Brilan one

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This Slow Way along cycle paths, canal tow paths and riverside trails through the watery Somerset Levels is a delight. It is pretty much flat all the way.

It is a route of three parts. The first is an exit from the tiny eighteenth century old-town that lies at the heart of industrial Bridgwater along the reed-fringed towpath of the Bridgwater Taunton canal. It almost completely bypasses the distributionopolis sprawl that is the modern town, which feels almost magical. The path here is wheelable and unobstructed, with hard, gritty or gravelled paths.

The way then continues along the course of the River Parrett for a few miles along quiet roads, hard, stony cycle tracks and the odd field edge to Burrowbridge, where the mini hill of Burrow Mump, with a ruined church atop it, rises out of the levels landscape. Along some of the roads it is possible for walkers, but not wheelers, to take a path along the river rampart itself and stay off the tarmac.

For the remaining five miles to Langport, the route takes the River Parrett Trail on grassy paths along the top of the old river ramparts between the Parrett itself and its flood relief channel. This is a gorgeous walk, yielding wide views across the damp moors and insight into the complex drainage system that keeps this low-lying land usable. There are lots of cattle grazing this area but the ones we met were placid and used to walkers. There are some narrow stepover footpath gates on the way through.

There are several pubs at villages along the route.

Just to note that the plotting of thus Slow Way is a little rough in places, but clear enough, and I do recommend a couple of little route tweaks at either end of the walk.

In Bridgwater, you can avoid the few hundred yards along the main road going in/out of the centre by using the cycleway and a bit more of the canal towpath on a triangular course just to the west between w3w about.frogs.disbelief and cape.locked.vocal.

And at the Langport end it is easier (at w3w goes.inflamed.zone), to continue on under the railway on the River Parrett Trail across Northstreet Moor and arrive into the centre of town from the west rather than using the suggested route which initially goes north of the railway line. This way in is fine but less walked and goes through some recently re-fenced land where the line of the footpath is unsigned and not quite as shown on the OS map.

Another optional variation, if you are enjoying the canal path at the Bridgwater end, is to stay on the River Parrett Trail between Huntworth Bridge (w3w most.length.hill) and rejoin the mapped route at hammer.drips.drums via Fordgate instead of using cycle route 339 along the road. It is very nice and a bit more off-road but does make the trip about half a mile longer overall.

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