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Walking is a great way to improve and maintain your overall health, experts recommend just 30 minutes a day. This strengthens your bones, boosts your muscle power and reduces body fat.
A winning combination!
So, what better way to enjoy beautiful Bridgwater than by walking - check out our top 5 walks in the area.
Bridgwater and Taunton canal
This walk is about 14.5 miles along and follows the canal from Bridgwater Marina to Fire Pool Lock. Peaceful and full of wildlife, make sure you look out for the dragonflies, heron, moor hen and coots all happily going about their daily business. During the summer months the path is full of beautiful wildflowers, make sure you just look and don’t pick please so everyone can enjoy them. If you are feeling energetic and complete the full 14.5 miles you will pass some stunning villages including Bathpool and North Newton which are perfect for that mid walk refreshment!
Hestercombe Gardens, a personal favourite
Hestercombe gardens dating from the 17th century is steeped in history, the watermill has been restored to its former glory and showcases the splendorous way energy used to be made. With 300 years’ worth of garden designs, from Georgian landscapes, Victorian terraces and Edwardian constructs, Hestercombe is a feast for the eyes. Each and every part of the garden has been exceptionally well looked after, ensuring time has not changed the delightful historical designs. With great facilities including a picnic area, play area and restaurant, offering perfect light lunches and snacks, it is a perfect day out for all the family.
Fyne Court
If you prefer something a little more back to nature and untouched by human hands, you will love Fyne Court nature reserve which is looked after by the National Trust. With vast open fields, woodland paths and small ancient buildings to explore, it’s a haven for nature. The pond and a stream running through the reserve is perfect for tiny feet to go paddling in or you if you are feeling livelier you can play ball games in the expansive flat fields. As you would expect with a National Trust property, there are excellent facilities onsite including a picnic area and a self-service information centre where you can pick up detailed maps of the paths which information on the paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Coastal trail
Bridgwater is lucky to be just a stones’ throw from Britain’s beautiful coastal path, boosting one of the longest sections, the southwest path covers over 630 miles, running along the southwest coast of the UK but don’t worry you don’t have to do the whole trail! It is very easy to do a small section of the trail at a time taking in the scenery as you walk along the coast. The Bridgwater to Cannington walk is a beautiful 9 mile stretch of the coastal path following the river Parrett, the beautiful sandy beaches and the rustic coastline make this 3.5 hour walk well worth the effort.
Kilve
If you don’t mind a small drive, 20 minutes by car, then you should definitely visit Klive, a pebble beach with slate cliffs and view out into the Bristol channel. If you go, be sure to bring a chisel and hammer as this pebbly beach is famous for its fossils, all just hiding the rocks waiting to be found and brought into the light. If you are not into fossil hunting, take advantage of coastal path and walk to Hinkley Point in the north or Minehead to the south. Walking along the paths on top of the cliffs and through some of the prettiest fields whilst looking down at the waves crashing onto the shore is quite spectacular. To finish off your day, I would highly recommend The Chantry Tea Garden (situated at in Sea Lane) they have the best afternoon tea around, their scones are to die for!