Day 153: English Coastal Path

D153: BURNHAM-ON-SEA to WESTON-SUPER-MARE

Tuesday 11th March 2025

Today miles: 16.1 Total miles: 2504.3

I stepped down onto the firm sandy beach near to Burnham-on-Sea and set off walking the five mile section towards Brean Down. Two miles off to my left across Stern Flats I could see Fenning Island where I’d been walking just two days earlier. The beach passes close to Berrow and then Brean which is a small town consisting of several large brick buildings, hundreds of prefabricated bungalows and thousands of caravans across several large holiday parks. I’d suggest it’s a town with a very small resident population. Around two hours after setting off I arrived at the end of the beach, close to the impressive looking Brean Down. There’s a national trust cafe which opens at 10am, I sat down on a nearby bench for the half hour wait. A few minutes after arriving outside the cafe I got chatting with a male named Paul, he turned out to be the head chef/manager. He took pity on me and allowed me early access into the building Ten minutes later he had provided me with two bacon/egg rolls and a coffee, it was very much appreciated, thanks Paul.

Only minutes after leaving the cafe, with a full stomach I was climbing the steep wooden steps up onto Brean Down. This is a relatively small spit of land, only a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. I loved the walk across the top of Brean Down, its grass covered and despite being only sixty metres above sea level it provided some fantastic views out towards Weston-Super-Mare. At the end of Brean Down there’s a short descent down towards Brean Down Fort. I spent around an hour walking around the Fort. It’s a fascinating place, an interesting mixture of Napoleonic and some much later added on World War One architecture.

I walked back along the opposite side of the spit towards Brean Down farm where the England coast path continues along the edge of the River Axe. On arriving at the edge of the river there’s a sign confirming that this section of the ECP footpath towards Weston-Super-Mare is currently closed due to ground nesting birds. The only alternative route is too head back towards the Brean Down cafe and then walk along the minor road, passing all the caravan parks and then on towards Brean. I was a little disappointed that there’s so few facilities in Brean, I needed water but would have to wait until arriving in Weston. I rejoined the English coastal path at Brean Cross sluice and pressed on towards the Southern edge of Weston-Super-Mare. There’s a short, easy ascent over Walborough Hill before I took a short break overlooking the Marina. I got to talking with a couple of local men who had noticed my hiking backpack and took an interested in my walk.

My intended short break ended up being a much longer break. I set off again after an hour and arrived at Weston Bay a few minutes later. I walked along the beach for the next two miles, heading directly for Weston-Super-Mare Grand Pier. I knew my accommodation was close to the Pier and left the coastal path just before the pier. I haven’t eaten for a while so I grabbed a huge Cornish pastie and a bottle of fizzy pop. I then sat people watching whilst eating my food and enjoying the sun.