Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside! A weekend in Weston-super-Mare

For this long weekend away, we’ll be travelling to the Somerset seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. Some of these walks will be based in the Weston area, but some of them will also be in nearby towns that are in travelling distance. Like with some of the walks we do in Berkshire, some of these walks will pass other stations along the way, and so there’ll be options to drop out any of the walks if needed.

If you would like to attend this walking trip, please complete the form by Friday 20th June as well as showing your interest on Meetup. Everyone is welcome to sign up to this trip, regardless of your walking experience or however long you’ve been a Ramblers member. Like with other BW trips away, you have to be a member of the Ramblers to take part, but members of other groups are also very welcome to join us.

Sign up form link: https://forms.gle/LQjCSTt69Z65dfcu9

Itinerary

Friday: Weston-super-Mare Coastal Linear, 7.1 miles, 113m ascent

This walk takes us along Weston seafront and through Weston Woods towards Sand Bay. Meet at Uphill Marina at 13:35. Recommended bus: 13:04 bus departure (No. 20) from Weston-super-Mare station arriving at Laurel Drive at 13:23, 10-minute walk to Uphill Marina. Estimated finishing time: 17:10.This walk is linear, so if you’re planning on driving, you’ll need to take the train/bus to return to your car at the end. Alternatively, you can also park at the end and take the train/bus back to the starting point.

Saturday: Bridgwater to Cannington (River Parrett walk), 10.9 miles, 34m ascent

Joint walk with the Brunel walking group. This scenic walk takes you along part of the River Parrett as well as through some of the surrounding countryside. Meet at Bridgwater station at 09:45. Recommended train: 09:24 GWR departure from Weston-super-Mare station arriving in Bridgwater at 09:42. Estimated finishing time: 15:00. This walk is linear, so if you’re planning on driving, you’ll need to take the train/bus to return to your car at the end. Alternatively, you can also park at the end and take the train/bus back to the starting point.

Saturday evening social

Venue TBC.

Sunday: Brean Down Circular, 8.2 miles, 140m ascent

This circular walk takes us around Brean Down and the disused Victorian fort. Meet at Brean Village Hall at 10:15. Recommended bus: 09:35 no. 20 bus departure from Weston-super-Mare station arriving at Brean Village Hall at 10:09. Estimated finishing time: 14:15.

Sunday night fish & chip social

Chippie TBC.

Monday: Worle to Sand Point Circular, 11.8 miles, 57m ascent

This coastal walk takes us from Worle station to the National Trust site at Sand Point. Meet at Worle station at 09:20. Recommended train: 09:10 GWR departure from Weston-super-Mare station arriving in Worle at 09:16. Estimated finishing time: 14:30.

Travel

There are several ways to get to Weston-super-Mare If you’re aiming to join the first walk, the recommended route is the 10:25 GWR service that arrives in Bristol Temple Meads at 11:35. Here, you change for the 11:55 GWR service that arrives in Weston-super-Mare at 12:22. If you’re travelling from the Newbury area, the fastest route is via Reading and Bristol, of which the train above is the latest you can get if you’re joining the first walk.

If you’re driving, the best way to go from Reading is to take the M4 towards Bristol and Junction 20. Here, you then turn onto the M5 to the 21/St Georges Interchange, which you turn off to get into Weston-super-Mare. The alternative route would be to take the A303 to Taunton via the A33 to Basingstoke, where you turn right onto the M5 at Junction 25 before driving up to the junction mentioned above.

Accommodation

You will need to book your own accommodation. Some suggestions are as follows:
• Cabot Court Hotel (Wetherspoons) – on the seafront near the marine lake.
• Premier Inn – on the seafront near the Grand Pier.
• Travelodge – near the Helicopter Museum.

Other activities

If there’s a day you don’t want to walk, there are plenty of attractions in Weston-super-Mare. Some suggestions are as follows:
• The Grand Pier.
• The Helicopter Museum.
• Weston Museum.