01823 355563 01823

For more details contact County Council on Council County Somerset contact details more For

provide a member of staff to discuss the details. the discuss to staff of member a provide

it in large print, on audio cassette, arrange translation or translation arrange cassette, audio on print, large in it

If you have difficulty reading this publication we can supply can we publication this reading difficulty have you If

e:www.somerset.gov.uk/countryside Web:

-al Countr E-mail: .uk v o [email protected]

Tel: 01823 355418 01823 Tel:

Bridgwater and ! Taunton! and County Hall,Taunton TA1 4DY TA1 Hall,Taunton County

Somerset County Council County Somerset , finding in both in Pluto finding system, solar

Environment Department Department Environment

you can walk the scale length of our whole our of length scale the walk can you

Countryside Services Group Services Countryside

Lock. If you start your space walk from here from walk space your start you If Lock. This leaflet was produced by by produced was leaflet This

Walk and can be found at Maunsel Higher Maunsel at found be can and Walk

The is the central point of the Space the of point central the is sun The

Taunton canal, representing the solar system. solar the representing canal, Taunton

are sited at intervals along the Bridgwater & Bridgwater the along intervals at sited are

system where scale models of the planets the of models scale where system

The Space Walk is a scale model of our solar our of model scale a is Walk Space The

towpath is the Somerset Space Walk. Space Somerset the is towpath

A note of interest whilst walking along the along walking whilst interest of note A

agricultural land. agricultural grade on 1

anfcn aktgre rdc,grown produce, garden market magnificent

years as the ‘Garden of Eden’ because of its of because Eden’ of ‘Garden the as years

farmland. This land was known for many for known was land This farmland.

Somerset Levels and Moors and across and Moors and Levels Somerset

through villages, hamlets, across parts of the of parts across hamlets, villages, through

country lanes. The walks will take you take will walks The lanes. country

towpath, selected local footpaths and quiet and footpaths local selected towpath,

short circular walks begin using the canal the using begin walks circular short

From the car park at Maunsel Lock four Lock Maunsel at park car the From k k c c o o L L l l e e s s n n u u a a M M r r e e w w o o L L

Maunsel Lock Car Park Car Lock Maunsel

s s k k l l a a W W r r a a l l u u c c r r i i C C

Circular Walks from Walks Circular

l l a a n n a a C C

& CANAL TAUNTON AND BRIDGWATER

n n o o t t n n u u a a T T r r e e t t a a w w g g d d i i r r B B FACILITIES ALONG THE THE ALONG FACILITIES

The History of the Canal swing bridges were removed in war The canal is an excellent time to create a line of defence, was example of a wetland The Bridgwater and Taunton canal was part of an the main part of the restoration habitat with clear ambitious 19th Century scheme to create a route programme. Seven of the bridges unpolluted water, which between Exeter and , which would avoid the were replaced by swing bridges and supports many plant, fish, treacherous sea route around Land’s End. Sadly the seven by raised bridges.Together bird and insect species. great link never materialised, though the Bridgwater with the restoration of the six Vast stocks of roach, pike, and Taunton canal opened in 1827 and joined the locks, this brought the canal back perch, carp, bream and new docks in Bridgwater in 1841, making its total to life and was reopened to navigation tench can be spotted.You length 15 miles. in June 1994. may also spot kingfishers, herons, dragonflies and The canal was used mainly for transportation of damselflies.The fringes of coal, timber and limestone, which were carried in The Canal Today the canal are home to barges and small tub-boats.The commercial success Today the canal is used as an much interesting flora of the canal ended when the Bristol and Exeter important recreational resource. and fauna. railway opened. Commercial traffic ceased in 1907. Activities such as fishing, boating, walking and cycling are popular. For information on the During World War Two, the canal was an important Sections of the towpath form part of facilities in the local part of the Wessex Stop Line. The building of pill the Trail, which runs area please contact boxes, which can be seen across the southern part from Chedington in Dorset through to one of the Somerset of England were part of the Stop Line. Bridgwater and beyond. Sustrans also tourist offices. Restoration use the canal towpath as part of their Ordnance Survey maps National Cycle Route, which runs The West Country branch of the Inland Waterways are also a useful guide from Padstow to Bristol/Bath. From Association lobbied for many years for the canal to to show local facilities an environmental perspective the be restored.This led to , and points of interest. canal is used as a water supply for District Council and Taunton Deane Durleigh reservoir, acts as a drainage Borough Council working jointly with system to take surface runoff from agricultural British Waterways to bring land and storm water from urban areas, and finally about the restoration of a link that joins the in Taunton and the Follow the Countryside Code the canal for River Parrett in Bridgwater. ● Be Safe - Plan ahead and follow any signs amenity purposes ● Leave gates and property as between 1980 and you find them 1995.The Conservation and Wildlife ● Protect plants and animals, take your replacement The canal is an important ecosystem for wildlife of 14 low litter home because it represents a thin ribbon of land and ● Keep dogs under close control bridges, which water in an environment that is used intensively for ● Consider other people were installed agriculture outside the urban areas. after the original

