The Boats of the Somerset Levels

In Britain, the best flat-bottomed boats can be found in the Somerset Levels and Moors, an area steeped in mystery and mythology. This region has a rich history of water traditions dating back to prehistoric times and is home to legends, such as its connection to Avalon. The area is crisscrossed with shallow rivers and man-made waterways, making flat-bottomed boats the ideal mode of transportation until recently. Mike Smylie, with the assistance of John Nash from the Watchet Boat Museum, guides us through six of these boats and pays tribute to the people who built and used them and those who now preserve them since they are no longer used in everyday life.