8 Coastal Walks near our Somerset Holiday Parks
The beautiful county of Somerset offers a dramatic coastline rich with coastal walks, sensational views and interesting places to explore.
Spanning much of the length of the Bristol Channel, one of the UK's busiest waterways, the Somerset coast is just minutes from many of the county's most popular towns - making it the ideal location for a short break or weekend away at one of our Somerset Holiday Parks.
So, pull on your walking boots, dig out your compass and read on for some of the best coastal walks in Somerset;
The England Coast Path in Somerset
Stretching 58 miles from Brean Down to Minehead, the England Coast Path in Somerset will take you on a journey through the sandy beaches of Berrow and Burnham-on-Sea, along the River Parrett to the Victorian docks of Bridgwater before turning back to the Salt Marshes of Steart Point and the Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve. Search for fossils on the Jurassic Beaches between Lilstock and Blue Anchor where the towering cliff formations have been classified as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest. Continue past the harbour town of Watchet and follow the coastal path as it shadows the West Somerset Steam Railway through Dunster, where you can take a detour to visit Dunster Castle, before ending your journey in Minehead on the south bank of the Bristol Channel.
This path is great to divide up over a number of days so that you have plenty of time to enjoy each location. Visit nationaltrail.co.uk
for a complete 4-day itinerary of the England Coast Path in Somerset.
Many of the following coastal walks will take you along sections of the England Coast Path;
Weston-super-Mare to Burnham-on-Sea
You can walk this 8-mile coastal trail either starting in Weston-super-Mare and finishing in Burnham-on-Sea, or starting in Burnham-on-Sea and ending in Weston-super-Mare - the choice is yours! Either way, we suggest that you take a detour via Brean Down where you'll enjoy spectacular dual aspect views of both seaside towns. A National Trust managed promontory and natural pier, Brean Down shows signs of life dating back to 10,000BC and is also home to a Napoleonic Fort. And whichever town you end up in, you’ll be spoilt for choice with plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants to enjoy a well-earned treat!
Portishead to Clevedon Pier
Explore the 6-mile trail linking Portishead to Clevedon and you'll pass several beautiful beaches along the way including Sugar Loaf Beach, Charlcombe Bay, Pigeon House Bay and Blackhill Sands - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Finish your day in Clevedon and you could visit Clevedon Pier, the only Grade 1 listed pier in England, or take a dip in the town’s tidal infinity pool.
Birnbeck Pier to Sand Bay
Generally considered an easy trail, you'll begin at Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, which was largely abandoned in favour of the Grand Pier in 1930’s. This coastal walk spans 6 miles with fantastic views of the Bristol Channel. On the way to Sand Bay, you'll encounter lots of local amenities, and if you don't feel like taking the trail back to Weston, you can always take a ride back on the open-top bus!
Set-off from Berrow Beach during low tide and you'll see the remains of the Norwegian barque SS Nornen, wrecked on Berrow Beach in 1897. Follow the 5-mile coastal path north to Brean Down and you'll find yourself immersed in glorious countryside with spectacular sea views along the way.
Begin this 9-mile trek in Minehead woods and you'll emerge high on the cliffs, where your efforts will be rewarded with stunning views of the Bristol Channel. Much of the coastline is under the care of the National Trust and if you approach Porlock beach during low tide you'll catch a glimpse of a submerged forest!
Blue Anchor to Dunster Beach
An easy 8-mile ramble along the Somerset Coast Path. This walk takes you through varied scenery, from the rolling hills between Blue Anchor and Watchet, to the flat expanse of Dunster Beach. And if 8 miles isn't long enough for you, you can continue on to Minehead Beach.
The picturesque harbour town of Watchet is well worth a visit, even if you decide to swerve the coastal walk! Set-off from the harbour, out of the town and onto the coastal path and you’ll be met with spectacular views along the clifftop. Follow the path through glorious woodland and fields until you emerge in Blue Anchor, where you could stop for refreshments at the Blue Anchor Pub. Pick-up the costal path again and continue past the village of Dunster. Eventually you will find yourself in Minehead, where the West Somerset Coast Path ends and the South West Coast path begins.
