Short Walking Guide
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Visit and enjoy The England A walking guide to the The new 58-mile coast path Coast Path from Brean Down to Minehead will take you on an amazing The England Coast Path journey along the Somerset coast. Treats include will be a National Trail around inspirational landscape, rare flora and fauna, the full coastline of England. miles of sandy beaches and Jurassic coastline, When completed, it will be harbours, hill forts and great food and drink. 2800 miles/4500kms in length, making it the longest managed Getting there and waymarked coastal path Brean Down to Minehead in the world. It is much more Getting to Somerset is straightforward: via M5 than just a path. It gives access junction 22, 23 or 24; by rail the closest stations to beaches, cliff-tops and to the trail are Highbridge or Bridgwater and most of the wonderful habitats the West Somerset Railway runs from Bishops around our coast, as well as Lydeard to Minehead. For detailed public former industrial and maritime transport information visit www.travelinesw.com areas that were significant in Pay and display parking is available in the towns Britain’s history. along the route. Bristol airport is a 45-minute drive from Bridgwater, with good public www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_ transport links. GB/trails/england-coast-path -south-west/ Places to stay There are plenty of B&Bs, hotels, pubs, farmhouses and camping and caravan parks along the route. Details can be found at www.visitsomerset.co.uk and www.visit-exmoor.co.uk Quick guide to walking the path of58 sandy beaches,miles rocky bays, nature reserves, lighthouses The path is well signposted and historic harbours. although a map is always useful to have. There are no stiles and the majority of the route is fairly level Photo credits with a few steeper sections around Watchet Visit Somerset and Kilve. Sedgemoor District Council Nell Barrington, Sarah Littler Useful websites www.visitsomerset.co.uk www.visit-exmoor.co.uk www.somerset.gov.uk/england-coast-path www.nationaltrail.co.uk/england-coast-path-sw Storywalks Geology Wildlife These walks are a skimming Somerset has its own Jurassic The Sites of Special Scientific stone of interesting facts, Coast rich in fossils particularly Interest and Nature Reserves myth, history and tales linked at Lilstock, Kilve, East along the route are rich in flora to locations on the England Quantoxhead and Watchet and fauna. Rare orchids can be Coast Path. Accessed on the with interesting red Triassic seen along the cliffs and sea internet, they are designed cliffs at Blue Anchor - also buckthorn and evening primrose to be read aloud to family perfect places for exploring found at Berrow Dunes. Marine and friends to embellish your the rock pools and a picnic. life includes giant conger eels experience of this coast. while thousands of waterfowl and wading birds make their Scan the QR code on the right winter home in the National to access the walks or go to Nature Reserve of Bridgwater englandcoastpath.storywalks.info/ Bay and at Steart Marshes, along with otters, roe deer and brown hares. Safety and Great Days Out Activities and Countryside Code There is loads to see and do Events just a short way from the path As well as following the Countryside Code, when eg the Walled Gardens of Activities abound along this you are walking the England Coast Path remember: Cannington, Coleridge Cottage, stretch of coast; guided walks, l Keep to the path and stay away from cliff edges - Tropiquaria Zoo, Watchet Boat wildlife safaris, mountain biking, please follow and heed advisory signs and Museum, Cleeve Abbey, Torre star gazing, horse riding, waymarks Cider Farm, Dunster Castle, coasteering, wine or cider tasting, l Staying safe is your own responsibility - theatres, arts centres and paint balling, kayaking, food, please look after yourself and other members galleries and the longest music and arts festivals to name of your group heritage railway in England, a few. Find out more at l Take special care of children and dogs - the West Somerset Railway. www.visitsomerset.co.uk please look after them at all times www.visit-exmoor.co.uk l Please clean up after your dog l If you are crossing a beach, make sure you know the tide times so you won’t be cut off l Dress sensibly for the