Walk - Minehead Seafront

Route Description

1. From the car park walk to Warren Road, go left past the railway station and bus stop, heading towards North Hill.

The railway line opened in 1874. Originally for goods, passenger traffic for seaside holidays greatly increased. The station was extended several times, to accommodate direct trains from London and the midlands, bringing thousands of summer holiday makers. The line closed in 1971, and was reopened as a heritage railway, with seasonal steam trains from Bishops Lydeard, in 1976.

The West Somerset Railway provides regular steam hauled heritage trains from Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton and local towns through most of the year. For timetable information visit www.west-somerset-railway. co.uk/timetables

1. Cross Warren Road to take The Esplanade beside the beach.

The large buildings on the left were holiday hotels built in Victorian & Edwardian times.

1. Continue ahead on to Quay Street, passing the sculpture marking the start (or finish) of the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

The path originally passed between the thatched house and pink house opposite, to climb North Hill. When a more seaward route via Culvercliffe became available, the path was diverted.

1. Continue to “The Old Ship Aground” and turn right to the Harbour.

In front of you is St Peter’s chapel, opened in 1890 as a seamen’s mission, and still in use.

1. Pause to enjoy Miiehead Harbour, which dates from the 11th Century.

It was a port in 1380, and the current harbour was built in the 16th Century for a large trade in cargo and fish. A pier was built in 1901, attracting holiday traffic from South Wales. The pier was demolished in 1940, because of invasion fears. Today the harbour shelters pleasure and angling boats. The white buildings are part of Butlins holiday camp, opened in the 1962 and still attracting over 50,000 visitors annually. 

1. Turn left towards the Lifeboat station and carry alongside it.

There has been a lifeboat in Minehead since 1906. See mineheadlifeboatblog.wordpress.com.

1. Turn right to walk west on Quay West.

On your right there are 3 former lime kilns, now used for storage and Quay West toilets (with disabled facilities) and car park.

1. Continue into Culvercliffe Walk, an open space with a children’s play area and a picnic site, and views over the Bristol Channel. At the end, the Coast Path climbs away on a narrow track: retrace your way towards Minehead.
2. Continue towards the town, passing former fishermen’s cottages, and turn right into Blenheim Road. After 20 yards, the entrance to Blenheim Gardens is in front of you.
3. Walk around this award-winning gardens and exit onto Blenheim Road by the white-painted stone shelter.
4. Turn right to walk down North Street
5. On reaching The Avenue, turn left to return to the start of the walk

Public transport

Regular buses from Taunton to Minehead and Porlock. Bus stop outside Minehead Railway station. The West Somerset Railway provides regular steam hauled heritage trains from Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton and local towns through most of the year. For timetable information visit https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/timetables

Parking

Minehead Station car park (Pay and Display at the time of writing) has 60 spaces and 8 disabled spaces. There is also ample roadside parking.