Guide to the best Beaches in and around Somerset

With a wide array to choose from, here are Thornfalcon’s favourite beaches and seaside towns.

Lyme Regis

The picturesque coastal town of Lyme Regis is 40 mins south of Thornfalcon, on the Jurassic Coast. Beloved for its beauty, charm, picturesque harbour and beach fronted by huts, this is also the capital of fossils, as the home of Mary Anning, one of history’s most important fossil collectors and palaeontologists.

Lyme Regis has a rich cultural heritage, and this pocket-sized town is full of quaint winding streets, pubs, restaurants and a lovely array of independent shops. Lyme has featured in a range of books and films, from Jane Austen’s Persuasion, to Wonka and the French Lieutenant’s Woman. There’s a sauna on the beach, mini golf with a view at Lister Gardens, a Marine Aquarium where fish eat out of your hand, and fishing boat trips out into the bay. For more Lyme Regis recommendations, and where to eat, drink and visit, here’s the Thornfalcon guide.

Seatown

Lovely Seatown on Dorset’s Jurassic coast is a small coastal hamlet, with a shingle, shelving beach beloved by fishermen, fossil hunters and walkers. Perched just above the beach is the Anchor Inn pub, serving excellent seafood with produce caught locally. There is a barrel sauna on the edge of the beach that can be booked to warm up, before plunging into the waters.

Kilve Beach

To the north of Thornfalcon lies Kilve Beach, halfway between Minehead and Bridgwater in the Quantocks, facing the Bristol Channel. Kilve Beach has beautiful rock formations sweeping the shoreline, impressive fossils dotted around, and plenty of rockpools in tranquil surroundings at low tide.

Porlock Wier beach

Porlock Wier beach on Exmoor’s coast is a long, pebbled and rock beach backed by marshland containing an abundance of wildlife. The beach is one mile from Porlock, one of Somerset’s prettiest villages, with a good range of quaint cafés, restaurants and shops. The beach and village look out across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh coast- a beautiful place to visit, especially combined with a walk on Exmoor.

St Audries Bay

Is a special pebble and sand beach backed by two natural waterfalls which cascade down the face of the red sandstone cliffs. This beach is one of the lesser-known secrets in Somerset, set at the foot of the Quantock Hills, and is an idyllic spot for a relaxing day. It’s worth noting that access here isn’t the easiest – the entrance is at the bottom of a small holiday park, and the path down has several steps. Well worth it though!

Blue Anchor

The village of Blue Anchor lies three miles east of Dunster, and its sand and shingle beach stretches for miles. Popular with dog walkers, it’s a great place to relax, play cricket, and build sand castles. Combine with a trip to Dunster Castle to experience this part of North Somerset to the full.

Berrow Beach

Also on Somerset’s north coast sits Berrow Beach (South) – towards the southern end of the Berrow Flats, a 6-mile stretch of sand and mudflats between Burham-on-Sea and Brean Down. The beach here is flat and sandy, backed by dunes. Loved by walkers, horse riders, fishermen and beach sport enthusiast, you can walk north towards Brean or south towards the lighthouse at Burhman-on-Sea. The beach faces west with some spectacular sunsets.

North Devon

For the adventurous, North Devon has some of the UK’s best surfing beaches including Woolastone, Saunton and Croyde. Our favourite is Saunton Sands, 3 miles of golden sandy beach with surf schools for those who need a lesson.