A SECOND important walking route bridge on Exmoor has been rebuilt, nine months after a storm washed it away.

The Cloutsham Splash bridge in Horner Wood, near Porlock, was reopened earlier this month after a two-year closure on safety grounds.

Now, the Venford Wood footbridge across Dane’s Brook, an eight-mile-long tributary of the River Barle, below Whiterocks Down, near Hawkridge, has been replaced.

The bridge was washed away in the space of just two hours in June of last year when torrential rainfall caused the brook, which carries water from Molland Moor and Halscombe Allotment into the River Barle, to rise by several feet, causing extensive damage across the landscape.

Among the significant damage was the loss of the key footbridge crossing which links much-loved walking routes around Hawkridge, Anstey Commons, and the Barle Valley.

Without the bridge, access to some of Exmoor’s most beautiful and nature-rich areas was severely restricted.

Its replacement structure is a 38-feet (11.5 metres) timber-clad, cradle-style bridge, crafted using timber sourced from the national park’s own estate and supported by steel beams.

A new abutment has also been constructed on the southern bank to ensure long-term resilience.

Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) access and recreation manager Dan Barnett said: “We are really pleased to share that the Danesbrook bridge near Whiterocks Down has now been successfully replaced, restoring another important connection for walkers and local communities.

“We would like to thank everybody who donated toward this project via CareMoor for Exmoor which helped make the replacement possible.

“We are especially grateful for the generous contribution from the Rotary Club of Exmoor.

“As we look after around 620 miles of rights of way network, we always welcome donations like this through CareMoor for Exmoor, which help us maintain and improve access for nature lovers, residents, and visitors alike.”