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Shapwick Heath

1.9 miles (3 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Explore this lovely nature reserve in the Somerset's Levels. Part of the Avalon Marshes, Shapwick Heath is one of several nature reserves in the area. There's reedbeds, wildflower meadows, fens, woods and lots of open water. It's great for wildlife with egrets, bitterns, otters, great-crested grebes and white admiral butterfly to look out for. There's nearly 1000 acres to explore on a number of a walking trails and a cycle trail.  It's a splendid place for a walk with such a wide variety of habitats and wildlife to enjoy.
You can start your walk from the Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre on Shapwick Road. It has a large car park and a wealth of information about the area. It is just a short walk from here to the nice waterside stroll along the South Drain Path. Just south of that is the Sweet Track which runs along ancient wooden trackways.
The reserve is located just a few miles west of Glastonbury. You could visit the site by bike by following National Cycle Network Roue 3 from Glastonbury. You could also follow the River Brue to Meare and Oxenpill at the northern edge of the reserve or the Glastonbury Canal.
To extend your walking you could visit the adjacent Ham Wall Nature Reserve where there are several more trails to try.
To the south there's Westhay Moor, another of the reserves on the marshes.

Postcode

BA6 9TT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Shapwick Heath OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Shapwick Heath Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the east you'll find the nearby village of Street. Here you can enjoy a lovely climb along the Polden Way to the National Trust's Walton Hill in the Polden Hills. Just to the south of Street you'll also find the neighbouring village of Compton Dundon where you can try the Compton Dundon and Combe Hill Wood Walk. The circular walk includes a climb to Iron Age Hillfort on Dundon Beacon and a visit to the Hood Monument, which is something of a historic local landmark.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Somerset Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Shapwick Heath - geograph.org.uk - 1248708

 Looking west along the South Drain from the bridge to Meare Heath. 

Shapwick Heath - geograph.org.uk - 1248777

Looking from Noah's hide across towards Roughet. Shapwick Heath is a National Nature Reserve based around former peat workings. The open water and reedbeds support a wide range of birds and other wildlife.

Tower Hide, Shapwick Heath NNR (geograph 5397174)

Tower Hide. New hide looking over Meare Heath scrape and one of the many areas of reedbed, where a Bittern was booming.

Bridge over the Glastonbury Canal, Shapwick Heath (geograph 2671977)

Bridge over the Glastonbury Canal, Shapwick Heath

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Shapwick Heath.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Shapwick Heath.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)