The Pixies of Exmoor
Tiny lights in the heather. Strange laughter in hidden combes. Across Exmoor, stories of pixies and moorland spirits have survived for centuries among farmers, travellers and shepherds.
Introduction
Exmoor’s wooded valleys feel very different from its open moorland plateaus. Deep combes twist through thick oak woodland, streams vanish beneath moss-covered stone, and the landscape often feels enclosed and secretive.
It is exactly the sort of place where old stories linger.
For generations, local people believed certain valleys and river crossings belonged not entirely to the human world, but to the pixies — mischievous spirits capable of helping, misleading or terrifying travellers.
"Never follow lights beside the river after dark, unless you know who carries them."
Ancient Belief · Exmoor
The Legend
The Story of The Pixies of Exmoor
The pixies of Exmoor were rarely described clearly. Some appeared child-sized with pointed ears and green clothing, while others were simply lights moving through woodland where no lantern should have been.
Stories often involved travellers becoming lost despite knowing the paths well.
One shepherd crossing Badgworthy Water at dusk claimed he heard music drifting through the trees. Thinking a nearby farm was holding a gathering, he followed the sound deeper into the valley.
Hours later he emerged miles away from where he intended to go, unable to explain how he became lost.
Another tale tells of a woman carrying bread between farms who encountered tiny figures dancing beside a stream under moonlight. When she looked again, they had vanished, but her basket had somehow been moved several yards away.
Local superstition warned against mocking the pixies or disturbing certain stones, springs and ancient trees associated with them.
In the field
Badgworthy Water & Doone Valley remains accessible on foot today. The landscape that gave rise to this story is largely unchanged — you can still walk the same ground.
Historical Context
In the Historical Record
Pixie folklore is deeply rooted across Devon and Somerset and may preserve fragments of older Celtic and pre-Christian beliefs tied to landscape spirits and sacred natural places.
Remote valleys and difficult navigation likely contributed to many of the stories. Before reliable maps and marked paths, people could easily become disoriented within Exmoor’s wooded combes, especially in darkness or heavy weather.
The legends became woven into everyday rural life.
The Landscape
Reading the Land
The Doone Valley and surrounding woodland create a perfect setting for folklore. Narrow paths, fast-moving mist, dense oak woods and hidden streams generate an atmosphere unlike the open moor above.
At dusk, shifting light through the trees can create strange visual effects, while the sound of water echoes unpredictably through the valleys.
These landscapes naturally encourage imagination and storytelling.
Visiting Today
Going There
The Doone Valley and Badgworthy Water remain among Exmoor’s most atmospheric locations.
Woodland walks through the valley are especially beautiful during autumn and early evening, though paths can become slippery after rain.
Visitors should respect the fragile river environment and stay on marked trails.
On the ground
Folklore comes alive in place. Walk the land slowly, at the right hour, in the right season — and you'll understand why stories like this one took root here.
Sources & Further Reading
Devon and Somerset folklore archives, Celtic folklore studies, Exmoor oral history traditions, Regional pixie legends of South West England
At a Glance
Moor
Exmoor
Type
Ancient Belief
Location
Badgworthy Water & Doone Valley
On the Map
Archival illustration
Pixies of Exmoor