terrain and weather - wear suitable clothing and footwear and be ready for possible changes in the weather l In an emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. A walking guide to the Circular walks Brean Down In addition to the 58-mile linear route there are a number of circular and short walks taking in the England Coast Path. Explore the 97-metre natural pier and remains of the Palmerston fort built in 1862; admire the 1 1. Brean Down Circular - 8. Lilstock Circular - views across the Bristol Channel to Wales; listen 2. Berrow Dunes Nature Reserve - 9. Kilton Circular - to the sound of sky larks or seek out the rare 3. Berrow Beach Circular - 10. Kilve Circular - White Rock Rose. Brean 4. Burnham on Sea Circular - 11. St Audries Bay - 5. Apex Park - 12. Doniford/Quantock Hills/East Quantoxhead Circular - Down 6. Bridgwater Docks and Town Circular - 13. Watchet/Washford along The Old Mineral Line/Blue Anchor - Brean Sands 7. Steart Marshes Nature Reserve - 14. Dunster and Castle Circular - - Families and Friends - Rest & Relaxation - Keen Walkers Brean Sands is the start of the second longest strip of sand Directions and maps for all walks can be found at www.somerset.gov.uk/england-coast-path in Europe; at low tide, look out for the wooden spine as all that remains of SS Nornen 2 Minehead which ran aground in 1897. Brean Minehead is a thriving coastal town on the edge of Exmoor with a long sandy beach, cafés, bars, Burnham-on-Sea restaurants and a picturesque harbour. It is also the start of Hinkley Point Burnham on Sea has a Berrow the South West Coast Path. Watchet nine legged lighthouse 3 and Britain’s shortest sea- Watchet is home to side pier, built in 1911; the Boat Museum, Blue Anchor the first concrete structure the Market House of its kind in Europe. Museum, a marina, art 4 The West Somerset Railway, which This bustling seaside Burnham-on-Sea galleries, independent The first new nuclear plant in the UK for runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, town also has a wide shops, cafés, pubs 20 years is being built here, said to be Minehead stops at this seaside village. Great choice of shops and and a statue of the the largest construction site in Europe. views can be had from the café across places to eat and drink. 14 the bay to Minehead and Exmoor Ancient Mariner. and on a clear day to Wales. 5 8 Bridgwater Bay 7 9 National Nature 10 l Dunster o 13 11 Reserve t s A396 Hinkley Point i r 12 Power Station B Blue o Lilstock T Anchor Steart A39 Watchet Kilve Steart Marshes Marshes A39 The biggest new coastal wetland Washford St Audries Bay 5 in Britain is internationally A38 Wiliton recognised as an important site M St Audries Bay Waymarking and useful info for wintering wildfowl, with hides, viewing platforms and easy access ver Fossils, rock pools Ri Pa The England Coast Path is well waymarked and easy to follow. trails. It is part of Bridgwater Bay rr and a waterfall make e The symbol of The National Trails, the acorn, is found on National Nature Reserve (pictured). t W this part of Somerset’s t e waymark and fingerposts along the route. s t Jurassic Coast a great S o Bridgwater The acorn symbol is used to guide your journey by marking m place to while away J23 e the route in a variety of ways. It is used in conjunction with r a few hours. s Bridgwater is famous for its annual e coloured arrows or the words ‘footpath’, ‘bridleway’ or ‘byway’ t winter carnival, one of the world’s R a to indicate who can use a particular right of way. T i largest illuminated processions, l o w A358 a A yellow arrow indicates a path for use by walkers y and is home to the Blake Museum, E x A39 Quantock Hills said to be the birthplace of Admiral e t A blue arrow indicates a path for use by walkers, e Robert Blake. It offers a good choice r horse riders and cyclists AONB of pubs, restaurants and cafés. 6 A plum arrow indicates a path for use by walkers, horse riders, cyclists and carriage drivers Key to Map Bridgwater A red arrow indicates a right of way that legally can be used by walkers, horse riders, cyclists, carriage drivers and motorists England Coast Path 1 Circular Walks Tourist Information Parking Public Toilets A white arrow indicates a permissive path. To report any problems on the Coast Path; email [email protected], visit www.somerset.gov.uk/rightsofway or call 0300 123 2224.