Walking in Somerset
Somerset has plenty of beautiful unspoiled countryside for the walker to explore. Your local tourist information center will be able to recommend circular walks in the area. Many walks take in pretty villages where you can stop for refreshments and a well-earned rest.
Walking in Somerset offers all manner of scenery to explore from the Wetlands of the Levels famous for its birdlife to the Mendip Hills and the dramatic Cheddar Gorge to the wilderness of Exmoor National Park.
For the experienced walker, there are a number of long-distance footpaths in Somerset. The 50 miles long Mendip Way stretching from Weston-super-Mare to Frome takes in the beautiful scenery of the Mendip Hills and pretty villages along the way. Then there is the Coleridge Way which covers 36 miles from the village of Nether Stowey in the Quantock Hills where Coleridge once lived to the beautiful village of Porlock close to where Coleridge is said to have written Kubla Khan.
Along the way, you will experience a variety of landscapes including the wooded valleys of the Quantock Hills to the heath and moorland of Exmoor. The walk can be completed over 3 days making the Coleridge Way perfect for a short break. There is much good quality B&B;’s along the way offering a friendly welcome and some that provide a baggage transfer service. The more ambitious walker may decide to continue with the South West Coastal Path or West Somerset path after reaching Porlock. Further information on the Coleridge Way and accommodation providers en route can be found on www.Coleridgeway.co.uk
Further walking in Somerset can be found at the River Parrett Trail which runs from the source of the river just over the border in Dorset, down to the mouth of the river on the coast, covering 50 miles in total. The walk takes you through the Somerset Levels famous for willow growing and birdlife. The walk keeps generally to the riverbanks apart from the occasional necessary diversion.
Then there is the Leland trail in South Somerset which stretches from Alfred’s Tower near Bruton for 28 miles to Ham Hill near South Petherton exploring the lowland landscapes of this region.
Sport and Leisure Activities in Somerset
Walking in Somerset is a great way to appreciate the wonderful diversity that the county has to offer.
