingle Woods and has amazing views. To get there follow the white sign posts to the hill fort from Fingle Bridge.
There’s also a lovely Fingle Bridge Walk here.
Or just sit and take in the view, have a drink, sample the food or a cream tea at Fingle Bridge Inn.
Getting there is easy, just head to Drewsteignton and then follow the signs marked Fingle Bridge all the way, there is lots of parking over the packhorse bridge which is free.
TIP: I am told that Fingle Bridge gets very busy in the summer and that a good time to visit is in mid September at the end of the season, We popped along in June and it wasn’t too busy.
Have you been? We’d love to hear about your adventure.
Tags: Castle Drogo, dartmoor, fingle bridge, fingle bridge inn, fishing, National Trust, paddle, river
9 comments for Fingle Bridge & Fingle Woods, Dartmoor
Stunning in autumn, we love going there then
Oh gosh! I can imagine when the leaves change. Thanks for the tip x
A truly beautiful place – worth walking from Drogo or Clifford Bridge when it’s busy to avoid the car parking crush! Love your pics!
Thanks Hannah, I love your pics too!
Fingle Bridge looks stunning, it is on my list of places to visit this year. Thanks for the tip on when to visit, I would love to spend the day here with the family at the end of summer when autumn is creeping in. Your blog is fantastic. x
Thank you! That’s really kind of you. It is fabulous there, let me know what you think when you go x
Dartmoor is definitely on my list for us to go to more often – we are only an hour away so I really need to make the effort and this looks like a great place. Thank you
Gosh this just looks idyllic! Will have to add it to the ever expanding list of spots on Dartmoor to explore 🙂
I think of my roots as being at a farm at Drewsteignton, with our land actually the nearest to the Fingle Bridge. My verse below:
At Fingle Bridge wild bluebells grow
beside the River Teign
Along the path to Doggamarsh
a magic carpet grows.
For untold centuries renewed each year
as spring comes in,
Wild bluebells grow beneath old oaks
where the old millrace flows.
At Fingle Bridge wild primrose grows
beside the River Teign,
Along the grassy banks
and on the open higher ground.
And when wild primrose blossoms there,
we see the spring begin:
We see from the dead of a cold wet winter
exploding life rebound.
At Fingle Bridge wild heather grows
above on ancient forts,
Among the whortleberries and bracken
and coarse couch grass.
Here ancient Britons made their meagre homes
and held their courts.
But magic at Fingle Bridge lives on,
while we all must pass.
At Fingle Bridge my sorrows grow
beside the River Teign.
My sorrows grow as I recall
my happiest of times.
Again each spring I wish I could
again my life begin,
And bluebells pick at Fingle Bridge,
and hear Drewsteignton’s chimes.