The somerset levels

[rjb]

First ride for a couple of days to Look at the floods on the Somerset levels. This road was submerged a few days ago but water is being pumped back into the rivers by the pumping stations as the river levels allow. enjoy

[simonineaston]

Nice.
A close friend of mine used to take her older brother down to the levels regularly. He was a keen photographer of birds, insects etc and loved the location. He lived on a boat that he’d he built himself in the marina here in Bristol, right up until his last years…

[Carlton green]

First ride for a couple of days to Look at the floods on the Somerset levels. This road was submerged a few days ago but water is being pumped back into the rivers by the pumping stations as the river levels allow.

A lovely looking and well set up traditional folder, nice . Is that particular one the favourite of your several folders?

Somerset’s a lovely county and very varied in its terrain.

[rjb]

First ride for a couple of days to Look at the floods on the Somerset levels. This road was submerged a few days ago but water is being pumped back into the rivers by the pumping stations as the river levels allow.

A lovely looking and well set up traditional folder, nice . Is that particular one the favourite of your several folders?

Somerset’s a lovely county and very varied in its terrain.

That Raleigh twenty folder is at the front of the stack so gets most use.
The Dynohub and daytime running lights are useful at this time of the year. I'm pretty happy with the way it's set up with the 406 wheels.

My other twenty folder comes in useful for carrying shopping but i will eventually change it's 451 steel wheels for alluminium 406's.
viewtopic.php?t=3832&start=1965#p1879139

I've also got a kingpin folder with a bottle dynamo lighting system with 406 wheels and a 150mm crank alloy chainset, which gives a similar ride and a non folding kingpin set up as a fast fair weather bike.
viewtopic.php?t=154737#p1751140
viewtopic.php?t=143933&start=45#p1867948

I won't mention the F frame Moulton or Apollo transition folder.
viewtopic.php?t=160241#p1834356

[ymfb]

Where is a good place to start riding the Somerset levels ?

Thanks

[rjb]

Where is a good place to start riding the Somerset levels ?

Thanks

It's such a vast area it depends on what you want to see. Good central locations are Langport, Glastonbury. Or even Burnham on sea if you fancy the seaside.
Somerset is on a rebranding exercise as it's usually bypassed by holiday makers heading to Devon and Cornwall. There was a recent series on Channel 5 which highlighted the attractions. Well worth watching to give you some ideas.

[jgurney]

Where is a good place to start riding the Somerset levels ?

I'm not sure what you mean - are you thinking of a good entry point for a day ride or tour, or a good base to stay at and make trips in all directions?

Because until modern drainage they were treacherous marshes, there are few settlements or roads in the actual Levels, but lots on their margins a few metres above the old water level. There are only a few long rides possible which keep wholly to the levels (unless you take to muddy bridleways): you are more likely to dip in and out of them. The Levels are not really one continuous area, more like a number of areas of low-lying land separated by ridges of hills, some of them steep

For bike-on-train access to the area, Highbridge is the only railway station actually in the Levels, but Bridgewater, Castle Cary and Weston-super-Mare are close. For places to stay in or on the edge of the levels, possibilities include Wells, Street, Glastonbury, Burnham on Sea, Burtle, Wedmore, Westhay or Cheddar.

There are YHA hostels at Street and Cheddar, there is a good camping site on the Levels on the outskirts of Glastonbury (Avalon Camping) and good pub garden camping at Burtle.

For a preview of some Levels back roads, use Google Maps to locate Great Withy Drove and Crab Tree Drove, both near Glastonbury, and do Street View virtual rides along each.

[Elliot]

Lovely part of the world. In 2010 I had a casual cycle in Exmoor National Park...

[Carlton green]

The topic prompted me to research the area a little more; there’s an interesting description on Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_Levels

I think that if I were to cycle tour there then I might like to do some square north / south routes; or rather long sections that were a right angles to the Polden Hills and the several rivers that run through those lowlands linked to east / west sections that followed those ‘hills’ and rivers.

Here’s a map of the areas likely to flood and of roads that are closed (literally barred) when the flood water is high. https://somersetcc.sharepoint.com/sites ... =true&ga=1
And another broader map of the levels in the Levels: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map ... _302973388

The county of Somerset is certainly full of history, and - whilst hard to imagine! - there were people living and working in the Levels some six thousand years ago.

The oldest dated human road work in Great Britain is the Sweet Track, constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39th century BCE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Somerset

[rjb]

The closure of flooded roads is usually a short affair in the winter and generally for a period of a week. Unlikely to occur outside of Nov to March unless we have exceptional rainfall. You can check the status here. https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-trave ... ure-gates/

Catch up on Channel 5 if you missed it. Gives you a good insight to Somerset.
"My5 - Somerset: Wonder of the West Country - Season 1 - Episode 1 / Episode 1" https://www.channel5.com/show/somerset- ... st-country

[Carlton green]

I think that it’s probably worth pondering on the traditionally marshy nature of this area - perhaps similar to parts of Norfolk - and considering how some folk went about their daily business. Before roads (as we know them) much was shifted by boat and Somerset has its own tradition of Flatners (flat bottomed boats with a shallow draft) which came in various sizes depending on the intended primary use.

The truth is that the Somerset Levels have long been home to the best examples of Britain’s long-standing tradition of flat bottomed boats, including turf and withy boats apparently derived from log boats with raised sides and used inland, and inshore bay boats apparently built using a combination of the flat bottom similar to the inland boats with clinker constructed sides made using skills brought by the Vikings.

https://intheboatshed.net/2012/08/08/th ... -a-review/

Watched Boat Museum has examples and details of various Somerset Flatners as used in all waters up to and including the Bristol Channel. Watchet is, I think, worth a visit. It’s nothing dreadfully special, but I’ve visited it over the decades and have always enjoyed my time there - the North Somerset coast ain’t perfect, but it is another part of the country that I’ve also enjoyed visiting.

[Tilley]

I have ridden from Wells across the levels to Burnham on Sea with a group of recumbent trike riders. The start point was Tuckers Street car park in Wells. Coffee stop at Sweets Tea Rooms, Lunch at Bay View café, return coffee stop at the café and deli in Wedmore. Route was 49 miles with an elevation of approx 1300ft. If I can remember how to I will post a map of the route.

[Tilley]

[Bmblbzzz]

First ride for a couple of days to Look at the floods on the Somerset levels. This road was submerged a few days ago but water is being pumped back into the rivers by the pumping stations as the river levels allow. enjoy
IMG_20241209_142904.jpgIMG_20241209_144424.jpgIMG_20241209_144929.jpg

Impressive dedication to photography to take that wooden block round with you! Where do you carry it? It looks too big for your saddlebag so I presume you just strap it to the rack?

[ymfb]

Where is a good place to start riding the Somerset levels ?

I'm not sure what you mean - are you thinking of a good entry point for a day ride or tour, or a good base to stay at and make trips in all directions?.

We live one hours car drive away from Wells where my Granny and great Aunt lived for many years, we used to cross the levels between Street and Draycott nr Cheddar. I’m thinking it might be a good to explore on day tours and see more of the area by bike.