With only 57 miles to go until I finish the gap between Burnham on Sea and Chepstow, I decided that I need to make 3 more trips to North Somerset/ Avon. To
day was one of those ‘awkward’ sections with a little mileage as the crow flies, but an inconvenient river crossing and ‘an out and back’ meant this 20 miler was no pushover.
I looked at the bus times and if I was to walk Burnham on Sea to Kewstoke then I would not be walking until about midday. So I chose to park close to Kewstoke on Sandy bay road and start my walk there. By the time I arrived in Burnham the Sunday hourly service wo
uld be in operation.
I set off at 6:45 and it was still chilly, although the sun was out by now. The tree lined route that runs alongside the Kewstoke Tollgate road, had a few ups and downs, but at least I was spared walking along the road. The path sits on the northern side of Worlebury Hill, a densely wooded area that guards Weston Super Mare to the north. The path rounds the tip of Worlebury hill and returns back down to the road. I caught my first glimpse of the ruined and dilapidated pier running out to Birnbeck Island. Almost immediately I was in Weston with the seafront of Weston Bay sweeping round past the recently re-furbished Knighstone development and the Grand Pier just coming into view. Few people are about at this time on a Sunday morning. Just after the Seaquarium I come top the permanently closed Dismaland. As a fan of Banksy, I regret not making the effort to get tickets for the event. I have a slight breeze at my back, which pushes me along past the deserted Ferris Wheel.
The path directs me down to the beach, which also serves as large car park, £8 to park for the day!! When I reach the golf course the cycle route I am now on (No. 33) is directed past a boat yard and an old quarry. I am now passing through Uphill and join The Mendip Way for a short distance. As I enter the Bleadon Levels I hear my first Cuckoo call of the year…. always a magical moment.
Since starting out this morning I have had the small hill promontory of Brean Down in my sights, knowing that I must walk out to that. I appear back on a road, the main rail line running alongside, fortunately the traffic is light before I am directed off down a footpath towards Wick farm.
Distance today = 20 miles
Total distance = 1616 miles
Walking the Coast of Great Britain 