The bridgwater and taunton canal is a canal in south west england. Built in 1827 the grand idea for the canal to be part of a plan to link the bristol and english channels fell short.
The multi user path runs for about 14 miles from the bridgwater marina to firepool lock next to the river tone in taunton.
Taunton and bridgwater canal. These schemes followed the approximate route eventually taken by the bridgwater and. An old map of the planned canal between seaton in devon and the mouth of the river parrett near bridgwater. The bridgwater and taunton canal is a canal in the south west of england between bridgwater and taunton opened in 1827 and linking the river tone to the river parrett there were a number of abortive schemes to link the bristol channel to the english channel by waterway in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The bridgwater and taunton canal. Equally friendly for dog walkers too. It links the two towns of bridgwater and taunton and measures 14 5 miles long and has 7 locks.
By john swayne general information. In 1827 the bridgwater and taunton canal was opened. It s a great way to see the lovely countryside and pretty villages of lowland somerset.
A lovely canal to have in the middle of bridgwater linking to taunton and other nearby villages. Its tranquil seclusion belies the fact that it is one of very few sections to be built in a grandiose but ultimately doomed plan to link the bristol and english channels. The canal itself.
Follow the towpath of the bridgwater and taunton canal on this easy walk or cycle in somerset. Although only 23 33km 14 5 miles in length the canal passes through the unique lowland areas of somerset many parts of which have been designated as sites of special scientific interest sssi because of the diversity of rare birds and plants which thrive in this unique area. The engineer for the canal was james hollinsworth.
The original route ran from taunton and joined the river parrett at huntworth. The 14 mile bridgwater and taunton canal opened in 1827 linking the river tone and the river parrett for commercial traffic between the two market towns. The giant canal would have had 60 locks along its winding route through devon and somerset.
Excellent for walking running cycling boating fishing or just to stop by at the cafe for tea and cake watching passers by. The bridgwater taunton canal skirts its way in splendid isolation around the base of the quantock hills for a little over 14 miles. We are a family business and have been on the water most our lives the team here at sbc are passionate about our inland waterways in particular the bridgwater and taunton canal.
The canal is attractive and enjoyable but please take care especially of children when visiting the canal and its towpath particularly near locks and weirs. There is no navigable connection to the river parrett today but the canal is enjoyed by walkers cyclists nature enthusiasts fishermen and boatmen alike. Come along and meet the team see the venue and boats and you ll start to relax in minutes as the old saying goes time spent on the water is the fastest.
