Tel:01823 355617 Tel:01823 Department, County Hall,Taunton.TA1 4DY. Hall,Taunton.TA1 County Department, Countryside Services Group, Economy,Transport & Environment & Economy,Transport Group, Services Countryside o oeifraino h ru laecnat - contact: please group the on information more For Somerset County Council County Somerset This leaflet was produced by the Countryside Services Group, Services Countryside the by produced was leaflet This areas of Hankridge and Bathpool. and Hankridge of areas Levels and Moors, to the built up built the to Moors, and Levels from the quiet areas of the Somerset the of areas quiet the from Tone, and across varying countryside, varying across and Tone, villages, hamlets, alongside the River the alongside hamlets, villages, lanes. The walks go through local through go walks The lanes. local footpaths and quiet country quiet and footpaths local yuigtecnltwah selected towpath, canal the using by Michael four short circular walks begin walks circular short four Michael From the car park here at Creech St Creech at here park car the From Car Park Car Circular Walks from the from Walks Circular Creech St Michael St Creech Circular Walks Circular Canal & CANAL TAUNTON AND BRIDGWATER Bridgwater Taunton Bridgwater FACILITIES ALONG THE THE ALONG FACILITIES Creech St Michael The Canal Today The name of the village is derived from the British Nowadays the canal is used as an important word ‘cruc’ meaning ‘a hill’ and ‘cructan’ meaning The canal was used mainly for the transportation recreational resource. Informal activities like ‘the hill on the River Tone’. However, it was not of coal, timber and limestone that was brought into fishing and cycling take place - Sustrans use the until after 1750 A.D. that it Bridgwater dock and then transferred to barges towpath as part of their National Cycle Route that became known as Creech St and small tub-boats. The runs from Padstow to Bath/Bristol. Sections of the Michael. commercial success of the towpath are also used as part of the River Parrett canal ended when the Bristol Trail that runs from Chedington in South Dorset The 13th Century Church has a and Exeter railway opened - through to Bridgwater and beyond. fine wagon roof and inside can commercial traffic ceased in be seen some intricate carved 1907. Environmentally, the canal is used as a water supply woodwork - including medieval for Durleigh reservoir - it acts as a drainage system choir seats and bench ends and Restoration to take surface water run off from agricultural land a reading desk dated 1634. and storm water in urban areas. The canal is also a Outside, under a yew tree The West Country branch of link that joins the River Tone in Taunton and the reputed to be 1000 years old, the Inland Waterways River Parrett in Bridgwater. the parish stocks still stand. Association lobbied for many years for the canal to be Conservation and Wildlife The old Creech Mill, which lies restored. This led to between the River Tone and the Somerset County Council, The canal is an important ecosystem for wildlife canal, was once famous for its Sedgemoor District Council because it represents a thin ribbon of land and making of fine paper, including and Taunton Deane Borough water in an environment that is used intensively for writing paper, envelopes, tobacco, Council working jointly with agriculture outside the urban areas. It is an art, chrome and enamelled British Waterways to bring about the excellent example of a wetland habitat, with papers. It eventually closed in restoration of the canal for clear unpolluted water that supports 1983 and has now been converted amenity purposes between much plant, fish, bird and insect the years 1980 and 1995. life. Vast stocks of roach, into small industrial units. The replacement of 14 low pike, perch, carp, bridges was the main part of bream and trench A History of the Canal the restoration programme can be spotted, with The Bridgwater and Taunton (the original swing bridges kingfishers, Canal was part of an ambitious were removed in wartime to herons, 19th century scheme to create a route between create a line of defence). dragon- Exeter and Bristol, which would avoid the Seven of the bridges were flies and treacherous sea route around Lands End. Sadly the replaced by swing bridges and seven by raised damselflies great link never materialized though the Bridgwater bridges, and this, along with the restoration of six flying and Taunton canal opened in 1827, joining the new locks, brought the canal back to life - it was overhead. The docks at Bridgwater in 1841 & making its total reopened to navigation in June 1994. fringes of the canal are home to much length 15 miles. interesting flora and fauna. Tel:01823 355617 Tel:01823 Department, County Hall,Taunton.TA1 4DY. Hall,Taunton.TA1 County Department, Countryside Services Group, Economy,Transport & Environment & Economy,Transport