Safety advice for using the beaches at Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean:
A complete guide to beaches at Burnham, Berrow and Brean:
There are eight beaches in the Burnham area, all of which are within 15 minutes of junction 22 of the M5 motorway. They are surrounded by entertainment, hotels and other accommodation:
This is Burnham’s award-winning beach. A mainly sandy beach which is patrolled by lifeguards 10am-6pm from May 1st to September 30th (denoted by yellow and red flags).
The famous pier is just a few short steps away and there are various shops and cafes close by. Dogs are banned from this beach all year round. Parking is available on the seafront and at Morrisons supermarket. This is a great swimming and paddling beach. There’s a seperate area for boats and jet skis to launch. Public toilets and showers are available at the Tourist Information Centre. Take note that it is dangerous to approach the sea at low tide.
This beach offers sand near the jetty, with pebbles, mud and marshland further south near the River Parrett. This beach is excellent for watching boats come in and out of the bay and also for spotting seabirds as they fly in from Stert and the nearby Apex Wildlife Park.
Dogs are banned from this beach from May 1st to September 30th. It is dangerous to approach the sea at low tide. Parking is available on the seafront and at B&M supermarket. Public toilets and showers are very close by at the Tourist Information Centre. The sea wall steps provide good seats.
A mixture of sand and mud that is great for children in spring and summer. With the sea wall nearby, families can sit on the steps and watch their youngsters play. Several pubs are close by and the town’s shops and pier are all within easy reach.
Dogs are banned from this beach from May 1st to September 30th. It is very dangerous to approach the sea at low tide here. Public toilets are available at Burnham Swimming Pool. Parking is available along the seafront.
This is the start of a six mile length of beach offering wide-open expanses of sand with dunes at the top of the beach. You have to see the famous lighthouse on wooden stilts.
This beach is patrolled by wardens from May 1st to September 30th. Dogs are welcome here all year round.
Take note that it is very dangerous to approach the sea at low tide due to sinking sand and mud. There is unfortunately little parking in this area, with the nearest spot being Burnham seafront. You can then walk out to the lighthouse in about 15 minutes.
A six mile length of beach with sand dunes and firm sand, which is the second longest stretch of sand in Europe. Features include secluded sand dunes, the famous Ship Wreck, and marshland that attracts various seabirds.
At low tide a wide exposure of soft sand and mud is exposed leading to the water’s edge, but note that it is very dangerous to approach the water at low tide. The beach is patrolled by wardens from May 1st to September 30th. Dogs are welcome on this beach. Horse riding is also allowed on this beach. You can park vehicles briefly in the car park at Berrow Church or, for longer stays, on the beach at Brean.
Brean Beach is part of a six mile length of beach with sand dunes and firm sand, which is the second longest stretch of sand in Europe. The beach is great for families wanting
Ice creams and fast food are often sold on the beach at the car park area in spring and summer.
At low tide a wide exposure of soft sand and mud is exposed leading to the water’s edge, but note that it is very dangerous to approach the water at low tide. The beach is patrolled by wardens from May 1st to September 30th. Dogs are welcome on this beach. Vehicles can park on this beach during the day in designated parking areas. Horse riding is also allowed. Visitors should respect the warning notices about the dangers of mud along this beach.
A superb stretch of beach with firm sand and views of Brean Down. At low tide a wide exposure of soft sand and mud is exposed leading to the water’s edge. The beach is patrolled by wardens from May 1st to September 30th. Dogs are welcome on this beach. Vehicles can park on the beach during the day in designated areas. Horse riding is allowed on this beach. You can park your car at the National Trust car park besides Brean Down.
Remember that the tide rises faster near Brean Down and it is also dangerous to approach the water at low tide due to mud. You should respect the warning notices and keep off the rocks of the Down as they can be slippery, especially when wet. Climbing is not allowed and is extremely dangerous. Visitors to Brean Down should use the steps or roadway near the Bird Garden. Public toilets are available next to the Brean Down cafe.
This is a stretch of mud and pebbles at the far eastern end of Brean Down next to the River Axe. It is a rapidly-flowing tidal area with dangerous mud and sinking sand.
Visitors to this area should head warnings about never attempting to cross the river on foot. Uphill and Weston-super-Mare cannot be reached by this route as the mud and tides have claimed lives here in the past. Nearest car parking area is the National Trust car park next to Brean Down, which is just a five minutes walk away.
.Important Safety Advice
Stay safe when using Brean, Berrow and Burnham beaches
It is very dangerous to approach the sea at low tide across all the beaches. Sinking sand and mud have claimed lives. Check the tide times.
Red flags displayed on Burnham-On-Sea’s main beach mean that is unsafe to enter the sea.
Children should be supervised at ALL times.
Motorcycles are not permitted on the beaches, including the dunes, at any time.
Learner drivers are not permitted on the beaches at any time.
Drivers must obey the 15mph speed limit at all times.
It is strictly prohibited to take any vehicle into the sand dunes.
Stay away from river banks. The mud in the Rivers Axe and Parrett is very dangerous.
How to deal with emergencies on the beach:
Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. The Coastguard is responsible for dealing with all marine emergencies and will call out a lifeboat or hovercraft if required.
Emergency telephones are available at Berrow at Unity Farm Caravan Park and at Warren Farm Caravan Park on Brean.
If on the sea, call Channel 16 VHF.
Remember these points when venturing out onto the water:
Never swim alone.
Never swim within one hour of eating.
Only use inflatables very close to the shore and at high tide when there is no wind.
Always check tide times in advance. Check today’s tide times here.
RELATED LINKS:
Maps of Burnham, Berrow and Brean
Photos of Burnham, Berrow and Brean beaches
Horse beach riding in Berrow and Brean
