I catch the train to the seaside resort of Weston Super Mare in North Somerset, and head across the tidal River Axe into Somerset to walk up onto Brean Down, and to explore its Fort.
Map of the route I took (NB: you’ll need to do a diversion to Brean Village, if you are not walking this route between Mid May and Mid July):
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/24627340/weston-super-mare-to-brean-down?lat=51.324978&lon=-3.028197&zoom=12.4963&style=Standard&type=2d
Weston Super Mare Official Site on the Brean Down Way:
https://www.visit-westonsupermare.com/things-to-do/brean-down-walk-p1777383
#somerset #coast #military
17 Comments
Hello Paul and greetings from Poland
What a fantastic walk to Brean Down and its Fort, made even better by the wonderful weather and spectacular views and scenery on the way.
The Fort itself and its history was amazing. Your research proved invaluable. The walk back brought in Uphill. A site that was well worth a visit. How you managed the distance is beyond me. I certainly couldn't have walked that far.
Your video and photos were outstanding. All in all, brilliant!
Hi Paul, this is a fantastic Vlog of an area i know very well, but you have popped in some facts that i never knew about. if you do get to go to Wookey there is an amazing Gorge which is just along from Wookey called Ebbor Gorge often nicknamed the mini Cheddar Gorge. lovely to see the old lime kilns ect. amazing video as always, informative and interesting! just brilliant! Best Wishes Darren👌👍👍👍
Fabulous walk, fabulous film. Very emotive for me to watch as although I have never been to WSM I have family connections to the town. Brilliant to be able to see and explore the area where they lived. Thanks Paul.
Hi Paul a nice walk .ive been to Brean Down a lot over the years 😀
Hi Paul, You must be worn out!! Fantastic walk and so many points of interest along the way, perhaps one of the most varied you have shown us?
The plaque to Haile Selassie was one of those details you found. I knew of some of his history in Ethiopia but a couple of years ago, through YouTube, I found he was revered by part of the Rastafari community as the messiah for the African people. His original name Lij Tafari Makonnen prefixed by Ras giving name to the religion.
On a completely different subject, the fort really brought back memories for me. The first explorations I ever did were on the Palmerston forts overlooking Portsmouth with my Dad, at that time they were completely abandoned an amazing experience for a little boy. More recently I went back with my Dad and we took our photo together at the entrance. Sadly the last time I was there was just after his funeral. It's now an adventure centre for children. I wandered in and had a delightful conversation with the secretary of the Palmerston Forts Society and she took me round some of the parts of it. Similar in many ways to the Brean Down fort, I digress!!
Great photography all the way through rewarded with a spectacular sunset and some curious cattle who wanted to be on film!! It's left me itching to get out but I need to take it easy for a while!!
All the best!!
that looked like a wonderful bracing walk with really fine views of sea and landscape. – the air quality looks really good. It must have been a welcome surprise to find the NT cafe open at this time of year. Thank you. .
A very interesting and informative walk. I felt cold watching you but what amazing views of the Bristol channel. You walked so many miles that day. So windy, I am surprised so much of the fort still exists to this day. You probably wont remember me but I commented on your Stratford canal walk as we had a narrowboat when I was younger. Well we also had touring caravans and I remember staying for a year or 2 right next to a campsite with a sluice, it may of been the one in your video or another close by. So glad I found your channel via @somersetmanwalking
Really enjoyed your walk thank you Paul….it is on my list for this year! Jan 😊
Excellent. Must do this
This walk has something for everyone! History, beautiful landscapes and a bit of climbing. Not to mention the ocean. Thank you Paul.👍
Aw one of my favourite walks 🤩 Nice one Paul. Looks cold but what beautiful blue skies. Watching from Corralejo today!
What another amazing video, a breathtaking walk so relaxing to watch, so well done. Brean is a place I remember from my childhood days watching your video brought back so many wonderful special memories, haven't been back to brean for many years but hope to go back this year thankyou for another fantastic watch regards Gary and Julie Smith.
Wow. That was an epic walk Paul. Very well filmed & edited. Great info along the way as well. You must of been tired at the end as that was a very long walk. Weve watched Louise's video of this walk as well & i keep telling myself that I've got to do this one day but I think I will start at Uphill village & end at Brean village. I dont I'd be able to walk up to the down & then to the end & back like you did. This was very enjoyable Paul. 😊😊
Many mtb rides on that path out to Brean fort
Hi paul. have done weston to uphill many times and then the brean to the fort once. not the bit in the middle. caroline
Brave of you to venture out on such a cold day, Paul, but at least the sun was shining! My memory of Weston Super Mud (as it used to sometimes be called) dates back about 65 years, when I took a trip on a paddle steamer from the end of the pier to Cardiff and Barry Island, which I remember included a coach trip into the Black Mountains. Oh to be young again!
A fantastic brisk walk that was very enjoyable! So many wonderful views- I’m sure I could see Glastonbury tor too – and thanks for explaining the geology of the area. How you have the stamina to do that walk at such a pace & in those gales is amazing. I think you covered so many aspects of the area- it was very educational! It was good to see you weren’t alone in a lot of the shots- I know you don’t see many other walkers especially in the Winter months so makes a change. Very enjoyable! Thanks Paul!