Places to Visit
Sweet Track
The world famous Sweet Track is a timber walkway which crossed the reed swamp of the Avalon Marshes in Neolithic times. Lost for thousands of years it was discovered by peat digger Ray Sweet in the early 1970s. At Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve you can walk along the route of the track, see a replica section in the reedbeds and take in the atmosphere of a very different world.
The Sweet Track itself is an Ancient Monument and is buried in the wet peat to help conserve it for future generations.
- Open 7 days a week. Free entry
- Location map
- Find out about the history of our trackways
Avalon Archaelogy
Avalon Archaeology is a place to discover local heritage alongside the natural environment in a beautiful rural location. History is brought to life through archaeological reconstructions of buildings from different time periods, which are complemented by an array of furniture and art that allows rich insight into the past. On your visit you can explore a Saxon longhall, the dining room of a Roman villa (with working hypocaust heating) and an Iron Age roundhouse (under construction in 2023). These are joined by a
waterline replica of a Viking trading ship and the oldest surviving archaeological excavation hut in the UK, with its own mini cinema.
Weblink: www.avalonarchaeology.org.uk
Meare Fish House
The Fish House at Meare is the only surviving monastic fishery building in England. The building sits in an ancient landscape adjoining Manor House Farm and Meare’s attractive church. Find out more about the Meare and the Abbey. English Heritage’s website also has more information.
- Open 7 days a week. Free entry. Key available from Manor House Farm
- Location map
- Find out more about Meare and the Abbey
- Located on our Reserves & lake Villages cycle route
Red Brick Building
This part of Glastonbury used to be a large complex of industrial buildings, processing sheepskins into products such as flying boots, slippers and coats. Although the industry has moved on, several of the buildings, including the Red Brick Building, remain. Rescued from demolition it has been converted into a thriving community hub with a café restaurant, craft units and activity space. Around the corner is the site of Beckery Chapel . To find out more go to the Red Brick Building website.
- Open 7 days a week, opening hours on Red Brick building website
- Location map
- Located on the Wearyall Hill, Beckery & the Brue walk
Shapwick Village
The village of Shapwick has many attractive buildings and a wealth of history. It is a “Be Thankful” village, a settlement from which all their members of the armed forces survived World War I. The wider parish is one of the most studied in England; it was the focus of many years work led by Time Team’s Mick Aston and Professor Chris Gerrard. You can find out more about Shapwick on the Wikipedia website.
Godney Green
Godney is an interesting, linear village sitting on the banks of the river Sheppey. It also sits on the World War 2 defensive GHQ “Green Line”. This was built in 1940 to protect Bristol in the case of invasion. In Upper Godney you will find defensive pill boxes sitting in the pastoral landscape. The Wikipedia website entry tells you more about the Green Line.