If you are visiting Taunton in Somerset county, a nearby place to visit on a sunny day would be the Maunsel Lock. After my visit to the Taunton castle museum, my sister and I decided to visit the Maunsel Lock area and walk along the canal path. There is a car park near the lock and it is a great place to start one’s walk along the Bridgwater and Taunton canal.
In its heydays, the lock was busy with boats carrying trade from and to the Bridgwater docks.
The canal is recommended for canoeing enthusiasts. The British Canoeing organization, UK’s national governing body for paddle sports, considers the Bridgwater and Taunton canal route UK’s best kept canoeing secret and recommends an 8 mile trail that starts and finishes at Maunsel lock.
Those who want to walk a specific trail can have fun trying out the Somerset Space Walk, which opened in 1997. The Space walk is a sculpture trail model of the solar system, using the towpath of the Taunton and Bridgwater canal, with the walk starting at the sun model at the Maunsel lock. My sister and I simply chose to go for a short walk along the Maunsel lock area, stretching our legs after being indoors at the museum all morning.
The Bridgwater and Taunton canal opened in 1827 and links River Tone to River Parrett. A fascinating aspect of the canal is that the locals have set up a volunteer wardens scheme to look after their canal and my walk along a key part of it showed me the well maintained and peaceful towpath.
While the canal is recommended for wild life such as kingfishers and dragonflies, I spotted a couple of swans fishing for their food.
I enjoyed the relaxing walk along the quiet towpath, taking in the fresh country air, despite its proximity to the bustling town of Taunton.
Have you explored some of UK’s 2000 miles of canal network?
Do check out Untold Morsel’s exploration of the London canals and A family day out’s experience of the highest aqueduct in the UK, for more inspiring canal trails.
[I am linking this post to Wanderful Wednesday and Faraway Files #16]
Perspectives Quilt 
lovely! #wanderfulwednesday
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Thank you, Tanja!
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The swans look so peaceful floating in the canal! Great capture. 🙂
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Thanks, Stephanie. I was trying to capture a moment when both swans came up for air but they seemed to alternate their fishing. It was lovely watching them glide by gracefully.
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This looks exactly like the Royal Canal Way in Dublin! I love strolling along a canal like that on a Sunday afternoon 🙂
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It does make for a great weekend stroll – peaceful and quiet.
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Thanks for including a link to my post Ahila. Lovely to read about another canal, rather embarrassinly one that I’d never heard of before!
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I found your day out at the highest aqueduct a great travel inspiration and I have included it on my list of future travel experiences.
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so many great photos! this place looks lovely!
xo
sunnycoastines.com
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The canal path was so peaceful and indeed, lovely. Thanks for stopping by!
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I find canal walks so relaxing, actually whenever Im near water I feel like I unwind. Must visit my local canal soon! #FarawayFiles
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It was a very relaxing and quiet walk. Enjoy your upcoming canal walk! 🙂
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Love it Ahila – I do like canals! Nothing like a lovely walk along a tow path spotting ducks! thanks for joining us on #farawayfiles
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Thank you, Katy! I didn’t spot ducks on this walk though, perhaps because it was afternoon and they were all dozing off somewhere else 🙂
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I love walking beside canals. We’ve walked beside the Kennet & Avon Canal many times, particularly the part around Bradford-on-Avon, which goes all the way into Bath. Seeing a kingfisher is always a treat, such a vivid splash of colour. It’s a shame you didn’t see one this time. Thanks for sharing this on #FarawayFiles
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Didn’t see a kingfisher on this walk but something to look forward to, on my next canal walk 🙂
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