DAYS
4
TOUR CODE
SOLE-27
COST
£1295
DAYS
4
TOUR CODE
SOLE-27
COST
£1295
This tour explores the ancient landscape of the Somerset Levels and Moors, seeking out its rare wildlife at some of the country’s most exciting nature reserves, and exploring its many archaeological, historic and mythological treasures, from the reputed burial site of King Arthur at Glastonbury Abbey to the iconic Glastonbury Tor.
Overview
WILD & ANCIENT
This tour is part of ACE’s ‘Wild & Ancient’ collection, unique products designed to showcase the many interwoven aspects of the landscapes we visit. These tours usually focus on natural history, interpreting the landscapes, their ecology and their conservation. As part of this wider exploration, they also shed light on an array of fascinating historical sites, from the Bronze Age Nuraghi of Sardinia to the Neolithic monuments of Orkney. On some tours, the archaeological and historical content is provided by an additional Tour Director or local guide. Please read the advertised itinerary carefully and if you would like further information about a specific tour, contact the ACE office.
The Somerset Levels and Moors are one of England’s most iconic landscapes, yet are often overlooked and undervisited. Sitting between the Severn Estuary and a ring of hills, they have had a colourful human history: ‘the land of the summer people’ has been home to a Bronze Age population, Roman salt pans and England’s richest abbey, Glastonbury. It was here, in the house of a swineherd, that King Alfred is said to have sought refuge from Danish invaders and planned their defeat. The last pitched battle on English soil was fought at Sedgemoor, with the defeat of the Monmouth rebellion and the onset of the Bloody Assizes.
Our tour begins with visits to Somerset’s most important religious sites, from Wells Cathedral to Glastonbury Abbey and the town’s famous Tor, long associated with King Arthur and topped with the tower of a ruined medieval church. The town’s superb Museum of Rural Life is an excellent portrayal of Somerset’s social and agricultural history, housed in buildings surrounding a 14th century barn.
"The Somerset Levels are one of our greatest historic and cultural landscapes, yet largely ignored by visitors. They are rapidly and rightly becoming known as one of our country's best wildlife destinations. For me, it is the conflicted fusion of nature and people through history that makes this place truly unique and special and that draws me back again and again."
– Tour Director Peter Exley
The Somerset Levels are rapidly gaining a reputation as one of England’s most exciting areas for wildlife, its natural wonders inseparably intertwined with its human history. Nowhere is more emblematic of Somerset’s natural landscape than the Avalon Marshes, one of the country’s most important wildlife recovery projects, where over 3000 hectares of wetland habitats have been created from former peat workings, giving refuge to bitterns, marsh harriers and waterbirds. Here we visit RSPB Ham Wall Nature Reserve, an atmospheric landscape of wetland and reed beds set against the backdrop of Glastonbury Tor.
History and wildlife coexist again at RSPB West Sedgemoor, one of the Society’s oldest and largest reserves, home to ancient droves alongside winter wildfowl roosts and birds of prey. Here we will look and listen for common cranes – now successfully established, having been reintroduced after a 400-year absence – before visiting the Willows Visitor Centre, home to an active osier business, with an opportunity to buy basketware and other local products. We then follow the ancient Curload to the Isle of Athelney, where Alfred the Great hid in the house of a swineherd and planned his defeat of the Danish “great heathen army” under Guthrum. Our tour continues with a visit to RSPB Greylake, former carrot fields now turned into a haven for winter wildfowl, before returning to the Avalon Marshes in search of the dusk murmuration of starlings.
We complete our tour by walking the length of Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve, alongside pools, reed beds and wet woodlands, looking for winter wildlife including kingfishers, bitterns, harriers and waterfowl. We end the tour at the site of the famous Sweet Track Neolithic timber causeway, constructed in c 3807 BCE.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
ACE’s tour to the Somerset Levels contributes to the local economy during a quiet time of the year, using local cafés and guides and providing income to important conservation organisations in the area.
WILDLIFE ON TOUR
Previous groups have enjoyed a rich and varied experience of the local wildlife within the nature reserves. In 2026, Peter Exley described: “Ham Wall provided excellent views of six marsh harriers in the air at once, woodpeckers, redpolls and goldcrests. At West Sedgemoor, we got excellent views of cranes, and I took clients down to the flooded Moor edge which was a real experience. Meanwhile, at Shapwick Heath, the group enjoyed a lovely walk through the reserve, where we spotted large numbers of ducks including many pintails, heard a bittern booming, saw more marsh harriers, and had an excellent sighting of a kingfisher fishing and preening.”
Tour Director
Peter Exley
Peter Exley is an ornithologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years, including projects reintroducing cranes to Somerset. Peter has led many popular ACE tours in the United Kingdom and abroad.
