
WALK 9
SOMERTON (GASSONS LANE)
The levels & moors of Somerset
A comfortable walk on mostly level tracks and lanes
Distance 10.0 Km/6.2miles
Total ascent/descent 78m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/20492326
Updated July 2024 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR 479 287) locate the tarmac footpath opposite Gassons Lane which runs between a wooden fence and a post and wire fence. Follow for 180m to reach Bancombe Road then turn L. After 300m pass the entrance to the Trading Estate on the R and 120m beyond at the mini-roundabout go ahead. Follow for 170m and ignore L turn to Westcombe and then descend gently for 700m then R into Slippery Batch [1.5Km]
2 (GR470 298) Follow the road as it bends L and descends gently to reach Somerton Door Farm. 250m beyond, cross the bridge over the serene River Cary. Ignore the footpaths along the river bank, but continue ahead 300m to a cross-roads of tracks where the tarmac ends. Go L and follow the track (Somerton Drove) across Somerton Moor(1) for 1.7Km, ignoring any side tracks, to reach a T-junction and go L (SP Pitney Steart Bridge) [2.8Km]
3 (GR454 314) Follow the track for 500m to a junction. Fork R and follow for 200m to reach Pitney Steart Bridge. Turn L to cross the bridge over the river Cary and follow the tarmac road for 800m to reach a junction by a small pond in the hamlet of Park and turn L(SP Somerton) [1.4Km]
4 (GR452 302) Follow round R then L bend and then straight section of 1.5Km to reach Wild Meadow Farm. Here the road bends slightly R then L ascending gently for 400m to junction. Go L into Slippery Batch [2.0Km]
5 (GR470 298) Follow descending gently for 300m and on reaching the fifth telegraph pole on the L go R (no sign) along stony track. Ascend for 400m gently at first, then more steeply to reach a track to Etsome on the L. Go ahead 200m to reach the tarmac of Bradley Hill Lane. From the first gateway on the R is a good view across the Somerset Levels as far as Hinckley Point power station. Continue along the tarmac road for 800m to pass the school on L and reach junction by houses [1.7Km]
6 (GR482 290) Turn R and walk for 300m to reach a pedestrian way to the main Langport road. Turn R for 200m to the bus-stop. The stop for Langport and Taunton is across the road [0.6Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 3.7 Km/2.3 miles
Follow to end of point 1 and turn R. This point is coincident with point 5, so follow from there back to the start.
For car travellers:
Park carefully in Gassons Lane or one of its side turnings. Parking is also available in the recreation ground car park 150m W of Gassons Lane. Do not park on the main road.
Refreshments:
Cafés and pubs in Somerton
1 The Somerset Levels and Moors is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, between the Quantocks and the Mendips. It consists of marine clay "levels" along the coast, and the inland (often peat based) "moors". The Levels are split by the Polden Hills, with the catchment area of the River Parrett to the south.
The total area of the Levels & Moors amounts to approximately 650 km2 (160,000 acres) of which 70% is grassland and 30% is arable Typically, there are open fields of permanent grass surrounded by ditches with willow trees. Access is by "droves"
Much of the area is only slightly above sea level and borders the Severn Estuary so flooding has always been a problem. Early attempts to control the water levels were possibly made by the Romans and efforts to control flooding on the Parrett were recorded in the early 12th Century, but problems were not fully resolved until the sea defences were enhanced in the early 20th century.
Being largely flat, the Levels are well suited to bicycles, and a number of cycle routes exist.
2 (GR470 298) Follow the road as it bends L and descends gently to reach Somerton Door Farm. 250m beyond, cross the bridge over the serene River Cary. Ignore the footpaths along the river bank, but continue ahead 300m to a cross-roads of tracks where the tarmac ends. Go L and follow the track (Somerton Drove) across Somerton Moor(1) for 1.7Km, ignoring any side tracks, to reach a T-junction and go L (SP Pitney Steart Bridge) [2.8Km]
3 (GR454 314) Follow the track for 500m to a junction. Fork R and follow for 200m to reach Pitney Steart Bridge. Turn L to cross the bridge over the river Cary and follow the tarmac road for 800m to reach a junction by a small pond in the hamlet of Park and turn L(SP Somerton) [1.4Km]
4 (GR452 302) Follow round R then L bend and then straight section of 1.5Km to reach Wild Meadow Farm. Here the road bends slightly R then L ascending gently for 400m to junction. Go L into Slippery Batch [2.0Km]
5 (GR470 298) Follow descending gently for 300m and on reaching the fifth telegraph pole on the L go R (no sign) along stony track. Ascend for 400m gently at first, then more steeply to reach a track to Etsome on the L. Go ahead 200m to reach the tarmac of Bradley Hill Lane. From the first gateway on the R is a good view across the Somerset Levels as far as Hinckley Point power station. Continue along the tarmac road for 800m to pass the school on L and reach junction by houses [1.7Km]
6 (GR482 290) Turn R and walk for 300m to reach a pedestrian way to the main Langport road. Turn R for 200m to the bus-stop. The stop for Langport and Taunton is across the road [0.6Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 3.7 Km/2.3 miles
Follow to end of point 1 and turn R. This point is coincident with point 5, so follow from there back to the start.
For car travellers:
Park carefully in Gassons Lane or one of its side turnings. Parking is also available in the recreation ground car park 150m W of Gassons Lane. Do not park on the main road.
Refreshments:
Cafés and pubs in Somerton
1 The Somerset Levels and Moors is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, between the Quantocks and the Mendips. It consists of marine clay "levels" along the coast, and the inland (often peat based) "moors". The Levels are split by the Polden Hills, with the catchment area of the River Parrett to the south.
The total area of the Levels & Moors amounts to approximately 650 km2 (160,000 acres) of which 70% is grassland and 30% is arable Typically, there are open fields of permanent grass surrounded by ditches with willow trees. Access is by "droves"
Much of the area is only slightly above sea level and borders the Severn Estuary so flooding has always been a problem. Early attempts to control the water levels were possibly made by the Romans and efforts to control flooding on the Parrett were recorded in the early 12th Century, but problems were not fully resolved until the sea defences were enhanced in the early 20th century.
Being largely flat, the Levels are well suited to bicycles, and a number of cycle routes exist.