Somerset coast offers a beautiful range of beaches to explore, whether you’re looking for swimming, beachcombing, coastal hikes or an energetic afternoon playing in the sand with the dog. From vibrant resorts with traditional seaside attractions and quiet, secluded beaches that offer peace and tranquillity or untamed beaches teeming with wildlife, fossils and challenging hikes.
Brean Beach
Brean beach boasts one of the longest stretches of sand in Europe, it’s no wonder why it’s so popular with walkers, dog walkers, and beach sports enthusiasts. The sheer volume of sand makes it ideal for building sandcastles, playing beach games, and swimming in the sea. Plus, it’s dog-friendly all year round, making it a perfect walk for you and your pets. Looking out from the beach, Brean Down dominates the skyline. This 97-metre high headland stretches out into the sea, forming a natural pier. The more adventurous may enjoy climbing up the down and be rewarded with superb views over the Bristol Channel and the Somerset Levels.
The down is also home to several fascinating archaeological sites, with evidence of the area being occupied in the Stone and Iron Ages, and the remains of a Roman temple have also been excavated.
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Burnham-on-Sea Beach
The award-winning Burnham-on-Sea is one of Somerset’s classic seaside resorts due to the exceptional stretch of beach – one of the longest in Europe. By contrast, it is also home to Britain’s shortest pier. Built in 1911 and measuring just over 100 ft! There are various shops and cafes close by, and with landmarks steeped in history and a rich tapestry of family activities, Burnham-on-Sea offers something for everyone. Blossoming during the Victorian era, Burnham provides timeless seaside pleasures and retains much of its traditional charms – right down to donkey rides on the beach.
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Minehead Seafront
Minehead beach, also known as The Strand, is a vast expanse of sand, shingle, and rock pools. As the tide goes out, this sandy stretch of the beach becomes ideal for beach games and for building sandcastles, and the sea is popular with paddleboarders and kayakers. You can even try your hand at crab fishing off the harbour at high tide. Or relax and enjoy the flower-filled Blenheim Gardens or on the seafront. This end of the beach is also the starting point for the South West Coast Path, which runs to Poole in Dorset via Land’s End in Cornwall. And if you want to explore further, there’s a 14th Century church and the much-photographed historic Church Steps within the town. And if you fancy a bite, take a walk down the tree-lined Avenue and visit the selection of tea rooms, pubs and independent shops in the town centre.
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Weston-super-Mare Beach
Weston-super-Mare has everything you’d expect from a traditional Victorian English seaside town resort, including a pier, a promenade, donkey rides, fish and chips shops, amusements and a wide stretch of golden sand. Many events have been held on Weston-super-Mare beach and seafront, including the Pro Nationals, Weston Beach Race, Weston-super-Mare Air Festival, music concerts, T4 On The Beach Corona SunSets and South-West Live. The former iconic Tropicana Lido was also home to Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition in 2015, which brought thousands of visitors worldwide to the resort. In the winter, the beach still draws in crowds with walkers and those who wish to brave outdoor water sports and kite surfing, a very popular activity carried out at the Uphill Sands end of the beach. The promenade, which lines the 2-mile stretch between Royal Sands and Marine Lake, has been significantly improved in recent years and is perfect for strolling or cycling. Visitors who want to take in the views but don’t fancy the walk can take the Weston Land Train, which runs from Royal Sands or the Victoria Café to Knightstone Island.