Weston-super-Mare is the administrative centre of North Somerset, an area covering around 374.7 km² (145m2). Visit Weston is delighted to work with a number of partner businesses and organisations based in North Somerset and within an hour's drive of Weston-super-Mare, and is proud to help represent and support tourism in the area.
Here’s where you'll find more about some of the neighbouring towns in North Somerset nearby to Weston-super-Mare. You’ll get some ideas of places to see and events to enjoy whilst exploring the attractive areas within less than an hour’s drive from Weston-super-Mare. You can take a scenic drive around the coastline or the fast route if you’re short of time. Of course, for a more leisurely way to explore the very beautiful countryside of North Somerset, there are frequent and convenient bus routes.
Clevedon
Even if you’ve never been to Clevedon before, the chances are that you will already be familiar with this charming Victorian seaside town. Clevedon is on a direct bus route from Weston-super-Mare and makes for a lovely day out, being only 20 minutes or so by car.
Its magnificent pier, once described as the most beautiful in England by Sir John Betjeman, has provided the backdrop many films and television programmes, including the BBC’s features on Clevedon’s Sea Swimmers who take a dip 365 days-a-year regardless of the weather. Viewers of ITV television’s Broadchurch starring David Tennant and Olivia Coleman will also recognise the North Somerset town. The final scene of the 1993 movie, The Remains of the Day starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and Christopher Reeve was filmed here and there are many scenes of Clevedon in the Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie (1998) and the 2010 film, Never Let Me Go starring Keira Knightley. You can find a cycling route of film locations here.
Clevedon and its seafront has retained its appeal over the years and has remained largely undeveloped since Victorian times, offering a quieter and traditional seaside resort. Its rocky and pebbled shoreline make it a great place to gently promenade while looking across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
Head to the Hill Road and Alexandra Road areas to discover an interesting array of independent shops and fine eateries. Also, Clevedon town centre has more traditional shops to explore. While its pebbled beach might not attract sandcastle builders it is attractive for spotting unusual stones and has rock pools. Clevedon’s Marine Lake swimming and boating area with the neighbouring Salthouse Fields with swings, tennis courts, crazy golf, skateboard ramps also offers a miniature railway to keep the family amused.
For Clevedon nightlife, there are restaurants and pubs aplenty, as well as the famous Curzon Cinema, that still entertains the crowds today just as it did in 1912 when its first show raised money for survivors and relatives of the Titanic disaster a month earlier.
But it is the pier, which was partially constructed from railway lines left over from Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway, that is the jewel in Clevedon’s crown. Pop group One Direction chose Clevedon and its pier to film the video for their “You and I” single. It is the only Grade One listed pier in England that you can still visit and it puts on an imaginative array of classical entertainment that you won’t want to miss. You won’t find amusement arcades here, but you will find an award winning visitor centre, a super café, The Glass Box. Then there’s the Porthole activity room and a quarter of a mile of pier to take you to spectacular views. Want to know more? Click here!
There are plenty of parks and walks throughout this attractive neighbour to Weston-super-Mare, reflecting the days when it was important for wealthy Victorian visitors to be seen in their finery whilst enjoying the seaside air.
Not far from Clevedon in Wraxall you will find the National Trust’s Tyntesfield, an ornate Gothic Victorian Revival Grade 1 listed house with extensive gardens and parklands. It’s dog friendly, (dogs on leads) in the gardens but not in the house itself. And nearby to that is the multi-award winning Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, with 12 exciting adventure play areas as well as a large range of exotic and endangered species, including African Elephants, Giraffes, Tigers and Spectacled Bears.
Returning to Clevedon and going back to its early Victorian roots, Clevedon inspired poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Makepeace Thackeray who was a frequent visitor. Named in their honour, Poets Walk climbs over the cliffs offering spectacular views. For those who enjoy a scenic walk, Poets Walk is a lovely introduction to the pretty coastal path leading to the next town north, which is Portishead.
Portishead
Portishead has a lot more going for it than just sharing its name with the popular band that took its name from the town. While the Bristol-based band were acclaimed for their music, Portishead the town has gone somewhat under the radar despite boasting a pretty seafront, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a swanky new marina and two of the quirkiest lighthouses you could see.
From Weston-super-Mare you can enjoy one of the most beautiful drives to Portishead, without touching a motorway. Drive through Clevedon onto the country road taking you along the Gordano Valley, including gorgeous villages such as Clapton in Gordano, Weston in Gordano, Easton in Gordano, Walton in Gordano and Sheepway. To the right you will see the M5 motorway which was carved into the limestone hills with great engineering skill. Venture off the B-road into the country lanes and you will find unspoilt countryside, old cottages and even some unusual country pubs.
Portishead has a charm and diversity all of its own, it’s well worth a visit. Originally a deep water commercial port, this has now been converted into The Portishead Quay Marina with expensive yachts, waterside bars, restaurants and apartments. It sits majestically as the gateway to the Bristol Channel, only 8 miles or so from Bristol and offering visitors a completely different take on North Somerset. It’s a powerful statement of pride and new opportunity that’s a far cry from the power station that it grew out of. Around the marina there is even an art trail featuring sculptures paying tribute to the town’s heritage.
On the other side of the headland, which offers views across the sea and out to the two Severn bridges are the Lake Grounds. These attractive seafront lawns include a bowling green, tennis courts, a boating lake and even outdoor gym equipment for you to burn off the pounds you may have put on while visiting the café or picnicking on the grass.
