Brean Down and its Victorian fort

From the National Trust car park at the Cove Café the walk climbs the steps on to Brean Down, a limestone headland 97 m high that reaches one and a half miles into the Bristol Channel. It follows the path along the southern slope, past the site of a Romano-Celtic temple and the old field systems, to Brean Down Fort, a Victorian fort built against a possible Napoleonic invasion and now a ruin. The way back is the old military road along the northern side of the Down, with views over Weston-super-Mare and across the water to Wales.

It is 4.6 km round with 136 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy. The National Trust rates its own Brean Down coastal walk Moderate, because the start is steep with steps.

The cliffs are extremely steep: stay on the main paths, supervise children and keep dogs on a lead at all times. There is little shelter on top of the Down, so watch the weather. Take care on Brean beach at low tide, where the deep mud can be dangerous; the walk stays on the Down. Livestock graze in some areas.

The National Trust car park by the Cove Café charges non-members and is free to members. Toilets are open daily from 10am to 4pm. The nearest station is Highbridge, about 8½ miles away, and buses 102 and 112 run along the coast.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.