The river is about 33 kilometres (21 mi) long.
Its source is at Beverton Pond.
Over its first 1.8 miles (2.9 km) it follows a south-easterly course and drops around 490 feet (150 m) before discharging into Clatworthy Reservoir, which also impounds the waters of 5 other streams.

The river continues as the outflow from the main dam of the reservoir, passing to the west of the village of Clatworthy before following a southerly course which passes to the east of Huish Champflower.
The river enters a steeply wooded section at Washbattle bridge.
The B3227 road from Wiveliscombe crosses from the east to the west side of the valley at Waterrow bridge.
By the time it reaches Stawley bridge and turns south-east, it has lost another 410 ft (120 m) and is just 330 ft (100 m) above sea level.
At Greenham, the river turns to run generally north-east.
The river passes to the north of Wellington, and a mile further on the course of the derelict Grand Western Canal crosses the Tone on an aqueduct which now carries a footpath.

The river passes over weirs at Greenham, Tone and Nynehead, after which it is crossed by the Bristol and Exeter Railway.
A disused bridge, constructed in 1817,  spans the river at Nynehead.
The river turns to the north-east near Bradford on Tone, with its two listed bridges, including the Bradford Bridge which was originally built by the 15th century, and then to the east near Upcott bridge, where there were two mills.
At Roughmoor its course is crossed by Silk Mills Road.
There is a scheme to make the river navigable from here to the town centre as a way of encouraging transport with less environmental impact.

The French weir in Taunton is the head of navigation as boats can not be taken upstream of this point.
As it makes its way through the town centre to Firepool weir and the junction with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, it passes under the North Bridge, which was constructed in 1895, and Priory Bridge Road.
The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, is close to the riverside.,
as is the County Ground, home of Somerset County Cricket Club.
Next comes the A358 Obridge viaduct, the A38 Bathpool Bridge and the M5 motorway bridge.
Firepool weir was reconstructed in 1967 as part of the plans to straighten the river through the town centre and down to Bathpool in order to provide better flood defences.
These works swept away the remains of the original navigation.
There is a disused five-arched railway bridge built in 1863 at Creech St Michael.
Nearby is the aqueduct that carried the Chard Canal over the river from 1842 until 1866.
 Ham weir stands as a reminder of the location of the lock there.
After Knapp bridge,  the sluice at Newbridge marks the upper tidal limit of the river.
Curry and Hay Moors, an area of low-lying fenland close to the river, are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
A railway bridge carries the Taunton to Castle Cary railway line over the river, after which is the Curry Moor pumping station.
Two more road bridges at Athelney and Stanmoor cross the river before it joins the River Parrett at Burrowbridge, where the junction is overshadowed by Burrow Mump.
The river is about 33 kilometres (21 mi) long. Its source is at Beverton Pond. Over its first 1.8 miles (2.9 km) it follows a south-easterly course and drops around 490 feet (150 m) before discharging into Clatworthy Reservoir, which also impounds the waters of 5 other streams.
The river continues as the outflow from the main dam of the reservoir, passing to the west of the village of Clatworthy before following a southerly course which passes to the east of Huish Champflower. The river enters a steeply wooded section at Washbattle bridge. The B3227 road from Wiveliscombe crosses from the east to the west side of the valley at Waterrow bridge. By the time it reaches Stawley bridge and turns south-east, it has lost another 410 ft (120 m) and is just 330 ft (100 m) above sea level. At Greenham, the river turns to run generally north-east. The river passes to the north of Wellington, and a mile further on the course of the derelict Grand Western Canal crosses the Tone on an aqueduct which now carries a footpath.
The river passes over weirs at Greenham, Tone and Nynehead, after which it is crossed by the Bristol and Exeter Railway. A disused bridge, constructed in 1817,  spans the river at Nynehead. The river turns to the north-east near Bradford on Tone, with its two listed bridges, including the Bradford Bridge which was originally built by the 15th century, and then to the east near Upcott bridge, where there were two mills. At Roughmoor its course is crossed by Silk Mills Road. There is a scheme to make the river navigable from here to the town centre as a way of encouraging transport with less environmental impact.
The French weir in Taunton is the head of navigation as boats can not be taken upstream of this point. As it makes its way through the town centre to Firepool weir and the junction with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, it passes under the North Bridge, which was constructed in 1895, and Priory Bridge Road. The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, is close to the riverside., as is the County Ground, home of Somerset County Cricket Club. Next comes the A358 Obridge viaduct, the A38 Bathpool Bridge and the M5 motorway bridge. Firepool weir was reconstructed in 1967 as part of the plans to straighten the river through the town centre and down to Bathpool in order to provide better flood defences. These works swept away the remains of the original navigation. There is a disused five-arched railway bridge built in 1863 at Creech St Michael. Nearby is the aqueduct that carried the Chard Canal over the river from 1842 until 1866.  Ham weir stands as a reminder of the location of the lock there. After Knapp bridge,  the sluice at Newbridge marks the upper tidal limit of the river. Curry and Hay Moors, an area of low-lying fenland close to the river, are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A railway bridge carries the Taunton to Castle Cary railway line over the river, after which is the Curry Moor pumping station. Two more road bridges at Athelney and Stanmoor cross the river before it joins the River Parrett at Burrowbridge, where the junction is overshadowed by Burrow Mump.
River Tone