South-West England Somerset Levels and surrounding area

AdamSi

AdamSi

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We are staying up in at the Somerset levels in just over 1 week, besides RSPB Ham Wall what other places are good to visit for photography, just a walk and places to cycle off the main roads? we would really love to see a barn owl and hear they do frequent the area? But anything really open to suggestions and we are just looking forward to the relaxing break too :)
 
Burrowbridge (the Mump): to the south just outside Curry Rivel is the Burton Pynsett tower and next to it Swell Wood, though you've missed the heronry: Taunton - Bridgwater canal is pretty (go to Maunsell Lock and walk either way) You'll get a good view of Glastonbury Tor over the lagoon at Ham Wall which imo is the best view (sorry, close up the place does nothing for me). You can walk beside most of the rivers though being flat it does get a bit samey. There are a lot of little roads I would think would be great to cycle on, and of course you can cycle the drove that runs along the edge of Ham Wall and Shapwick. I can't help on the owls as I don't live on the Levels (too flat for my liking!).
 
Thanks Jan for quick reply lots to think about, and it's going to be quite a change from Ilfracombe where we live on a massive hill lol
 
Thanks Steve my wife would proper freak out in there :(
 
Adam
Besides recommending Ham Wall RSPB and Shapwick Heath Eng. Nature as stated above excellent flat bike riding (as long as you don't have a dog on Shapwick - Ham Wall is OK), there is also RSPB at Greylake and there is Steart Marshes further afield. You might also find something here http://www.somersetwildlife.org/reserves.html
 
Thank you Jamie much appreciated we cannot wait until our holiday now :)
 
Burnham-on-Sea with it's weird lighthouse is a classic for sunset shots along with the SS Nornen ship wreck further north along the coast at Berrow (careful of the sinking sand at low tide - a few cars have come a cropper there!!).

There are some very good recommendations above too. It's a beautiful part of the world. I was born and raised there (although I've lived in Surrey longer than I lived in Somerset) but my whole family still live there and so I get back pretty regularly. There's a little tea shop on the Taunton-Bridgwater canal (perfect for cycling along as suggested above) at the lock where they serve Styles Ice Cream - lovely :)

Enjoy yourself!
 
zendog said:
If you fancy a wet walk Swildons is nice!

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=18388.0
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LOL - I stated that thread :)
I was down in Swildons yesterday and at the moment it is disappointingly dry.
Just about to head off for an SRT trip (dangling on a rope). Am trying a GoPro on a lanyard, no idea what I'll get.

Glastonbury Tor is well worth a walk up; the view is way batter than you might expect.
Cheddar Gorge is worth a visit; there is a path between Cheddar and Black Rock on the SE side of the Gorge that has mega-views into the Gorge and beyond.
Have a great time in Somerset :)
 
Gupster said:
Burnham-on-Sea with it's weird lighthouse is a classic for sunset shots along with the SS Nornen ship wreck further north along the coast at Berrow (careful of the sinking sand at low tide - a few cars have come a cropper there!!).

There are some very good recommendations above too. It's a beautiful part of the world. I was born and raised there (although I've lived in Surrey longer than I lived in Somerset) but my whole family still live there and so I get back pretty regularly. There's a little tea shop on the Taunton-Bridgwater canal (perfect for cycling along as suggested above) at the lock where they serve Styles Ice Cream - lovely :)

Enjoy yourself!
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Thanks for the info those ice creams sound good I'm sure we will be heading over there for sure I'm sure I've read you can get canal boat trips there too?
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
LOL - I stated that thread :)
I was down in Swildons yesterday and at the moment it is disappointingly dry.
Just about to head off for an SRT trip (dangling on a rope). Am trying a GoPro on a lanyard, no idea what I'll get.

Glastonbury Tor is well worth a walk up; the view is way batter than you might expect.
Cheddar Gorge is worth a visit; there is a path between Cheddar and Black Rock on the SE side of the Gorge that has mega-views into the Gorge and beyond.
Have a great time in Somerset :)
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Thank you will see if I can talk the wife I to a walk up the tor :) and black rock sounds good too thank you
 
To keep Mrs Si happy, drop into Clarks Village in Street - it's between Ham Wall and Glastonbury so you'll be passing anyway! Enough retail therapy to keep any woman quiet... :coat:
 
Nod said:
To keep Mrs Si happy, drop into Clarks Village in Street - it's between Ham Wall and Glastonbury so you'll be passing anyway! Enough retail therapy to keep any woman quiet... :coat:
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Now I like that plan ! Some brownie points for sure
 
No camera shops there but several outdoor type places for last season's kit at reasonable prices along with a few chocolate shops - Lindt, Cadbury's and Thornton's... Several choices of eateries as well.
 
Thanks Nod that sounds ideal as we need some more walking gear :)
 
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