At the edge of the lawns lies the open air lido pool which is heated from April through to the end of October using green energy. Opened in 1966, the pool was threatened with closure in 2008 but local supporters fought tooth and nail to keep it open, eventually persuading the council to allow a newly formed Portishead Pool Community Trust to take over the running of the pool for the 2009 season. Even then, the Trust faced an uphill battle with much need for renovation and refurbishment, all in time for a May opening. Fortunately, help came from overseas with the arrival of the American Extreme Makeover’s Ty Pennington.
Climbing the steps from near the swimming pool will take you to Battery Point, the first of the town’s two bizarre-looking lighthouses. The other, Black Nore, which looks something like a space landing craft can be accessed by taking the coast path from Lake Grounds towards Clevedon. Both offer good photo opportunities.
A lovely walk through Kilkenny Fields to the south will take you along the river shoreline back towards Clevedon. Here’s where you’ll find a pitch and putt golf course, pubs, some imposing houses and countryside pastimes such as bird watching.
For eating and drinking, Portishead has everything, ranging from the well-known chains such as Wetherspoons to fancy and fashionable bistros and high end restaurants back to fish & chips and affordable cafes. It’s just what you would expect for a fast-growing town that is so close to the fashionable city of Bristol.
Whatever your reason for visiting Portishead, it is clear that Somerset favourites The Wurzels got it right when they recorded “The Cabot Song (Big ‘Ead)” in honour of the Bristolian explorer John Cabot with the lyrics “Why don’t you discover Portishead instead?”
Nailsea
Based on the outskirts of Bristol, Nailsea is a thriving town and was once the fourth largest glass manufacturer in the UK.
Nailsea had a rich supply of good quality coal, which was used in the furnaces of the Glassworks from 1788. Plans for a canal to be built made Nailsea an ideal site, where their innovations in glass design could be kept secret from rivals in the larger town of Bristol. The manufacturing plant is no longer, but was on the site of what is now Tesco.
Filled with community spirit and astonishing heritage; whether you want to experience the city-like feel of the town centre, or enjoy the beautiful countryside, Nailsea has plenty to offer for all ages.
Packed with shops, thriving businesses and great transportation links, Nailsea has it all. Nailsea’s markets are ideal shopping destinations for both residents and visitors alike, offering everything from flowers through to local produce, hand crafted items, modern antiques and clothes. Many of the car parks in Nailsea offer 2 hours free parking, so that gives you time to hunt out some unusual bargains from the many shops and markets or a lunch in one of the many restaurants and traditional pubs.
The Mendips – exploring and walking
You can see the glorious Mendip Hills that surround Weston-super-Mare from many vantage points, especially Crook Peak that is the second highest peak in the hill range.
You can find a wide selection of Mendip Walks here. These walks range from circular, short walks to 25 mile walks that are more challenging. Just outside Weston-super-Mare between Congresbury and Yatton you will find the Strawberry Line, a more leisurely walk or cycle ride along a disused railway track all the way to Cheddar Gorge. Find it here.
Lakes and Countryside
Travelling east from Weston-super-Mare you can head to the top of the Mendip Hills passing through some pretty villages such as Churchill, where Sir Winston’s family originated. Head towards Cheddar and take the country lanes into the hills and you will find the super little village of Blagdon and leading to a valley with Blagdon Lake. Known for fishing, you can sometimes enjoy a fresh trout straight from the lake to your plate in the local pubs. Just further along you come to Chew Magna with lakes that are famed for viewing water fowl and an array of bird life.
Burrington Combe is a mini Cheddar Gorge, plenty of places to pull over and walk and either partake or watch cavers, climbers and abseilers. Check it out here.
Villages
Nestled amongst the hills and often accessed by single track country lanes are many villages that you will want to photograph and may even have seen on chocolate boxes.
The village of Uphill can be reached on foot from Weston-super-Mare or by bus. Its beach is a continuation of the beach at Weston and there’s a marina that offers a sweet little café at the entrance to the Brean Down Way, offering a lovely walk along the river to Brean Down. Uphill has 2 pubs and a restaurant along with a village shop. On the top of the hill, St Nicholas Church is an interesting place to visit, from which you’ll get tremendous views over the Bristol Channel towards Wales and the Mendip Hills.
In the opposite direction going north and only 3 miles from Weston-super-Mare is the village of Kewstoke that offers several camping sites, some small village stores and an active village society. It leads to the quiet beach of Sand Bay that is popular with dog walkers and horse riders and can be accessed by a lovely walk through Weston Woods with its iron age fort or by bus or car.
Banwell has a Victorian castle and alongside it a narrow country lane that leads to some interesting bone caves on private land that you can visit by pre-arrangement in the summer months. The guided tour includes a folly and country walk along with the history of the caves that contain animal bones from creatures that no longer survive in England.
Further afield, you will find lots of small villages that retain their original character and almost always a country pub.
So grab your map book, all around Weston-super-Mare is a real mix of super little villages, some with interesting names like Charterhouse, Star, Cross and Mark. You can easily create your own “Magical Mystery Tour” and will return to your holiday accommodation in Weston-super-Mare feeling that you’ve had a wonderful day exploring our surprisingly beautiful countryside.
Further Afield
Venturing out of North Somerset into the wider county, there's so much to explore. Take a trip from Weston to any of the many iconic tourist spots including the Mendips, Glastonbury, Wookey, Cheddar or Wells and discover history, arts and culture in vibrant cities, picturesque rural towns and villages that boast incredible natural landscapes.
We have a dedicated page for events taking place in North Somerset and further afield, that you can find, here.
Official tourism information site for Weston-super-Mare
Brean Down Way at Uphillwww.clikpic.com/viewpoint
