From the top of the natural pier and extension of the Mendip Hills that is Brean Down, you can look over to south Wales and the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm, back inland across the Somerset Levels or south along the coast of Somerset.

Brean Down is classed as a Historic Monument and as well as the Palmerston Fort at the end of the peninsular, there is evidence of an iron age hill fort and Second World War defences, more of which punctuate the walk to Minehead in the form of pill boxes.

To the south is the sweep of sand that will take you past Berrow Dunes, a Local Nature Reserve supporting numerous species of flowering plants, and into Burnham-on-Sea, passing its iconic lighthouse on legs and pier; the shortest in the UK.

From Burnham the trail takes you past the award-winning Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park, before reaching Highbridge where it leaves the coast to follow the River Parrett to Bridgwater.

This section of the trail is within the newly created Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve that includes the Huntspill River and Pawlett Hams, once noted as the richest 2,000 acres in England, as well as areas of war time and industrial heritage. As you walk, take in the views of Stert Island in the estuary, and Stert Point on the other side of the River Parrett The section ends as you reach Dunball on the outskirts of Bridgwater.

In Bridgwater it is well worth visiting the town to examine the Victorian docks – once a hub of commerce – and the many architectural gems picked out on the heritage trail.

Day 1_ Brean to Highbridge 11.3 miles

Day 2 – Highbridge to Dunball 10 miles

Leaving Bridgwater from Dunball on the western bank of the River Parrett, the path joins the River Parrett Trail and takes you through Somerset Levels farmland to the estuary village of Combwich and on to the Steart peninsula.

Steart Peninsula and Marshes are managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to promote their role as a natural flood barrier; the marshes here were deliberately breached in 2014 to create one of the UK’s largest wetland reserves.

In winter the already significant populations of birds in and around Bridgwater Bay are bolstered by over-wintering visitors attracted to the developing salt marsh. To protect them the trail is diverted inland away from their feeding grounds between October and April. In other sections of the route, bird hides and screens afford views across the wetland shores allowing walkers to see the bird life. Sensitive planting and landscaping also means there is something of interest in any season.

Leaving the peninsula the path follows the West Somerset Coast Path through Stolford making a diversion around Hinkley Point power station to reach Shurton. The diversion takes you through low lying farmland, passing Wick Barrow.

The barrow is a rare example of a Neolithic round barrow, dating from about 6,000 years ago and measuring about 25 metres in diameter and 1.5 metres high. When excavated in 1907 pottery beakers and flint tools as well as human remains were uncovered.  The main burials included three crouched skeletons dating to the late Neolithic, about 4,400 years ago.

The barrow is also known as Pixie’s Mound as legend has it that Pixie’s rewarded a ploughman who repaired one of their oars thinking it was just a child’s toy, only to find it replaced with a delicious pixie cake when he returned!

Ending this section of the walk in Shurton it’s worth taking the time to explore this pretty village.

Day 3 – Dunball to WWT – 12.1 miles

Day 4 – WWT to Shurton – 10.4 miles

From Shurton the route returns to the coast alongside the construction site for Hinkley Point C. This section includes geo-located poems that can be accessed on the Poetry Pin website.

On reaching the coast you pass through fields until you reach Lilstock where the natural harbour led to the development of a busy port in the 1820s. The port reached its heyday in the second half of the 19^th Century before storms caused extensive damage in early 1899. By the end of 1920s it had fallen into disuse, although the remains of its quayside stores and cottages can still be seen today in the woods backing the harbour area.

This is also the start of the Lilstock to Blue Anchor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The cliffs and shore in this area show blue lias pavements and rock strata that are part of the same systems as those on the Jurassic coast in Dorset,45 miles to the south. Created approximately 195 to 200 million years ago, they consist of yellow-weathering grey limestones which alternate with units of darker mudstones and shales. Geologists refer to this part of the Jurassic as the ‘Lower Lias’.

This section of the coast features some stunning cliff and shore formations where ancient earth movements and modern landslips have thrown up some wonderful shapes and colours on this section. As you walk along the beach sections of the trail the key is to look up at the cliffs and their layered structure, and while walking along the cliffs look down on the shore’s swirls and pavement patterns.

The route passes through Kilve and East Quantoxhead where it leaves the West Somerset Coast Path to stay on the coast to St Audries with its spectacular beach waterfall, before continuing to the old seafaring town of Watchet where it re-joins the West Somerset Coast Path.

Note that these coastal sections here are flooded at high tides so check tide times before setting out and revert to the West Somerset Coast Path’s inland route if the beach route is not passable.

Leaving the beach at Helwell, you pass next to the West Somerset Railway and may be lucky enough to witness the stunning sight of steam trains alongside the Coast Path. Watchet is full of history and tall tales and its museums and visitor centre are well worth the visit to find out more about this historic coastal town.

From Watchet the trail heads along the coast to Blue Anchor offering stunning views towards Minehead and Exmoor. It is particularly important to be cautious about walking too near to the cliff edge here as this section of coast is susceptible instability and rock falls.

At Blue Anchor the path stays on the beach passing war time pillboxes and offering stunning views of Dunster Castle. A detour into Dunster offers another interesting excursion to see the old Yarn Market in the heart of the village.

Heading towards Minehead and the start of the South West Coast Path you pass the dunes and greens of the golf before reaching its quintessential seaside esplanade.

On Minehead’s seafront the quay side cottages shelter under North Hill and take you back in time to when Minehead was a busy local port trading in cattle, sheep, wool, butter, fish and coal.

Day 5 – Shurton to Watchet 10.6 miles

Day 6 – Watchet to Minehead 8.2 miles

On Minehead’s Quay Street the sculpture known locally as the Iron Giant marks the start of the South West Coast Path, a 630 mile trail that take you all the way to Poole in Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.

