Clatworthy: Water Landscape, Forest Paths and Historical Traces

Clatworthy combines an impressive water landscape with forest paths, opportunities for observing nature and historical traces. At its centre is Clatworthy Reservoir. It lies on the edge of Exmoor National Park in the Brendon Hills in West Somerset. The water covers 130 acres and reaches a depth of up to 96 feet. This gives the area a range of possibilities for a trip in which you want to combine landscape, activity and discovery.

Reservoir and Forest Paths

Clatworthy Reservoir has a five-mile circular walking route as well as a shorter woodland trail. The circular route leads from the dam into Clatworthy Woods and through the Life for a Life Memorial Forest. When planning your day, you can therefore choose between a longer circuit and a shorter path through the forest without changing the area’s thematic focus. Clatworthy Woods consist mainly of beech, oak, birch and rowan trees. The changes between the water, wooded sections and the Memorial Forest make the paths particularly interesting for travellers who want to combine active exploration of the landscape with varied impressions.

Nature, Fishing and Geological Features

Fishing is possible at the reservoir from the shore or from a boat. Clatworthy Reservoir is also stocked with rainbow trout and brown trout. Anyone wishing to include fishing in their holiday can take these options into account when planning their outings. The wildlife and plant life are also part of the area’s character: Clatworthy Reservoir is home to various wildflowers, bat and bird species, and more than 1,000 invertebrate species.

Another special feature is a rock face at Clatworthy Reservoir designated as an LGS. It contains an exposure of Devonian Morte Slates. This geological aspect adds a specific view of the landscape’s underlying rock to the natural experiences. Travellers interested in geology, woodland and bodies of water can therefore discover Clatworthy on several levels.

Historical Traces Around Clatworthy

The historical character also includes Clatworthy hillfort. It is situated at the summit end of a long ridge and overlooks Clatworthy Reservoir. On site, the monument is known as “Clatworthy Camp or Castle” and is protected as a Scheduled Monument. The site therefore combines a prominent position in the landscape with a preserved historical name.

The Church of St Mary Magdalene also adds a cultural destination to the picture of Clatworthy. The church is a Grade II* listed building. In the churchyard are the remains of the Churchyard Cross, about 12 metres south of the chancel. They may date from the 14th century and stand on a later base. At the Church of St Mary Magdalene, a Holy Communion service takes place at 10 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month; on the fourth Sunday of each month at 10 a.m. there is a Morning Prayer service.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Clatworthy, you can use your preferred daily activities as a guide. If the five-mile circular walking route, Clatworthy Woods and the reservoir are the main focus, a trip planned with plenty of time for paths, nature and water-based experiences is a good fit. Those more interested in historical sites can include the hillfort, the Church of St Mary Magdalene and the Churchyard Cross among their personal discoveries. In this way, choosing accommodation helps define the focus of your holiday without restricting the trip to just one type of experience.

For further trip planning, you can also explore Lyng, Holford, Minehead, Litton, Catcott, Lydford, Otterhampton and Milverton.

For the overarching travel overview: Somerset.