So, as you can see, Somerset has some fantastic coastal walks for you to experience, and our Somerset holiday parks are the perfect base from which to plan your next trip. Whether you have a caravan, motorhome, tent or want to experience Somerset from a static caravan or lodge, we have holiday parks for any style of break.
Find out more about our
Somerset Holiday Parks.
By Kim Boyd
•
December 9, 2024
We are delighted to share that Riverside Holiday Village has been named the Holiday Park of the Year at this year's Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards held at Batch Country House at Lympsham in Somerset. This award recognises holiday parks, sites and villages that provide exceptional guest experiences across static vans, touring pitches and more with a wide range of facilities and entertainment. Marketing Executive, Kim Boyd, was also named Unsung Hero . The Unsung Hero Award recognises an individual working for a tourism business who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. Awards Director Nell Barrington said “For many it has been a really challenging year but tonight was all about celebration and recognising those businesses who go above and beyond every day to ensure every visitor has a fantastic, truly memorable experience. It is great that they get recognition for all their efforts and my sincere congratulations go to them for everything they do to put Bristol, Bath, Somerset and beyond on the map.” Giles Adams from VisitSomerset continued “I am delighted that the core ethos and hard work of Somerset tourism businesses is continuously recognised. Our county is all about authenticity and giving value for money. The awards help to ensure that our consumers understand and value what we all represent by recognising and rewarding our quality offer.” Kathryn Davis from VisitWest told us “We are thrilled that so many of our businesses have been rewarded for all their incredible achievements this year with their success at the awards and look forward to seeing some of our winners hopefully progress into the national Visit England for Excellence finals next year. We have so many iconic destinations and world class experiences in the region, it is important to remember to celebrate this, and that tourism doesn’t just happen. It is thanks to the investment, creativity and hard work of these businesses that make our visitor economy so valuable, worth more than £2.5bn just to the West of England. While this sector is largely made up of many small businesses, together they are incredibly powerful and thoroughly deserve the recognition received this evening.” We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
By Kim Boyd
•
December 2, 2024
We are ecstatic to share that West Country Parks have been named the Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year at the prestigious Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards 2024. This award is intended to recognise the Hospitality & Tourism business that is the most successful in Sedgemoor, detailing what makes them stand out from other businesses and how they attract customers to the area. We were also named as finalists for the Sustainable Business Award in recognition of our efforts to reduce our businesses carbon footprint. Speaking about the awards, Roger Smith, General Manager at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said; 'This year, we’ve received a record-breaking number of high-quality entries, leading to 67 incredible finalists. This outstanding response highlights the immense talent, creativity, and innovation within our local business community'. Commenting after the awards dinner which was held at The Canalside in Bridgwater, David Tattersall, Group Manager at West Country Parks, commented; 'We are thrilled to have been nominated for two awards and it's fantastic to have won one! Our business has progressed a great deal over the last few years, and it's great to have had all of our hard work recognised.' We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
By Kim Boyd
•
November 28, 2024
We are thrilled to share that our family orientated holiday park, Riverside Holiday Village, was crowned winner of the Customer Choice Food Award for Family Fun Destinations at the staycation specialist’s 18th annual Awards – a celebration of the holiday parks, lodge resorts and boating locations in the company’s UK portfolio that have achieved the highest scores in independent guest satisfaction surveys throughout the 2024 season. Commenting after the awards were announced during a ceremony at the Hilton Metropole, in Birmingham David Tattersall, Group Manager at Riverside Holiday Village said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised for the quality of our food and it’s a testament to everyone on the team who works so hard to make sure our guests have the best possible experience when they stay with us. We are very aware that they place an enormous amount of faith in us when they choose where to go on holiday, so it’s great to know we’re getting it right." Speaking after presenting the award in front of more than 600 operators, industry suppliers and members of the Hoseasons team, Gemma Brown, General Manager at Hoseasons, said: “The team at Riverside Holiday Village are shining examples of the dedication and commitment needed to delight our guests and encourage the kind of positive reviews we know others look for when deciding where to spend their staycation. We are grateful for their continuing partnership in this our 80th year and wish them all the best for another successful season in 2025.”
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