River Parrett and Langport
WALK 7
LANGPORT
River Parrett, a ruined abbey and the “Hanging Chapel”
Pleasant paths and lanes with Bristol gates but few stiles
Distance 9.5 Km/ 5.9 miles
Total ascent/descent 25m
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Updated July 2025 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR419 268) walk through the car-park opposite the Town Hall passing a parade of shops. At the end of the shops, bear 45 degrees R to a metal railing and follow round to reach a gravel track to the river bank. Turn L and follow path 650m to reach a car park [0.9Km]
2 (GR425 263) Go R across Huish Bridge over the R Parrett. Ignore the first footpath on the L but after 70m, just over another bridge go L at a Bristol gate with the Parrett Trail(1) waymark. After 40m just beyond end of barbed wire fence, go diagonally R 200m on faint path passing beneath power lines aiming to far corner to reach a Bristol gate. Go L and follow track 100m through wooded area to reach Bristol gate into an open field. Go ahead 400m with hedge on R to two Bristol gates across rhyne then 50m to another Bristol gate [0.9Km]
3 (GR418 257) Here go across the line of the disused railway and cross stile bearing 45 degrees L 200m to locate a metal gate and waymarked stile to the L of two big metal pipes. Continue in the same direction 500m to the far corner. Cross a double stile and sleeper bridge then continue 200m in same direction to large gap at the R end of the hedge ahead. 50m ahead go through a gate and bridge on the R and cross field 250m on clear path aiming for L of hedge ahead. Go through Bristol gate into enclosed path bearing L to reach road [1.4Km].
4 (GR410 248) Go ahead along road for 1.7 Km to reach Westover bridge. Go ahead 300m past the Muchelney sign and take the footpath on R by the Muchelney Abbey(2) signboard. Pass the abbey to reach a gate and continue with railings on the R 60m to a Bristol gate, then 30m to another Bristol gate, then 200m in the same direction with (remains of) fence on L to the stile directly across field to reach a road [2.4Km]
5 (GR430 246) Turn L and follow the road past the other side of the abbey to reach a grass triangle overlooked by church and Priest’s House(3). Continue L (SP Drayton) and follow road back to Westover bridge [1.0Km]
6 (GR425 248) Cross the bridge and turn R through gate walking along the raised bank with the river Parrett on the R. Follow the river bank for 1.6 Km crossing several Bristol gates, to reach the end of Huish Bridge and turn R across the bridge. At the small car parking area, go straight ahead along a narrow lane for 270m almost to road junction [1.9Km]
7 (GR426 264) Just before junction go L through Bristol gate and continue along field with hedge on R for 300m to Bristol gate. After 30m go R through waymarked kissing gate and ascend steep track to road. Turn L and follow the pavement to the R of the Hanging Chapel(4), go L into the churchyard to admire the view and continue past the W door of All Saints church(5) on the R and go L down The Hill with some delightful houses to another junction. Go ahead past the Langport Arms to reach the bus-stop [1.0Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 2.2 Km/ 1.4 miles
Follow paragraph 1 to reach the car-park area at Huish Bridge and go L (but go R first to admire the river view) along the narrow lane for 270m to reach point 7.
For car travellers:
There is a large car park to the R beyond the parade of shops described in point 1. Park in the long stay section
Refreshments:
Langport Arms Hotel
Various cafes/tearooms in Langport
1 The Trail follows the route of the river from Chedington (Dorset) to its mouth near Bridgwater - 80 Km.
2 Muchelney Abbey was built mostly in the 12th century and is Somerset’s second largest after Glastonbury. Religious buildings were here before 700, but Benedictines established here in the 10th century.
3 The Priest's House was built by Muchelney Abbey in 1308 and incorporates a Gothic doorway, tracery windows and a 15th-century fireplace.
4 The Hanging Chapel is a 13th century archway, bearing a Perpendicular chapel. It is thought to have been built on a Saxon bank and is Grade I listed. It has had many uses including Town Hall, Grammar School and Masonic Lodge.
5 All Saints, Langport has a bold west tower and the largest collection of medieval stained glass in Somerset.
2 (GR425 263) Go R across Huish Bridge over the R Parrett. Ignore the first footpath on the L but after 70m, just over another bridge go L at a Bristol gate with the Parrett Trail(1) waymark. After 40m just beyond end of barbed wire fence, go diagonally R 200m on faint path passing beneath power lines aiming to far corner to reach a Bristol gate. Go L and follow track 100m through wooded area to reach Bristol gate into an open field. Go ahead 400m with hedge on R to two Bristol gates across rhyne then 50m to another Bristol gate [0.9Km]
3 (GR418 257) Here go across the line of the disused railway and cross stile bearing 45 degrees L 200m to locate a metal gate and waymarked stile to the L of two big metal pipes. Continue in the same direction 500m to the far corner. Cross a double stile and sleeper bridge then continue 200m in same direction to large gap at the R end of the hedge ahead. 50m ahead go through a gate and bridge on the R and cross field 250m on clear path aiming for L of hedge ahead. Go through Bristol gate into enclosed path bearing L to reach road [1.4Km].
4 (GR410 248) Go ahead along road for 1.7 Km to reach Westover bridge. Go ahead 300m past the Muchelney sign and take the footpath on R by the Muchelney Abbey(2) signboard. Pass the abbey to reach a gate and continue with railings on the R 60m to a Bristol gate, then 30m to another Bristol gate, then 200m in the same direction with (remains of) fence on L to the stile directly across field to reach a road [2.4Km]
5 (GR430 246) Turn L and follow the road past the other side of the abbey to reach a grass triangle overlooked by church and Priest’s House(3). Continue L (SP Drayton) and follow road back to Westover bridge [1.0Km]
6 (GR425 248) Cross the bridge and turn R through gate walking along the raised bank with the river Parrett on the R. Follow the river bank for 1.6 Km crossing several Bristol gates, to reach the end of Huish Bridge and turn R across the bridge. At the small car parking area, go straight ahead along a narrow lane for 270m almost to road junction [1.9Km]
7 (GR426 264) Just before junction go L through Bristol gate and continue along field with hedge on R for 300m to Bristol gate. After 30m go R through waymarked kissing gate and ascend steep track to road. Turn L and follow the pavement to the R of the Hanging Chapel(4), go L into the churchyard to admire the view and continue past the W door of All Saints church(5) on the R and go L down The Hill with some delightful houses to another junction. Go ahead past the Langport Arms to reach the bus-stop [1.0Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 2.2 Km/ 1.4 miles
Follow paragraph 1 to reach the car-park area at Huish Bridge and go L (but go R first to admire the river view) along the narrow lane for 270m to reach point 7.
For car travellers:
There is a large car park to the R beyond the parade of shops described in point 1. Park in the long stay section
Refreshments:
Langport Arms Hotel
Various cafes/tearooms in Langport
1 The Trail follows the route of the river from Chedington (Dorset) to its mouth near Bridgwater - 80 Km.
2 Muchelney Abbey was built mostly in the 12th century and is Somerset’s second largest after Glastonbury. Religious buildings were here before 700, but Benedictines established here in the 10th century.
3 The Priest's House was built by Muchelney Abbey in 1308 and incorporates a Gothic doorway, tracery windows and a 15th-century fireplace.
4 The Hanging Chapel is a 13th century archway, bearing a Perpendicular chapel. It is thought to have been built on a Saxon bank and is Grade I listed. It has had many uses including Town Hall, Grammar School and Masonic Lodge.
5 All Saints, Langport has a bold west tower and the largest collection of medieval stained glass in Somerset.
