Creech St Michael - Somerset
Circular walk: 7.24 miles
What3words address for  parking: ///rates.slightly.mistaking
There's a reasonable sized free car park in the trees just before you cross the canal. The sign at the entrance said that it was closed at 7.00 pm.
We followed the towpath eastwards on the southern side of the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal after leaving the car park. The path is well used by walkers, cyclists and also, in parts, motor vehicles accessing canal-side properties. It was pleasant, easy walking and I'm sure I spotted a mink crossing our path; never seen one before. I was also surprised by the number of WW2 Pill Boxes in this stretch of the canal; I suppose it shows how important this transport corridor was considered to be with the canal on one side and the railway running beside it.
After about 2.75 miles you reach the A361 and turn right to follow the road for a fraction over half a mile. It feels longer because the road can be very busy and there is not much of a verge so you need to keep your wits about you. At West Lyng turn right and follow the lane for another half mile until you reach the bridge over the River Tone (New Bridge). Turn right here and follow the northern embankment westwards.
This walk beside the river should have been more pleasant than it was. It's part  of the East Deane Way but long sections of the path were very  overgrown on the day we walked it and it was harder going than it could have  been. However, it was very peaceful! There are other alternatives to vary the route here: a path on the southern bank of the Tone or a drove track (Currymoor Drove) on the right just before we turned off the lane at New Bridge.
We had intended to keep beside the Tone until we got back to Creech St Michael, but wading through waist high grass and vegetation had sapped our enthusiasm and so we followed the path from Knapp Bridge back to the canal for a bit of respite.
This was a pleasant walk and mostly very enjoyable.
walking
PeterHadfield on scottexservices.com