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 structural load, loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either si ...

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 Simons ...

near Doone Valley, carrying the minor road from Porlock Hill 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 dining, ''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 su ...

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 R. D. Blackmore, first published in three volumes in London in 1869. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particu ...

''.

References

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