The River Parrett has its source in the springs in the hills around Cheddington in Dorset in England and flows west through the Somerset Levels to its mouth in the Bristol Channel at Bridgwater Bay, an important Nature Reserve.

During winter, the Parrett is prone to frequent flooding.

In common with the lower reaches of the River Severn, the Parrett exhibits a tidal phenomenon known as the bore. At certain combinations of the tides, the rising water is funneled up the river into a wave that travels rapidly upstream against the river current. The bore is a natural example of a self-reinforcing solitary wave or soliton.

During January through to May, the Parrett provides a source of eels (Anguilla anguilla) and the young elvers, caught by hand nettting - the only legal means of catching them. The 2003 BBC Radio 4 play Glass Eels by Nell Leyshon was set on a river in the Levels, very probably the Parrett.

Historically, the main port on the river was at Bridgwater, although using barges it was navigable as far as Langport and (via the River Yeo) to Ilchester. After 1827, it was also possible to transfer goods to Taunton via the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

Tourism

The River Parrett Trail (47 miles / 75km) long-distance footpath follows the Parret from its source to the sea.

The "Langport & River Parrett Visitor Centre" [1] located at Langport details local life, history and wildlife.

Linked Waterways

• Bridgwater and Taunton Canal
• Ivelchester and Langport Navigation
• River Brue
• River Isle and Westport Canal
• River Tone
• River Yeo

See also

• Rivers of the United Kingdom
• Taunton Stop Line
• North Petherton and South Petherton (named after the river)