Group, Services Countryside o oeifraino h ru laecnat - contact: please group the on information more For Somerset County Council County Somerset This leaflet was produced by the Countryside Services Group, Services Countryside the by produced was leaflet This areas of Hankridge and Bathpool. and Hankridge of areas Levels and Moors, to the built up built the to Moors, and Levels from the quiet areas of the Somerset the of areas quiet the from Tone, and across varying countryside, varying across and Tone, villages, hamlets, alongside the River the alongside hamlets, villages, lanes. The walks go through local through go walks The lanes. local footpaths and quiet country quiet and footpaths local yuigtecnltwah selected towpath, canal the using by Michael four short circular walks begin walks circular short four Michael From the car park here at Creech St Creech at here park car the From Car Park Car Circular Walks from the from Walks Circular Creech St Michael St Creech Circular Walks Circular Canal & CANAL TAUNTON AND BRIDGWATER Bridgwater Taunton Bridgwater FACILITIES ALONG THE THE ALONG FACILITIES Creech St Michael The Canal Today The name of the village is derived from the British Nowadays the canal is used as an important word ‘cruc’ meaning ‘a hill’ and ‘cructan’ meaning The canal was used mainly for the transportation recreational resource. Informal activities like ‘the hill on the River Tone’. However, it was not of coal, timber and limestone that was brought into fishing and cycling take place - Sustrans use the until after 1750 A.D. that it Bridgwater dock and then transferred to barges towpath as part of their National Cycle Route that became known as Creech St and small tub-boats. The runs from Padstow to Bath/Bristol. Sections of the Michael. commercial success of the towpath are also used as part of the River Parrett canal ended when the Bristol Trail that runs from Chedington in South Dorset The 13th Century Church has a and Exeter railway opened - through to Bridgwater and beyond. fine wagon roof and inside can commercial traffic ceased in be seen some intricate carved 1907. Environmentally, the canal is used as a water supply woodwork - including medieval for Durleigh reservoir - it acts as a drainage system choir seats and bench ends and Restoration to take surface water run off from agricultural land a reading desk dated 1634. and storm water in urban areas. The canal is also a Outside, under a yew tree The West Country branch of link that joins the River Tone in Taunton and the reputed to be 1000 years old, the Inland Waterways River Parrett in Bridgwater. the parish stocks still stand. Association lobbied for many years for the canal to be Conservation and Wildlife The old Creech Mill, which lies restored. This led to between the River Tone and the Somerset County Council, The canal is an important ecosystem for wildlife canal, was once famous for its Sedgemoor District Council because it represents a thin ribbon of land and making of fine paper, including and Taunton Deane Borough water in an environment that is used intensively for writing paper, envelopes, tobacco, Council working jointly with agriculture outside the urban areas. It is an art, chrome and enamelled British Waterways to bring about the excellent example of a wetland habitat, with papers. It eventually closed in restoration of the canal for clear unpolluted water that supports 1983 and has now been converted amenity purposes between much plant, fish, bird and insect the years 1980 and 1995. life. Vast stocks of roach, into small industrial units. The replacement of 14 low pike, perch, carp, bridges was the main part of bream and trench A History of the Canal the restoration programme can be spotted, with The Bridgwater and Taunton (the original swing bridges kingfishers, Canal was part of an ambitious were removed in wartime to herons, 19th century scheme to create a route between create a line of defence). dragon- Exeter and Bristol, which would avoid the Seven of the bridges were flies and treacherous sea route around Lands End. Sadly the replaced by swing bridges and seven by raised damselflies great link never materialized though the Bridgwater bridges, and this, along with the restoration of six flying and Taunton canal opened in 1827, joining the new locks, brought the canal back to life - it was overhead. The docks at Bridgwater in 1841 & making its total reopened to navigation in June 1994. fringes of the canal are home to much length 15 miles. interesting flora and fauna. Walk No. 1 Walk 2 across several fields until reaching another lane Creech St Michael - Bathpool - Hankridge - Creech St Michael - Charlton - Knapp - Ham - where you go straight across. Cross the field (it Ruishton - Creech St Michael Creech St Michael usually has horses in it) to the top right hand An easy level 4.5miles/7.2km walk A scenic 4.5mile/7.2km walk corner.