It would appear that money really does grow on trees in the woods near Tarr Steps. These trees are known as 'Wishing Trees' and are part of ancient tradition. According to beliefs that date back to the beginning of the 18th century, one could rid themself of an illness by sticking a coin into a wishing tree so that the tree would assume the illness. If a person pulled one of the wishing tree’s coins out, he would become ill. Others thought that they would be granted a wish once the coin was driven past the bark and into the tree’s wood.
The Tarr Steps are a clapper bridge across the River Barle. A typical clapper bridge construction, the bridge possibly dates to around 1000 BC. The stone slabs weigh up to two tons each. According to local legend, they were placed by the devil to win a bet. The bridge is 180 feet (55 m) long and has 17 spans. The largest slab is over 8 feet (2.4 m) long and is about 5 feet (1.5 m) wide. This is one of the best known monuments on Exmoor.
Placed with kind permission from Exmoor National Park Authority