Robber's Bridge, or Robbers Bridge, is an old masonry

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct (a ...

in the royal forest of

Exmoor Exmoor is loosely defined as an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England. It is named after the River Exe, the source of which is situated in the centre of the area, two miles north-west of Simonsbat ...

near Doone Valley, carrying the minor road from

Porlock Hill Porlock Hill is a road west of Porlock, Somerset. It is part of the A39, connecting Porlock to Lynmouth and Barnstaple in Devon and is the steepest A-road in the United Kingdom, approaching 1 in 4 (25%) in places. A parallel toll road is availab ...

to Oare. It crosses Weir Water and is located down a steep, wooded lane beneath overhanging trees. Some consider it to be a popular

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as precedi ...

spot, accessible via a narrow, steep, and winding road. In addition, from the nearby carpark, the bridge provides access to a grassland considered suitable for picnicking.

Association with Lorna Doone

The bridge takes its name from the fact that much of this area was dangerous bandit country in past centuries. R.D. Blackmore drew on the history and legends of this area to create his world-famous novel ''

Lorna Doone ''Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor'' is a novel by English author Richard Doddridge Blackmore, published in 1869. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particularly ar ...

''.

References

{{reflist Stone bridges in the United Kingdom Bridges in Somerset West Somerset Packhorse bridges Stone arch bridges