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River Parret Trail

49.71 miles (80 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the River Parrett from the source in Chedington in Dorset to the mouth in Bridgwater Bay, Somerset.
The route first heads to Langport passing Haselbury and the 16th century English Heritage owned Muchelney Abbey. You continue north through Langport and onto Burrowbridge where you will pass the interesting geological and historical site at Burrow Mump. The river then takes you towards Bridgwater passing the Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum. This Industrial Heritage museum is dedicated to steam powered machinery and makes for a fascinating few hours.
The final section takes you through Bridgwater and Combwich before finishing at the beautiful Steart Marshes Nature Reserve and Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve on Bridgwater Bay.
In Bridgwater the trail links with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal which offers more great opportunities for waterside walking or cycling.

River Parret Trail OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

River Parret Trail Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The King Alfred in Burrowbridge is a great place to stop for some refreshments on your walk. It's nestled under the shadow of Burrow Mump and the place where King Alfred famously burnt the cakes when he was hiding from the invading Danes, hence the pub’s name. It's a friendly place with great home cooked food. You can the find the pub next to the river at postcode TA7 0RB.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

At Chedington the route links with the Brit Valley Way. This will take you along the River Brit to the coast at West Bay.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Dorset Walks and Somerset Walks pages.

Photos

Langport, public parkland - geograph.org.uk - 1002584

Langport, public parkland. By the river Parrett, south of Eastover

The River Parrett at Bridgwater - geograph.org.uk - 929836

The River Parrett at Bridgwater. Flowing north out of the town towards the Bristol Channel, past flood defence walls.

Muchelney Abbey - Abbot's House

Muchelney Abbey

River Parret at Oath - geograph.org.uk - 1136606

River Parret at Oath. The river has high embankments so that it can carry large volumes of water in spate with out flooding adjacent land. As can be seen the river is 4-5m above the level of the road and the ground floor of the house. The house is on the road from Oath to Stathe at the eastern end of West Sedgemoor. There is a pump house further along the road where water is pumped up from the moor into the river. When the river reaches the top of its banks, as it nearly is here, the moor is allowed to flood to protect property further downstream.

Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum 28

Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum 28

Combwich harbour

Combwich harbour. The village lies on Combwich Reach as the River Parrett flows to the sea and was the site of an ancient ferry crossing. It served as a port for the export of local produce and the import of timber from the 15th century. It also served the local brick and coal yard until the creek silted up in the 1930s. As of 2019, Combwich wharf is being used for the delivery of large equipment for the building of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

Junction of the Rivers Parrett and Tone from Burrow Mump - geograph.org.uk - 3823634

Junction of the Rivers Parrett and Tone from Burrow Mump

Wetland 'scrape' at Steart Marsh - geograph.org.uk - 4230518

Wetland 'scrape' at Steart Marsh

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

River Parret Trail.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)