River Brue, River system in Somerset, England
The River Brue is a waterway in Somerset that winds from Brewham parish to Burnham-on-Sea at the coast. The river travels through natural valleys and man-made channels across the Somerset Levels, with its flow regulated by dams and drainage systems.
In the 1100s, Glastonbury Abbey diverted the river's natural course to new channels. This change shaped how water moves through the landscape and influenced settlement patterns for centuries afterward.
The Sweet Track, discovered near the River Brue in 1970, represents the earliest known engineered timber trackway, dating from 3800 BC.
The river can be reached at several points along walking routes and near nature reserves in the area. Wear sturdy shoes since paths can become muddy, especially after rain, and terrain is often uneven near the water.
The Sweet Track, discovered near here in 1970, is an ancient wooden walkway built around 3800 BC. This find shows how people managed marshy ground thousands of years before modern drainage systems existed.
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