ECP Bridgewater to Stockland Part 48

Bridgewater to Stockland Along the river Parrett

 Distance 12.51 Miles 

Time 4:50 minutes 

Elevation Gain 124 Feet

Total days walking 60 (Excluding The SWCP sections)

Total mileage 1399.53 (Including The SWCP sections)

 We bid farewell to our travel lodge accommodation & make our way to the station for our train to Bridge water, we are so lucky as we were late arriving at the station after the train should have departed but it was running twelve minutes late! Result for us, a short ride to Bridgewater & we started our walk. The days walking is simple,  follow the river Parrett to Steart Marsh turning off to Stockland.

The weather is good no wind low clouds but warm, after all the rain the ground is surprisingly dry, walking on the raised burns along the river bank we look down on the fields lining the banks of the river, many of them are badly flooded, Feeling for the farmers who are unable to prepare the ground for planting you can see the deep ruts left from tractor movement across the land, water in the river is low but running really fast grey murky muddy water.

The river has no redeeming features and lack of Bird life, the odd bird in the flooded field's & we only see one buzzard hovering in the sky.

We pass through the little village of Combwich & pop into the Anchour Inn for a Swift pint unfortunately the only ale available is Old Speckled Hen & no food so a pint of larger & a packet of crisps sufficed. 

Now just a few miles to go until we reach our Shepherds hut we had booked for the night but first we have to pass through Steart Marsh but even here Bird life is scarce, the odd Swan & duck. Leaving the wetlands we follow the road to our shepherd hut, with about half a mile to go it  starts raining getting us slightly damp.

The hut is exactly what we need warm & cosy kettle on we settle in for the night.