The Somerset Coast

Attractions > Somerset Landscapes - Around Wells

The landscape looking over Uphill Church towards Brean Down and the Bristol Channel.

Uphill Castle at Weston-Super-Mare, a stones throw from Uphill Church.

This Burnham Lighthouse on legs was built in 1832 to complement the Pillar Tower Lighthouse that had a too low vantage point to take account of the huge rise and fall of the tides, which are the second most extreme in the world.

Beached boats at Highbridge in late afternoon.

Partially buried boat at the mouth of the River Axe near Uphill.

Berrow Sands is a long flat sandy beach situated along the Bristol Channel. When the tide drops the sea disappears into the distance and the mud flats become exposed. These have pockets of quick sand and become quite treacherous to venture onto, with a tide that rises and falls at a visible speed.

Burnham Lighthouse with late afternoon sun.

Looking over Marine Lake (an artifical pond next to the sea) at Weston_super_mare in the late evening.

Lightning over Birnbeck Pier at Weston-Super-Mare.

The Observation Wheel - a 40 metre high wheel with 30 capsules which slowly turns to give superb views over Weston and the estuary. Located along the beach front at Weston-Super-Mare.

Reflections at Uphill Quarry (close to the mouth of the River Axe) with Uphill Church and Castle on the hill.

Click here to see the new England Coast Path National Trail in Somerset

Along the Bristol Channel, near Burnham is Berrow Sands. This long flat sandy beach is used by many people for all kinds of activities including horse riding, cycling, walking and other various sand sports. Berrow Sands is also the location for the Burnham Lighthouse, a wooden structure located on the beach. Also found here is the Nornen Boat, a Norwegian Barque that was wrecked on the beach in 1897. The long beaches have lines of groynes which were originally built to help stop the drift of sand.

This coastal area can provide some spectacular opportunities for photography. Sunsets can be deep red and day time shots with the shimmering watery sands can create some great reflections.

There is wildlife and birds to spot in the wilder parts of the coastline and on the rocky outcrop of Brean Down in particular, which is a nature reserve. Brean Down is also a great spot for excellent views in all directions.

The Somerset Coast

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