01823 355563 01823

For more details contact Somerset County Council on Council County Somerset contact details more For

provide a member of staff to discuss the details. the discuss to staff of member a provide

it in large print, on audio cassette, arrange translation or translation arrange cassette, audio on print, large in it

If you have difficulty reading this publication we can supply can we publication this reading difficulty have you If

e:www.somerset.gov.uk/countryside Web:

-al Countr E-mail: .uk v o [email protected]

Tel: 01823 355418 01823 Tel:

Bridgwater and Taunton! Taunton! and Bridgwater County Hall,Taunton TA1 4DY TA1 Hall,Taunton County

Somerset County Council County Somerset solar system, finding Pluto in both in Pluto finding system, solar

Environment Department Department Environment

you can walk the scale length of our whole our of length scale the walk can you

Countryside Services Group Services Countryside

Lock. If you start your space walk from here from walk space your start you If Lock. This leaflet was produced by by produced was leaflet This

Walk and can be found at Maunsel Higher Maunsel at found be can and Walk

The sun is the central point of the Space the of point central the is sun The

Taunton canal, representing the solar system. solar the representing canal, Taunton

are sited at intervals along the Bridgwater & Bridgwater the along intervals at sited are

system where scale models of the planets the of models scale where system

The Space Walk is a scale model of our solar our of model scale a is Walk Space The

towpath is the Somerset Space Walk. Space Somerset the is towpath

A note of interest whilst walking along the along walking whilst interest of note A

agricultural land. agricultural grade on 1

anfcn aktgre rdc,grown produce, garden market magnificent

years as the ‘Garden of Eden’ because of its of because Eden’ of ‘Garden the as years

farmland. This land was known for many for known was land This farmland.

Somerset Levels and Moors and across and Moors and Levels Somerset

through villages, hamlets, across parts of the of parts across hamlets, villages, through

country lanes. The walks will take you take will walks The lanes. country

towpath, selected local footpaths and quiet and footpaths local selected towpath,

short circular walks begin using the canal the using begin walks circular short

From the car park at Maunsel Lock four Lock Maunsel at park car the From k k c c o o L L l l e e s s n n u u a a M M r r e e w w o o L L

Maunsel Lock Car Park Car Lock Maunsel

s s k k l l a a W W r r a a l l u u c c r r i i C C

Circular Walks from Walks Circular

l l a a n n a a C C

& CANAL TAUNTON AND BRIDGWATER

n n o o t t n n u u a a T T r r e e t t a a w w g g d d i i r r B B FACILITIES ALONG THE THE ALONG FACILITIES

The History of the Canal swing bridges were removed in war The canal is an excellent time to create a line of defence, was example of a wetland The Bridgwater and Taunton canal was part of an the main part of the restoration habitat with clear ambitious 19th Century scheme to create a route programme. Seven of the bridges unpolluted water, which between Exeter and Bristol, which would avoid the were replaced by swing bridges and supports many plant, fish, treacherous sea route around Land’s End. Sadly the seven by raised bridges.Together bird and insect species. great link never materialised, though the Bridgwater with the restoration of the six Vast stocks of roach, pike, and Taunton canal opened in 1827 and joined the locks, this brought the canal back perch, carp, bream and new docks in Bridgwater in 1841, making its total to life and was reopened to navigation tench can be spotted.You length 15 miles. in June 1994. may also spot kingfishers, herons, dragonflies and The canal was used mainly for transportation of damselflies.The fringes of coal, timber and limestone, which were carried in The Canal Today the canal are home to barges and small tub-boats.The commercial success Today the canal is used as an much interesting flora of the canal ended when the Bristol and Exeter important recreational resource. and fauna. railway opened. Commercial traffic ceased in 1907. Activities such as fishing, boating, walking and cycling are popular. For information on the During World War Two, the canal was an important Sections of the towpath form part of facilities in the local part of the Wessex Stop Line. The building of pill the River Parrett Trail, which runs area please contact boxes, which can be seen across the southern part from Chedington in Dorset through to one of the Somerset of England were part of the Stop Line. Bridgwater and beyond. Sustrans also tourist offices. Restoration use the canal towpath as part of their Ordnance Survey maps National Cycle Route, which runs The West Country branch of the Inland Waterways are also a useful guide from Padstow to Bristol/Bath. From Association lobbied for many years for the canal to to show local facilities an environmental perspective the be restored.This led to Somerset County Council, and points of interest. canal is used as a water supply for Sedgemoor District Council and Taunton Deane Durleigh reservoir, acts as a drainage Borough Council working jointly with system to take surface runoff from agricultural British Waterways to bring land and storm water from urban areas, and finally about the restoration of a link that joins the River Tone in Taunton and the Follow the Countryside Code the canal for River Parrett in Bridgwater. ● Be Safe - Plan ahead and follow any signs amenity purposes ● Leave gates and property as between 1980 and you find them 1995.The Conservation and Wildlife ● Protect plants and animals, take your replacement The canal is an important ecosystem for wildlife of 14 low litter home because it represents a thin ribbon of land and ● Keep dogs under close control bridges, which water in an environment that is used intensively for ● Consider other people were installed agriculture outside the urban areas. after the original Walk 1 Walk 2 Walk 3 1 1 An interesting 21/2 or 3 mile walk through An easy 2 /2 mile walk to Outwood An easy 1 /2 mile walk through North Newton and Hedging Northmoor corner

