East Huntspill

East Huntspill is a small, scattered village on the Somerset Levels, sitting between Highbridge and the market town of Bridgwater, with the coast at Burnham-on-Sea just a few miles to the west. The parish stretches along the straight, willow-lined course of the Huntspill River, a man-made drainage channel dug in the 1940s that now doubles as a reservoir and one of the best coarse fishing venues in the South West. Beyond the river, the land is classic Levels country: dead flat, criss-crossed by rhynes (drainage ditches), and grazed by sheep and cattle under enormous skies.

The village grew up as a chapelry of the older parish of Huntspill, and its name comes from the Old English for Huna's creek, a nod to the tidal inlets that once reached this far inland before the land was drained and enclosed. All Saints Church, built in 1840 in Norman style, still marks the heart of the settlement, though East Huntspill today is really a loose string of farms, smallholdings and modern houses along the A38 rather than a traditional village centre. It is a place people pass through on the way to the coast or the Mendips, and that quietness is exactly its appeal for anyone wanting a genuinely rural, unhurried base on the Levels.

Top things to do in East Huntspill

There is not a high street of attractions here, but the surrounding Somerset Levels and nearby coast pack in plenty for a short stay.

• Wall Eden Farm Adventure — an outdoor activity centre right in the village offering river kayaking and canoeing on the Huntspill River, paddleboarding, archery, air rifle shooting and axe throwing, alongside on-site holiday accommodation.
• Huntspill River fishing — the river itself is a well-known coarse fishing venue, holding good stocks of bream, roach, tench and pike along its straight, sheltered banks.
• Apex Park (Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park) — a 42-acre former clay-digging site just outside Highbridge, now flooded lakes and wildflower meadows with a waterfowl-filled walk, a children's play area and fishing permits available locally through Highbridge Angling Association.
• Burnham-on-Sea — the nearest seaside town, around 4 miles away, with its wide sandy beach, the distinctive nine-legged lighthouse, and a traditional promenade and pier.
• Steart Marshes — a large WWT-managed wetland nature reserve on the Parrett estuary, a short drive away, known for wading birds, wildfowl and, in summer, grazing marsh butterflies.
• Brean Down — a dramatic limestone headland and National Trust site with Iron Age and Napoleonic-era fort remains, offering some of the best coastal walking views in the area.
• Highbridge — the neighbouring town has everyday shops, supermarkets and services, useful for provisioning during a Levels-based stay.

Getting to East Huntspill

East Huntspill sits directly on the A38, roughly midway between Highbridge and Bridgwater, and about 2 miles from Junction 22 of the M5, which makes it an easy stop for anyone travelling between Bristol and Devon or Cornwall. Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea railway station, on the Bristol to Exeter line via Weston-super-Mare, is around 3 miles away and has regular services. The nearest airports are Bristol Airport, about 30 miles north, and Exeter Airport further south. Once in the village, a car is genuinely useful, since the parish is spread out along the A38 with no local bus hub of note, though services do run along the main road towards Highbridge and Bridgwater.

Best time to visit East Huntspill

Spring and early summer bring the Levels to life, with wildflowers along the rhynes and good numbers of breeding birds at nearby reserves such as Steart Marshes. Summer is the most reliable season for the river-based activities at Wall Eden Farm and for combining a stay with beach time at Burnham-on-Sea. Autumn and winter turn the Levels into prime territory for wildfowl and waders, and the flat, open landscape here means huge Somerset skies and dramatic sunsets are a year-round draw, whatever the season.

Where to stay in East Huntspill

Accommodation in East Huntspill itself is limited and mostly self-catering, including farm-based holiday cottages and glamping-style stays such as those at Wall Eden Farm. Camping and touring caravan options are available in the surrounding area, taking advantage of the flat, sheltered Levels terrain. For a wider choice of hotels and guesthouses, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, both a short drive away, offer a broader spread of options, from seafront hotels to budget chains, while Bridgwater provides further choice for anyone wanting more facilities on hand.

Food and drink in East Huntspill

East Huntspill's own pub, the 16th-century Crown Inn on Church Road, has been closed long-term in recent years, so options within the village are limited. Most visitors head into Highbridge or Burnham-on-Sea for pubs, cafes and restaurants, both of which offer a reasonable range of everyday dining, fish and chip shops, and coastal cafes, or further afield to Bridgwater for a wider choice of eating out.