South Somerset Levels & Moors

South Somerset Levels and Moors

Aller

Moorland village close to the River Parrett and below the wooded ridge of High Ham. King Alfred baptised the defeated Danish King Guthrum here in 879.

Compton Dundon

Really two villages and the small hamlet of Littleton.  On Windmill Hill above Compton Dundon stands the monument to Admiral Hood, while Dundon Beacon is the site of an Iron Age fort. Both provide invigorating walks.

Curry Mallet

Rising northwards above the Isle valley, with extensive views south beyond Ilminster to Dorset and north across Sedgemoor to the Mendips and Wales. Walkers and cyclists can find home baked fare at the shop and pub and close by is the manor house with its 15th century great hall and surrounding thatched cottages.

In 1215 William Malet, Lord of Curry Mallet, was one of the twenty five rebel barons elected as a surety or guarantor of the Magna Carta and a number of celebratory events are planned.

Curry Rivel

Attractive village of Blue Lias stone and a parish church dating mainly from the 15th century. Burton Pynsent monument overlooks the site of the battle of Sedgemoor, fought in 1685. The RSPB has a reserve at nearby Swell. The Firehouse pub and restaurant is worth a stop if you're feeling peckish and the Willows and Wetlands Visitor centre is only a few miles away.

Hambridge and Westport

Neighbouring villages on the road across the levels from Curry Rivel to Ilminster. Brown and Forrest's traditional smokery is housed at Hambridge. Traces of the long-abandoned Westport canal and its warehouses can still be seen.

High Ham

Hilltop village with an interesting church partly dating back to Norman times, Britain's only 19th century thatched windmill Stembridge Tower Mill and Eastfield Local Nature Reserve. Extensive views across the levels to the coast. The animal sanctuary at Heaven's Gate is nearby. Low Ham, to the south, has an unusual 17th century imitation Gothic church. 

Isle Abbotts

The handsome tower of the parish church rises over this sleepy little village close to the River Isle. Across the river to the east lies Isle Brewers. On the higher land to the north, offering fine views across the valley is Fivehead and to the west are the small, secluded villages of Curry Mallet and Beercrocombe.

Kingsbury Episcopi

A ham stone village with ancient lock-up on the green, magnificent church and numerous small orchards. A traditional cider farm on Burrow Hill is home of the famous Somerset Cider Brandy. South of the village is East Lambrook Manor Garden famously created by Margery Fish.

Long Sutton

Picturesque village with a 13th century church and village green. The Quaker Friends' meeting house dates from 1717. South of the village is the Long Sutton Golf Club and the riverside village of Long Load.

Muchelney

Muchelney, meaning "big island" is just south of Langport and surrounded by the Somerset Levels. Visit the excavation of the English Heritage Benedictine Abbey, the 15th century cloister and the Abbot's house can be seen. Also an interesting parish church and the National Trust thatched Priest's House.

Nearby are the workplace of potter John Leach and the fishing lakes at Thorney.