The Somerset & Exmoor Coast

The Somerset and Exmoor Coast is a unique and diverse coastline that offers everything from running, walking and outdoor activities to art, music, and performance alongside the food, flavours and hospitality making this coast of surprises welcoming to locals and visitors alike.

One of the defining features of the coast is the King Charles III England Coast Path. The section from Brean Down to Minehead opened in 2015.

In 2022 the last stretch in the north of the county opened between Brean Down and Brean Cross Sluice and the final stretch from Minehead to Glenthorne, taking in the stunning Exmoor coast, opened last year.

For the last two years we have been celebrating this coastline with walks and a wide range of events that have offered an insight into this unique coastline.

In 2025 we will once again run the 80 Miles in Eight Days Challenge Walk and will continue raising funds for The Outdoor Guide’s Waterproofs and Wellies campaign. To support our coastal schools with this fantastic offer.

Watch this space for the dates of our next Challenge Walk

Some highlight from last year’s Challenge Walk

Supporting Somerset’s coastal primary school pupils to get outside
whatever the weather

Waterproof and Wellies

We’re pleased to announce that once again we will be supporting The Outdoor Guide and The Outdoor Guide Foundation‘s their waterproofs and wellies campaign focussing on the Somerset coast.

The Outdoor Guide (TOG) is a free online resource set up by Julia Bradbury and sister Gina that aims to bring together information for walks all around the UK. It is a place for people who love getting outdoors, lacing up a pair of muddy boots and discovering new walking routes in the great outdoors.

Find out more about the campaign

The Outdoor Guide Foundation has a simple aim; to make the outdoors more accessible for all – particularly children. Its goal is to get 10 sets of wellies and waterproofs to every state primary school in the UK (all 20,000 of them!) so every child, no matter their circumstances, has the ability to play outdoors in all weathers.

Link coming soon

80 Miles in Eight Days Challenge Walk

Coast Challenge – 80 Miles in Eight Days
Where
Brean - Highbridge - Bridgwater - Steart - Burton - Watchet - Minehead - Porlock
When
TBC
Meet at 9am each day
Coast – Day 1: Brean to Highbridge
Where
Brean Down to Highbridge
When
TBC
Coast – Day 2: Highbridge to Bridgwater
Where
Highbridge to Bridgwater
When
TBC
Coast – Day 3: Bridgwater to Steart
Where
Bridgwater to Steart
When
TBC
Coast – Day 4: Steart Marshes to Burton
Where
Steart to Burton
When
TBC
Coast – Day 5: Burton to Watchet
Where
Burton to Watchet
When
TBC
Coast – Day 6: Watchet to Minehead
Where
Watchet to Minehead
When
TBC
Coast – Day 7: Minehead to Porlock
Where
Minehead to Porlock
When
TBC
Coast – Day 8: County Gate to Porlock
Where
County Gate to Porlock
When
Sunday, 13th October, 9am

If you are a local accommodation provider, or a business thinking of organising an event or promotion during the Somerset and Exmoor Coast Festival, visit the Festival Partners page to find out how to get the most out of participating in the Festival

Highlights from past Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festivals

All this takes place along the route established by Somerset’s coastal National Trails, the King Charles III England Coast Path and the South West Coast Path.

This 80 mile stretch of coast boasts the Quantock Hills National Landscape, the first in the UK, and the Exmoor National Park, while from Brean to Blue Anchor these shores are protected as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation and protected wetland sites.

To the north is one of the longest stretches of sandy beach in Europe, while at the heart of the Somerset coast, geological formations create natural pavements and stratified cliffs, while fossils appear embedded in the cliffs and loose on the shore.

Walking this diverse stretch of coastline is a journey through time and history alongside cutting edge climate change mitigation projects, hidden coves, historic port towns and the gentles slopes of Somerset’s coastal farmlands.

The Quantock Poetry Trail in Watchet
Chris Jelley reads to walkers at the Minehead Parks Storywalk
Local authors read their work in Minehead
Festival walkers ready to set out on the Incline walk from Roadwater
The launch of the Quantock Poetry Trail
Discovering nature with Nigel Phillips at Kilve
Paul Karensa performing A History of (Very) Old Radio
Walkers picnic at St Audries waterfall
Flowers and walkers at the Minehead Parks Storywalk
Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve
Walkers discovering botanicals with Dryad Gin's Becky Wright
Blue Anchor Beach
Taking a break on the Exmoor Lookouts and villages walk
Local authors read their work in Minehead
Walking the Quantocks & Coast Circular
Watchet Poemscape
Minehead Parks Arboretum Storywalk
Meet your Local Authors
Iron Ore: Brendon Hills to Roadwater
Watchet’s dog friendly beaches
Quantocks Poetry Trail Launch event
Kilve Nature Walk
A History of (Very) Old Radio
Quantocks & Coast Walk
Minehead Parks Arboretum Storywalk
Stert Point part of the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve
Dryad Gin Botanical Walk
Blue Anchor Beach
Exmoor Lookouts and Villages Walk
Meet your Local Authors
Quantocks & Coast Walk
 

For your #SomersetExmoorCoast experience find the right walk in our Festival Walks section, search for one of the many events and promotions in What’s On and find your own Somerset bolt hole in our Where to stay guide, there’s everything from campsites, glamping and luxurious shepherd’s huts to quaint cottages, cosy B&Bs and historic hotels.

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