Fingle Bridge

Fingle Bridge is a three-arch granite road bridge over the River Teign, set in the wooded Teign Gorge on Dartmoor. The narrow crossing is about two metres wide, and its low stone arches sit close to the river between wooded slopes and grassy banks. It is both a landmark in its own right and the main arrival point for walks in Fingle Woods. For a photo, step back along the riverside path and frame the arches with water beneath them; a tight crop of the parapet loses the setting that makes this crossing distinctive.

This stop works best when you have time to leave the car park and explore. Paths follow the River Teign through the woods, while routes climbing to the gorge top open views across the valley towards Dartmoor. A short riverside visit keeps the bridge, water and woodland together; a longer walk takes you uphill and asks more of your legs. A woodland restoration project has added footpaths and waymarking, making the bridge a gateway to a larger landscape rather than a monument to admire and leave. In September and October, salmon and brown trout sometimes leap the river weirs after heavy rain as they move upstream.

The surviving bridge is generally dated to the seventeenth century, though its first construction may reach back to the later 1500s or early 1600s. It was already described as decayed by 1665, a reminder that this route across the Teign has seen centuries of use and repair. Look at the three segmental arches resting on heavy piers, with pointed cutwaters rising to small refuges at parapet level. The bridge is still a road crossing, not just a relic, so its narrow carriageway gives the stonework a working scale.

The car park is reached by crossing the bridge and parking is limited. Basic toilets are available, but there is no running water. Paths beyond the riverside can be steep and uneven, with steep sides, so choose a route to match your footing and energy. The Fingle Bridge Inn stands beside the crossing for pub food; it is a separate business from the bridge.