As you head to the top of North Hill, you start to experience the challenges of Exmoor and its coombes and gullies. The trail zig zags up the hill through woodland until you emerge on North Hill to views across the channel to Barry in Wales and the start of some more rugged and remote walking.

This section of the South West Coast Path includes two sections with a choice of walking the SWCP or the ‘rugged’ SWCP. The latter is rugged, hilly and remote with long sections surrounded by wilderness, while the former includes gorse lined paths and passes Selworthy Beacon with its trig point coming in at 308m (1013 feet).

Look out for Exmoor ponies and in the autumn listen out for the red deer rut, while all year round the ground is covered by a mix of gorse, heather and bracken providing colour no matter when you visit.

On the end of North Hill at Hurlstone Point the view to Foreland Point in front of you with Bossington’s curved pebble shore below is one of Exmoor’s iconic views.

From here the trail descends through the Holnicote Estate to the village of Bossington where you skirt Porlock Marsh, a haven for wildlife.

Our route takes you inland here to visit the village of Porlock with its shops, cafés and campsites to tempt you from the trail before heading on to Porlock Weir for the harbourside ambience and Porlock Bay Oysters.

For the Bonus stamps continue your journey to County Gate and complete the entire Somerset coast. The journey takes you through Yearnor woods and past St. Bueno’s Church in Culbone, said to be the smallest Parish Church in England with seating for about 30 people.

Arriving at County Gate you are at the heart of the landscape described by R D Blackmore in Lorna Doone, with Oare and Robber’s Bridge to the south and views of the East Lyn River.

Day 7 – Minehead to Porlock – 8.8 miles

Day 8 – Porlock to County Gate – 8.5 miles

NT Beach Hut, Brean Down, Brean, TA8 2RS

TO DO: Take on the 3-mile circular walk on Brean Down, visit Brean Down’s coastal fort, take a walk on the beach at low tide (watch out for mud) and take a selfie with the Down behind you.

FIND OUT MORE: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/brean-down

South Esplanade, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 1BU

TO DO: Get information on amazing local attractions/walks etc

FIND OUT MORE: www.burnhaminformation.co.uk

Bridgwater Town Hall, High Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3AS

(please check opening times)

TO DO: Check our local information leaflets and pick up a free map of Bridgwater

FIND OUT MORE: www.bridgwater-tc.gov.uk, 01278 427692

Castle Street, Nether Stowey, TA5 1LN

TO DO: Sign up for a library card and browse our books, which includes our Coleridge collection.

FIND OUT MORE: www.thomaspoolelibrary.org.uk

Special Passport Offer – Bring a refillable travel mug and help yourself to a tea or coffee

Lawsons Farm, Burton, TA5 1QB

TO DO: Fill up your water bottle, it’s 100% from our very own spring

FIND OUT MORE: www.burtonsprings.co.uk

Special Passport Offer – 10% discount on a fishing day ticket

Killick Way, Williton, TA4 4QA

TO DO: A nice warm place to sit or use the free internet computers.

FIND OUT MORE: www.somerset.gov.uk/locations/williton-library/

11 The Esplanade, Watchet, TA23 0AJ

TO DO: Browse the books and sign up for a library card. Come into the Library to take advantage of the free internet, in a warm space.

FIND OUT MORE: www.somerset.gov.uk/locations/watchet-community-library-2

Harbour Road, Watchet, TA23 0AQ

TO DO: Take a selfie with Yankee Jack!

FIND OUT MORE: www.lovewatchet.co.uk, 01984 632101

Dunster Steep, Dunster, TA24 6SE

(Seasonal opening only)

TO DO: Find out about Exmoor!

FIND OUT MORE: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/national-park-centres/dunster-national-park-centre, 01643 821835

c/o The Beach Hotel , The Avenue, Minehead, TA24 5AP

(Seasonal opening only)

TO DO: Get information about what to do and see in and around Minehead.

FIND OUT MORE: www.mineheadbay.co.uk, 01643 702624

Bancks Road, Minehead, TA24 5DJ

TO DO: Browse the books and sign up for a library card. Enjoy the use of Public Computers with free internet in a warm space.

FIND OUT MORE: www.somerset.gov.uk/locations/minehead-library

West End, Porlock, TA24 8QD

TO DO: Take away lots of local information and maybe pick up a souvenir or two.

FIND OUT MORE: www.porlock.co.uk, 01643 863150

Bus number 20 operated by First Bristol, Bath & the West travels between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea passing through Brean. Click here for the 20 bus timetable

Trains to and from Weston-super-Mare are operated by Cross Country trains

Trains to and from Burnham & Highbridge or Bridgwater are operated by GWR, note that the Burnham & Highbridge train station is in Highbridge.

Bus number 21 operated by First Somerset runs between Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Bridgwater and Taunton. Click here for the 21 bus timetable.

Trains to access destinations in West Somerset are operated by GWR and the area is reached from Taunton station.

National Express coaches stop at Taunton bus station.

Bus number 28 operated by First Somerset travels between Taunton and Minehead stopping at both the train and bus stations and passing through Williton, Watchet and Dunster on route to Minehead. Click here for the 28 bus timetable.

Alternatively, try the the old steam trains of the West Somerset Railway. This can be joined at Bishop’s Lydeard station which is also on the 28 bus route and stops at Williton, Watchet, Blue Anchor, Dunster and Minehead. Timetables can be found here West Somerset Railway

Between Blue Anchor and Porlock the Exmoor Coaster runs regularly throughout the day in spring, summer and autumn providing a great way to explore this section of the trail from a single base.

The route uses open top buses enabling visitors to take in the fantastic views on this section of coast.

For information and times visit The Exmoor Coaster here.