Somerset Coast - Day 3: Bridgwater to Steart

Walk: Somerset Coast - Day 3: Bridgwater to Steart

This is a fantastic opportunity to join walkers on the 80 Miles in Eight Days Challenge for part of their walk.

On the third day we leave Bridgwater on the King Charles III England Coast Path, joining the River Parrett Trail, and continue our walk on the banks of the river. The route takes us past the construction site for the Bridgwater barrage which, when finished, will protect the town from flooding.

As we walk you can look across the river at yesterday’s section on the Pawlett Hams – the barrage ballon hanger is clearly visible from here. Inland the tower of Cannington Church is also visible. Continuing we reach Combwich, once an important port for the local brick and tile industry, today it has a new jetty to support the delivery of materials for the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

From Combwich we head into WWT Steart Marshes, a working salt marsh providing natural flood defences for the area and a home for waders and overwintering birds, including Shelduck, Avocets, Plovers, Dunlin, Curlew, Oyster catchers and Egrets and many more. This area is at the heart of the new Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve, and is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Conservation Area and a Ramsar important wetlands habitat.

Along the entire Challenge route there are stamping stations for the Somerset & Exmoor Coast Trail Passport with maps, diary pages and spaces to collect stamps on your walk.

Look out for events, offers and promotions at the location of the walk each day, some of our supporters are timing activities to make your trip as enjoyable as possible with special treats such as packed lunches or cream teas available at the start or end of your day’s walking.

Due to the challenge nature for some participants of this walk, we have made the decision not to accept dogs on the walk.

Full details of the itinerary and walk leaders will be distributed prior to the start of the challenge.

Itinerary:

We meet at the end point of your day’s walking at 9am, where there will be parking available. Here you will be joined by Walk Leaders and back-markers and driven to the start location to walk back to your car / transport.

At the start location, walkers opting not to use our transport may join and, following a briefing for the day, the walk will begin.

Where public transport is available at start and / or end locations it is shown below as PTS (public transport available at the start) or PTE (public transport available at the end), this is based on services running as normal for the time of year.

Further information will be included in the walk information pack sent out before the walks.

Day 3 – Bridgwater to Steart Marshes (Moderate) (PTS)

Terrain:

Difficulty level - Moderate

Distance - 12 miles

Duration - 5 - 7 hours

Day 2 on the King Charles III England Coast Path is on terrain that would be considered easy (flat with no stiles), however we have classed it as moderate given the distance to be walked.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

WWT Steart Marshes, Stert Drove, Bridgwater, United Kingdom