From the car park turn left over the canal bridge Take the canal towpath past the cottage, across From the car park, turn left over the canal bridge and left along the towpath.This walk takes you the road at Higher Maunsel lock and along and left along the towpath. At the first traditional north along the canal, past the brick overbridge the Lyng embankment to the swingbridge at brick overbridge at Coxhill, turn right down the at Coxhill and to the first swingbridge. Cross Outwood. On route you pass Blackhut, the last road and take the track off to the right. Before here to the village of North Newton, once remaining Lengthman’s hut on the canal. Cross Eames Farm, turn left across a field and stile to famous for its cider making. A detour to the the swingbridge and take a left across a stile, turn meet another stoned track, and continue straight local church of St Peter’s is worthwhile, parts of right along the edge of the field, through a on, passing between several cottages at which date back to Saxon times. short green lane Northmoor corner. Take a short green lane N with a stile and join an From the church take the path on the corner access track, which across fields to the rear of houses on the passes between more main village road. Climb a stile on the buildings. This track right between two properties, cross the joins the minor road village road and along a track to meet 4 at Herons Mead where the next minor road where you you turn left and then turn left. Here you can extend the right back to the walk by taking a right over a car park. stile along the side of the village recreation ground. KEY Over the next stile you Circular walk then take a diagonal routes across the field to the Other selected footpaths hedgeline and along this Public footpaths to the corner into 1 3 Space Walk Adder Lane. From here ★ MA Mars you have a long distance ★ M Mercury view extending from the Car Park ★ E Polden Hills to the start point ★ S Sun north, , ★ ★ V Venus , Aller ridge, MA © Crown Copyright Reserved. Reproduced ★ E from Ordnance Survey mapping with Burton Pynsent monument, the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office under Licence No. LA 07683 X. Fivehead ridge, Windwhistle Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown ★ V Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. ridge and the to ★ M the south. S ★ ★ M Carry straight along Adder Lane and ★ V Walk 4 take the first left and first right towards ★ E A peaceful 3 mile walk, Tuckerton Farm. Before Tuckerton Farm, ★ MA extending onto the edge of take a track to the left where you pass along the levels the boundary of a large private garden. Exit at a stile, pass along the edge of a field with 2 Start along the towpath as walk 3 but at a ditch and small lake on your right and then Coxhill bridge carry on along the left around the boundary towpath, past the swingbridge at North of St Michael’s Church. Newton and past Kings Lock. Just before the The church is connected next bridge at Whites farm buildings, take a stile to Maunsel Estate, which to the right directly off the towpath and over a was once home to the footbridge. Take the drove beside Whites Farm County Eustace of and turn right at the end along Middlemoor Boulogne, Kinsman of and around the edge of the next field to Drove. This area is on the edge of the Somerset William the Conqueror. emerge on a minor road. Take the road right Levels, an important wetland habitat, especially for Turn right on the road and then past Primmore Farm and at the next junction wading birds in winter.Take the first track left and left opposite the farm at the turn right. Just past the house on the corner then left at Northmoor corner as described at converted mill house, pass turn left into a field, across to a stile, through the end of Walk 3 (above). over a footbridge, through two walnut orchards another small field and along the edge of another and emerge on the road again.Turn left and back field to the right of a derelict barn and onto the There are other intermediate paths that can be to the car park along the minor road. road. Turn right here back to the car park. walked here as shown on the map.