The somerset levels

[Bmblbzzz]

Can be a lovely area to explore, the check the wind first.

[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?.

We live one hours car drive away from Wells

This 32-mile round trip from Wells to Burtle and Glastonbury takes in some of the Central Levels, all pretty flat apart from the sharp climb to the foot of Glastonbury Tor.
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/685097

Or this version cuts out the hilly bit: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/685099

[ymfb]

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

This 32-mile round trip from Wells to Burtle and Glastonbury takes in some of the Central Levels, all pretty flat apart from the sharp climb to the foot of Glastonbury Tor.
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/685097

Or this version cuts out the hilly bit: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/685099

Many thanks

[sjs]

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

Yes, very varied. I did a circular tour WIncanton-Watchet-Hatherleigh-Teignmouth-Lyme Regis-Wincanton a few years ago, which began gently, across the levels, and included sections a lot hillier than I was fit enough for.

[AndyB1]

We live on a ridge between the Isles and Sedgemoor. In summer the cycling is very good and the Droves (trackways) going across the lowland areas are generally useable. We are lucky in that we can cycle in any direction, mostly on quiet roads.

In winter it is totally different. It is impossible to ride off tarmac and the smaller tarmac roads are coated with mud and amazingly sharp thorns if it is hedge cutting time! Frequently roads are flooded and closed which can rather limit things as detours can be many miles - but that is how the area is.

Racing bikes are of course ridden here but a bike with larger tyres and mudguards may be better bet as even in summer low lying roads can have gritty water on them.

I was trying out a phone navigation app last summer and used it to take me from Langport to Glastonbury. It took me down a Drove which got more and more muddy, and in the end I had to carry the bike. I came back on my normal route along a parallel tarmac road which is never busy - so be careful if you use a navigation system that puts you on tracks rather than tarmac.

Otherwise - great scenery, many good tea shops and small eateries, and not too crowded. There are a few cycle routes and more in the pipeline. Good bike shops at Bridgwater (SJS) and at Taunton. Generally flat but there can be short steep climbs onto the ridges and into the Blackdown Hills to the South-West.

[rjb]

Passed that trackway today. Beside the river Parrett near Stathe. The water has receeded currently so that track is clear but the ground is soft.
BTW if you spot a Tandem it's possibly us on our way to the North Curry community café.

[AndyB1]

Hi rjb, Correct, that track is at Stathe. Admittedly a footpath and not a cycle track but it gives an idea of how things can be. I think I have spoken and waved to you and your wife in the past - I usually ride a red OBW flat handlebar bike. No doubt we will meet at North Curry again
Regards Andy

[Bmblbzzz]

BTW if you spot a Tandem it's possibly us on our way to the North Curry community café.

Curry Mallett is my favourite village name in the whole of England! But probably not a place to get Indian food...

[rjb]

BTW if you spot a Tandem it's possibly us on our way to the North Curry community café.

Curry Mallett is my favourite village name in the whole of England! But probably not a place to get Indian food...

Hardly changed since it appeared In the Doomsday Book, and only a stones throw from Beercrocmbe if you need to wash it down.

[mjr]

the smaller tarmac roads are coated with mud and amazingly sharp thorns if it is hedge cutting time!

The council is failing if that happens much. Please report it. Hedgecutters and farmers must not leave the roads hazardous.

[AndyB1]

I think small pieces of hedge-cuttings are allowed on roads? Difficult to cut the hedge otherwise. If I spot a hedge being cut I just try to go another way for a few days until they have broken down.
Mud — as well as soil from farm vehicles many fields drain onto the roads and deposit silt. That is why some of our tarmac roads have a central raised section of earth.
It is all the character of the countryside.
Afraid Somerset CC is broke. 500 jobs lost last week.
I would prefer seeing money spent of hospitals, schools etc……and muddy roads helps keep car traffic down as they stay on the bigger roads.

[mjr]

I think small pieces of hedge-cuttings are allowed on roads? Difficult to cut the hedge otherwise.

Nope, not allowed: Highways Act 1980 section 167 paragraph (1) "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits any thing whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence [...]" and it's obvious that thorny cuttings are going to injure some animals and endanger cyclists.

It's quite easy to cut the hedge otherwise: catch what cuttings you can and sweep off/up the rest. They just don't do it because it's cheaper not to and a failing council is not making them.

Mud — as well as soil from farm vehicles many fields drain onto the roads and deposit silt. That is why some of our tarmac roads have a central raised section of earth.

Paragraph (4) of the same law: "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, allows any filth, dirt, lime or other offensive matter or thing to run or flow on to a highway from any adjoining premises, he is guilty of an offence [...]" The highway authority should prosecute them!

It is all the character of the countryside.
Afraid Somerset CC is broke. 500 jobs lost last week.

Sadly true for the last 40 or so years. Rural councils have overextended themselves, building more roads than they can afford to monitor and maintain properly.

I would prefer seeing money spent of hospitals, schools etc……and muddy roads helps keep car traffic down as they stay on the bigger roads.

Well, they'll have to spend more on hospitals with all the people ending up there as a result of either falling on mud or lack of physical activity from using cars because the roads aren't safe for active travel!

[AndyB1]

Actually the small muddy, thorn infested roads are safe - thorns and mud can be annoying but do not cause accidents if you ride sensibly.
Potholes……another issue……and the Council do deal with those.
As the smaller roads are known to be poor most of the cars and heavy transport stay on the main roads. Of course a few local cars and farm vehicles drive on the smaller roads and are generally very considerate as they do not travel much faster than a cycle. So the result is that the smaller roads are great to cycle on.

I have only lived in the area for 6 years and cycling on the clean tarmac roads of Nottinghamshire where I previously lived was much more dangerous. The clean tarmac encouraged cars to drive faster. So much so that most of our cycling was restricted to riding either way along a nearby cycle track. One way to the local village, the other way to Sherwood Forest……in Somerset we have small roads to ride on in all directions.

[GedBen]

I used to run an AUK 100 miler from Honiton to Glastonbury and back. The last big floods, in 2014, gave me problems. I revised the route several times in advance of the event date. Each time the water encroached further until I ended with an out and back along Nythe Road (between Pedwell and High Ham). Even then the floods either side of the road had just about joined across the tarmac as the last riders returned.

I have a photo taken from the top of Burrow Mump showing an apparent sea around two thirds of the view.

[AndyB1]

The area around Burrow Mump is used as a reservoir to keep the level of the Tone down and to stop flooding at places away from The Levels. When we first moved here I used to ride down to look at the water levels but now accept it is all NFS (Normal For Somerset).