Beach village with a natural jetty and a theme park

It’s always tempting in warm weather to plan a day trip further afield to enjoy the beaches and sights of Cornwall and Devon, or perhaps head to Wales. It is important to find a place that can entertain both children and adults, especially during the summer holidays.

Instead of spending hours traveling somewhere where the kids might complain about the long car journey, there are beaches within an hour of Bristol that are perfect for a day in the sun. About an hour away from Bristol is Brean, a small village situated between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea in North Somerset.

Brean is home to its own beach, which stretches for seven miles. It is famous for allowing drivers to park on the beach itself to be even closer to the seafront than in other tourist areas.

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At one end of the beach is Brean Down, a 97-foot-high natural seawall that is a mile and a half long. The adventure to the top can be strenuous, but the views over the Bristol Channel towards Wales and with views towards Somerset are well worth the journey.

The lower peak is also a point of historical interest as it was actually a Roman temple. While nothing remains of the temple on the surface, underground, between the path and a round mound, remains of the temple have been found.

You can also explore a coastal fort that is located on foot, which was built to defend England if it was besieged against a Napoleonic invasion. It was used during World War II as a coastal base, later used for weapons testing, and now lies as a ruin to explore.

Away from Brean Down and Brean Beach, there are plenty of local shops to get your usual fridge magnet or piece of rock. Brean is also home to a theme park to keep the whole family entertained.

Brean Leisure Park is a 200-acre site filled with rollercoasters, attractions and restaurants that is sure to excite anyone with an adrenaline rush. Attractions include dodgems, a roller coaster and a log ride.

On the 200-acre site, there’s also a water park, golf club and gym, meaning there’s something for everyone. Brean Leisure Park is open from March to November each year and has hosted artists such as Jason Dodovan, DJ Casper and The Wurzels as a concert venue.

Brean is also only two miles away from another beach haven in Weston-super-Mare, so once the day is done the family can take a short trip to Brean’s neighbor and enjoy more what he loves. Being a quick drive up the M5, Brean is one to visit this summer.

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