the times Saturday April 9 2022
Outside 19
JAMES OSMOND, BRIAN POLLARD, MIKE LANE/ALAMYand wind. Here the Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust had been working with
the Environment Agency to create anti-
flooding buffer zones with flood banks
built to encourage new saltmarsh to
grow to the seaward — a bold initiative
that works with nature rather than
trying to strong-arm it into submission.
We followed the trail down to where
a breach had been cut in the Parrett’s
defences. New mud, marsh, reedbeds
and creeks show the effectiveness of the
work. In a big pool three herons stood
on one leg apiece and regarded us with
grave suspicion. A grassy path led backW
here the Severn
Estuary merges
with the Bristol
Channel is a
moot point, but
the tidal water is
always full of
energy, swirling in purple and chocolate
at high tide, then retreating with the ebb
to expose vast sand and mud flats.
Off Steart Point the turbid River
Parrett enters the tideway. At low tide
the mud flats here stretch two miles out
into the estuary, a haven for feeding
birds. Yet flood tides are another story.
The mud and sand are swallowed up, the
Bristol Channel brims, and inundation
can threaten the farmland and small
settlements along the coast and inland.
We set off at low tide along the coast
path from the scattered hamlet of Steart.
The dimpled miles of mud flats gleamed.
The distant island of Steep Holm
appeared marooned in mud and sand. In
the southwest the Quantock Hills stood
beyond half-finished Hinkley Point
nuclear power station, while in the east
rose the green whaleback of Brent Knoll
and the long spine of the Mendip Hills.
The shoreline path ran on rabbit-
riddled sands, turf and crunchy pebbles.
A pale yellow bloom on one of the
coastal fields turned out to be a solid
mass of cowslips. Wild birds were
everywhere — greenfinches and linnets
on the bramble stems, shelduck
hoovering the mud for crustaceans with
sideways sweeps of their bright red bills,
and a reed warbler complaining with
unending chittering in the reedbeds.
At Steart Point a tall hide looked out
across this remote landscape of flat
fields, far hills, upstart knolls and tidal
flats. From here the River Parrett Trail
led back inland, the mud-slimed banks
of the Parrett shining silver in the sunA good walk Steart Marshes and
the River Parrett Trail, Somerset
STEARTDowells FarmWall CommonHideTo Cannington
& A39Mud and sandRiver Parrett TrailBreachPPSteart
PointRiver
ParrettHide
SOMERSET500 metresstartBristolBournemouthExeterto the shore. The morning mist shredded
away to reveal the hills of south Wales
far across the rising tide, and a flight of
golden plover flickered low over the
rapidly vanishing mudflats where the
Parrett met the sea.
Start Steart car park, Steart, Bridgwater
TA5 2PX (OS ref ST 276459)
Getting there A39 (Bridgwater-
Minehead); at Cannington, right
(“Hinkley Point”, then “Steart Marsh”).
Pass Steart church; car park in 500m on
left (gate).
Walk (OS Explorer 140) From car park
follow green lane north to sea wall
(274460). Right (“Steart Point”) for
nearly ¾ mile. At Steart Point, right past
tall hide (283467); right (“Wall
Common”). In 150m, left (kissing gate/
KG); follow River Parrett Trail/RPT. In
700m at Manor Farm, ahead along road
(278462); by Dowells Farm, left (276458,
KG, RPT) to river wall; left to breach and
hide (280454). Return to KG; dogleg left/
right along river wall (“Steart Gate,
Polden Hide”), following RPT. Pass
turning to Steart Gate car park (267454);
in ½ mile, signpost “Polden Hide 0.71”
points left (261449), but keep ahead to
cross road. On between 2 marker stones
on grassy path to shore (254451); right
(“Steart”) to car park.
Lunch Bring a picnic.
Accommodation Malt Shovel Inn,
Cannington TA5 2NE (01278 653880,
themaltshovelinn.com)
More information wwt.org.uk/steart-
marshes (01278 651090)
Twitter @somerville_c
Christopher SomervilleA pale yellow
bloom on one
of the coastal
fields turned
out to be a
solid mass
of cowslips
Above left: Steart
Marshes. Top right:
a reed warbler. Above
right: Polden HideHow hard is it?
6 miles; easy;
shore paths