This tour will be led by Peter Exley, BSc, an ecologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years, including projects reintroducing cranes to Somerset, saving seabirds on Lundy and the Isles of Scilly, with BirdLife International in South Korea, and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. He is a Trustee of Devon Birds and secretary of Moor Meadows. His special interest is interpreting nature and landscapes, and he is one of the authors of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site Interpretation Strategy. Peter has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom and Europe.
- ACE customer on a 2026 tour to Somerset led by Peter Exley
Our Accommodation
Our base will be the charming four-star Swan Hotel in Wells, a 14th century coaching inn which enjoys comfortable, classically decorated rooms. It is ideally located in the heart of the city, a short distance from the beautiful cathedral.
Itinerary
Day 1
Tour assembles 1430 at The Swan Hotel, Wells, for three nights. Visit to medieval Wells Cathedral followed by welcome and introductory talk on the history and natural history of the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Day 2
RSPB Ham Wall Nature Reserve: wetland and reed beds (bitterns, bearded tits, egrets, harriers). Afternoon: Glastonbury Abbey (one of England’s oldest and greatest abbeys, including free time to explore the museum and grounds with herb gardens and early spring bulbs), Glastonbury Tor (reputed birthplace of King Arthur, including optional 250-foot climb to the summit; weather permitting, we will also enjoy wonderful views across Somerset to the Severn, Wales and Dorset from the ruined church on its summit), Museum of Rural Life (excellent portrayal of Somerset’s social and agricultural history, housed in buildings surrounding a 14th century barn).
Day 3
RSPB West Sedgemoor (one of the Society’s oldest and largest nature reserves with ancient droves; home to winter wildfowl roost, birds of prey, deer and a crane flock). Afternoon: Willows & Wetlands Visitor Centre (Somerset’s osier industry; opportunity to buy basketware and other local products), Isle of Athelney (King Alfred’s hiding place from the Danes and site of a vanished abbey), RSPB Greylake Reserve (swans, snipe, peregrines). Evening: visit to the Avalon Marshes for dusk spectacular featuring flocks of thousands of starlings, often drawing in birds of prey.
Day 4
Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve: pools, reed beds, wet woodlands (including site of Sweet Track Neolithic timber causeway) for winter wildlife including bitterns, harriers and waterfowl. Tour disperses 1230 at the hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
To read our full list of frequently asked questions please visit our general FAQs here.
What is the maximum group size of this tour?
What is the deposit cost for this tour?
What tour staff will be on this tour?
Am I fit enough to travel on this tour?
Fitness Requirements
The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature. To make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy – there are often several visits included each day. As such, our tours require a certain minimum level of physical and mental fitness, mobility and stamina.
Many visits will involve navigating several steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and could involve embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains and cruise vessels. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm. Some tours may involve long coach journeys.
It is essential that all customers are sufficiently fit and able enough to fully participate. Furthermore, every tour comprises a group of guests. We cannot allow the entire group to be negatively impacted by one participant, either holding up the pace we reasonably need to maintain or disproportionately requiring the attention and support of the tour staff.
We carefully consider the intensity, fitness and other requirements of each itinerary and describe them on the tour pages of our brochures and website. Please study these descriptions closely. When you call to book, we will reiterate those requirements and ask you to confirm that all group members are indeed fit enough and otherwise able to meet the criteria. It is your responsibility to answer fully and honestly. If it transpires that you are not able to keep pace with the tour and/or it reasonably appears you are negatively impacting (or are reasonably likely to negatively impact) the enjoyment of the rest of the group (including their ability to complete all scheduled visits), we may ask you to sit out certain days/visits, take a taxi at your own expense (if available in the location), or even, if we consider there is no other reasonable alternative, ask you to leave the tour and make your own way home.
Walks are taken at a gentle pace along mostly level tracks and paths, which can be uneven and muddy in places. These vary from half a mile to just under two miles on the final day, with some stops and occasional seats along the way (although these cannot be guaranteed). The longest single walk is around 1.5 miles, over a maximum of three hours, through Shapwick Heath. While most of the tour is on flat paths, the walk to West Sedgemoor crosses uneven terrain with long grass and steps to the viewing platform, and the optional climb up Glastonbury Tor is around 250 feet on a narrow paved path with multiple steps. Half-light at dusk can make paths more hazardous, so care should be taken. Please note there is no lift at the hotel, and rooms are accessed by one or more staircases. Participants should meet our usual fitness requirements. Please see our Booking Terms & Conditions for more information.
As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following self- assessment tests:
- Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
- Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
- Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
- Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
- Carry or otherwise move your own luggage
Please ensure you have read and understand our full fitness requirements as described in our terms and conditions.
UK Government Travel Advice
For additional travel information from the UK government please consult the following pages.
Cost Details
Somerset: History, Legend & Natural Wonders
February 10 - 13, 2027
Included: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, three breakfasts, one lunch, three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £140.
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