The Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival is a new autumn festival taking place from 23rd September to 1st October 2023.
The Festival spans the entire Somerset coast from Brean to Porlock Weir with walks, celebrations and events. At its heart is a Walking Festival with walks throughout the coastal area.
Alongside this local businesses will be hosting events from music and town tours to open art studios and street markets, comedy performances and dancing.
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 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), 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 Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival is organised by the King Charles III England Coast Path Somerset Trail Partnership and Somerset Council.
The Festival has been funded by EDF and commissioned by Somerset Council on behalf of the Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership
The Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival would like to thank the following organisations for their support in putting together the walks and events.
The Ramblers, King Charles III England Coast Path Trailwatchers, Burnham-on-Sea Visitor Centre, Watchet Visitor Centre, Minehead Visitor Centre, Dunster Visitor Centre, Porlock Visitor Centre, Quantock Hills AONB, Exmoor National Park, National Trust, Somerset Tourism Business Networks and EDF Energy.