River Cam, Somerset

The Old Mill on the Cam, West Camel

The River Cam is a tributary of the River Yeo in the south of Somerset.

The Cam rises east of Yarlington and flows south west past North Cadbury, Sparkford, Queen Camel and West Camel. It joins the Yeo near Yeovilton.

Tributaries of the Cam include the stream through Blackford and Compton Pauncefoot and benefited from works in the 1980s to the riverbanks in Blackford to help keep the water moving. Flooding is more rare than previously in Blackford as a result. This tributary stream has its headwaters in the hills around Blackford and Compton Pauncefoot where many springs are found.

The main waters come from three primary sources: Maperton, Quarry Hill and Sigwells Hill. The first two combine in Blackford around the Crossroads/Hollow and further springs contribute at several points all the way through both villages. The river then travels under the A303 to join the Yarlington headwaters.

The River Cam flows onto the Royal Naval Station at Yeovilton where it joins the Yeo, before the Yeo makes it way north toward Langport.

In 2009 the Cam burst its banks at West Camel following flash flooding.