The Chains loop — Exmoor National Park

The Chains loop in Exmoor National Park offers a moderate hiking experience, taking you through wild upland moorland. This 5.9-mile (9.5 km) route, with an elevation gain of 586 feet (178 metres), typically takes around 2 hours and 38 minutes to complete. You will traverse tussock-ridden plateaux, often wet underfoot, and enjoy ever-changing views across the remote landscape. From the Chains Barrow Trig Point, you can see distant views of Hartland Point and Lundy, and you might even spot semi-wild Exmoor ponies.

This trail is considered moderate, requiring good fitness and sure-footedness. The terrain includes footpaths, mountain hiking paths, grass tracks, and some shorter road sections, with potentially boggy areas. Route finding can be challenging, especially if visibility is limited or there is snow, so make sure you have good navigational skills before you set out. Prepare for a true sense of wilderness and seclusion on this route.

Explore the historical and natural features that make this loop unique. You will pass Pinkery Pond, a mysterious freshwater pond created in the 1830s, and the ancient tumulus mound of Chains Barrow Trig Point, standing at 487 meters high. The route also takes you by Wood Barrow, a Bronze Age barrow marking the boundary between Devon and Somerset, and the site of the 19th-century Acland Arms inn at Moles Chamber, once used for distributing smuggled goods. This area is known as one of Exmoor's loneliest and wildest parts.