Somerset Wildlife Trust
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Somerset Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. We are a science-led movement focused on restoring habitats to support a wide range of wildlife and restore natural processes that are essential for healthy landscapes, and provide vital services such as clean air and water, food, carbon absorption and flood alleviation.
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Published route(s)
River and Canal
1.63 mi
+16 ft
-16 ft
0h 45
Easy
Departure from Taunton (Somerset)
A pleasant route of reasonable distance, taking in a beautiful stretch of Taunton’s crowning glory the River Tone, and a quiet tract of the Bridgwater and Taunton canal. Wildlife abounds.
A Criss-Cross of Bridges
1.22 mi
+13 ft
-13 ft
0h 35
Easy
Departure from Taunton (Somerset)
Take in a lively stretch of the River Tone, a new wildlife mural, and the Mill Stream running through Goodland Gardens. Visit by day you’ll see Little Egrets hunting for fish, and at dusk, you might be joined by bats who are out hunting for their supper.
Blackbrook Meander
1.76 mi
+16 ft
-16 ft
0h 50
Easy
Departure from Taunton (Somerset)
A gentle meander alongside Blackbrook and around pleasant Hamilton Gault Park. The stream is a traffic-free route for wildlife in and out of the town, including otters and water voles. Come out on a summer evening and watch bats flying above your head catching insects.
River Tone Story Trail
1.12 mi
+13 ft
-13 ft
0h 30
Easy
Departure from Taunton (Somerset)
Circular, family-fun story trail 1.5km riverside walk.
Bishopswood Meadows (and Jan Hobbs) Nature Reserve
2.24 mi
+279 ft
-249 ft
1h 15
Easy
Departure from Otterford (Somerset)
Species-rich limestone and marshy meadows beside River Yarty.
Dundon Beacon Nature Reserve, Compton Dundon
2.42 mi
+315 ft
-305 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from Compton Dundon (Somerset)
A mosaic of calcareous grassland, scrub, ancient oak woodland, secondary woodland and conifer plantation on Dundon Hill. The top of Dundon Hill features significant archaeological remains with a hill fort, Bronze Age round barrow and ancient quarry.
Quants Nature Reserve
2.38 mi
+404 ft
-390 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from West Buckland (Somerset)
Mosaic of relic heathy grassland and ancient and secondary woodland on the steep north-facing slope of Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Ubley Warren Nature Reserve
2.44 mi
+112 ft
-118 ft
1h 15
Easy
Departure from Priddy (Somerset)
Public footpaths and with stiles and gates. Be aware of grazing animals and keep dogs on leads around livestock. Watch out for uneven ground and hidden mineshafts on Ubley Warren.
Ubley Warren and Velvet Bottom Nature Reserves
3.99 mi
+256 ft
-246 ft
2h 05
Easy
Departure from Priddy (Somerset)
Explore Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Ubley Warren and Velvet Bottom Nature Reserves and the surrounding landscape of The Mendip Hills AONB.
Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve
1.63 mi
+20 ft
-20 ft
0h 45
Easy
Departure from Meare (Somerset)
Westhay Moor is north of the village of Westhay in Somerset. The car park is just off the road to Godney, at the junction with Daggs Lane Drove. A National Cycle Network route runs along a disused railway line, just south of Westhay village.