Somerton combines short walks with a parish church whose history dates back to the early 13th century and an exceptionally well-preserved market cross. Ten short walks provide a rough guide to how much time to allow; medieval market history and coarse fishing add other interests to the mix. This creates clearly distinct themes for a stay: exercise, architectural history, local history and fishing.
Planning short walks
The “Short Walks around Somerton” series comprises ten short walks, each intended to take about an hour. The time given applies to each walk and serves as a rough guide for planning. This makes it possible to treat an individual walk as a separate block of time, while the ten options offer a choice rather than one fixed itinerary. The starting point is the free Half Moon Car Park (TA11 6QQ) at the western end of West Street in Somerton.
Church, architectural history and culture
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a parish church built in the early 13th century. It was extensively remodelled in the mid-15th century, followed by a restoration in 1889. This sequence distinguishes the original construction, extensive remodelling and restoration as separate building phases. Its octagonal tower is unusual in Somerset. Octagonal means that the tower has eight sides—a precisely identifiable architectural feature alongside its building history.
The church is used for concerts and other community events, particularly during the annual Somerton Arts Festival and the Music @ St Michaels series. The original Somerton Music and Arts Festival began in 1986. If a concert or festival influences your travel plans, check the dates for your chosen period.
Market history and location
In 1255, Somerton was granted the right to hold a market; in the late 13th century, it was chosen as the county town. The dates are given with different levels of precision: the market rights date to 1255, while the selection as county town took place in the late 13th century. Somerton Market Cross is a Scheduled Monument and is exceptionally well preserved. Market rights, county-town status and the market cross represent different aspects of the town’s history: a right, a civic role and a protected monument.
Somerton lies on a low ridge between the rivers Yeo and Cary and overlooks a crossing of the Cary. The description combines two geographical scales: its location between the two rivers and its view of a crossing of the Cary. This gives the town’s history a concrete topographical setting alongside its historical dates.
Coarse fishing as a distinct focus
Viaduct Fishery has six well-stocked lakes and is geared towards coarse fishing. Compared with the walking series, this is a different type of activity: there are ten short walks, each about an hour long, to choose from, while here the activity is fishing at six lakes. This makes it possible to choose based on whether walking or coarse fishing is to play a greater part in the stay.
Discover more destinations: Ditcheat, Catcott, Frome, Ilminster, Castle Cary, Bishops Lydeard, Cutcombe, Kilve
For the broader travel overview: Somerset.
