ダーリーのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Best time when less dog walkers.

Use fat tyres with tread

Bell very useful here

Several cafes in the area for refreshment and some interesting historical sites around the docks

Lovely pub, good food and very friendly

Bridgwater hasn't got its name for no reason. This thriving town has both the River Parrett and the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal winding through its heart. The canal is particularly lovely, with vibrant banks, old brick bridges and peaceful vistas. At only 14.5 miles (23.3 km) long, the canal links Bridgwater to Taunton and you can walk the entirety. This portion in Bridgwater makes for a lovely stroll and is part of the Samaritans Way South West footpath.

‘Clyce’ or ‘clyse’ is a regional word for sluice and you’ll find many if you walk along the River Parrett. The Somerset Levels is reclaimed land and barely above sea level, resulting in a sprawling wetland area. The water management of the Levels has been going for hundreds, if not thousands of years and sluices are an important part of controlling the run-off from the rivers. Many of the clyces you’ll find have been in place for a considerable amount of time and are a fascinating part of the local history. New ones are still built today.

While the River Parrett is tidal all the way up to Oath, further inland, Dunball is the first point at which mudflats are particularly evident. When the tide is low, the mud here is filled with birds, hunting around for snacks. Dunball is also a working dockyard, the last on the River Parrett. It’s evidence of this river’s industrial past and the docks can be clearly seen from the River Parrett Trail on the southern bank.