14 Best Beaches Near Bath in Somerset, Dorset and Wales!
If you’re looking for the best beaches near Bath, you’ve got to read this post!
Most famous for its ancient history as a Roman spa town and its gorgeous Georgian architecture (which has found even more fame in the TV show Bridgerton!), Bath is a glorious city and one of South West England’s premier tourist destinations.
While it’s not a coastal city, there are some beaches just over an hour drive away.
Plus, some of the most spectacular natural beaches in England are about a two hour drive away on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset.
So, whether you’re living in Bath and want to know where your nearest coastline is, or visiting the city in the middle of a heatwave and fancy a day trip, here are the best beaches near Bath!
Beaches near Bath in Somerset
Bath is in Somerset, so it makes sense that its closest beaches are here!
This coastline isn’t quite as spectacular as Dorset’s, but there are still some lovely beaches in Somerset, particularly when you drive a little further south towards the Quantock Hills and Exmoor.
Weston-Super-Mare Beach
How to get there from Bath: One hour 10 minutes drive, or you can take a direct train from Bath Spa which takes 44 minutes. If there are no direct trains, you can change at Bristol Temple Meads.
Although it does have a bit of a reputation for being a rough-around-the-edges coastal town, Weston-Super-Mare can be better than a lot of people give it credit for.
Not only is it a huge sandy beach, with plenty of space for stretching out and enjoying the British summer, but it has one of the longest piers in the country with tonnes of attractions and plenty of on-land arcades, ice cream shops and fish and chip restaurants.
See all of the best things to do in Weston-super-Mare here.
Personally, I wouldn’t endorse riding the donkeys here, but Weston-Super-Mare is famous for that too.
Weston-Super-Mare also wins huge brownie points for its accessibility. It’s a North Somerset town, and there are rail links and the station is a 20 minute walk or short bus ride from the beach.
However, there are a few quieter sandy beaches in the area too. One of those is Uphill Beach!
Uphill Beach
How to get there from Bath: One hour 15 minutes drive or the nearest train station is Weston Super Mare. You can take a direct train from Bath Spa to Weston, which takes 44 minutes. Then, you can either walk to Uphill Beach (around two miles/ three kilometres) or take the 50 bus.
Uphill Beach is located right at the end of Weston-Super-Mare; it’s a pleasant walk between the two.
A complete contrast to Weston-Super-Mare, Uphill is a small area, with a much quieter beach that makes it a firm local favourite on a hot Somerset day.
Ideal for picnicking or taking some beach games, Uphill Beach doesn’t have much in the way of facilities, but it wins when it comes to charm!
The River Axe’s mouth is at Uphill; it might look like you can walk across at low tide but you’re very likely to get stuck in the mud, so don’t risk it!
Uphill Local Nature Reserve sits behind the beach. With trails spanning through, this is a wonderful place to take a stroll and is the start of the Mendip Way, one of the best things to do in the Mendip Hills.
You can climb up to the tower to take in the Somerset coastline below!
Severn Beach
How to get there from Bath: 50 minute drive, or you can take a train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads and change to Severn Beach. The train ride takes about an hour in total.
One of the closest beaches to Bristol, Severn Beach is a small sandy expanse that overlooks the Severn Estuary and has views over to Wales.
There are definitely more stunning beaches in Somerset and South West England, but it’s worth mentioning due to its accessibility; it’s probably the closest beach to Bath.
Brean Beach
How to get there from Bath: 1 hour 30 minute drive. No public transport options.
Brean Beach is a seven-mile-long stretch of sand along the Somerset coastline.
You’ll enjoy glorious sand dunes in the background, and the other way, you can see the Bristol channel.
There’s plenty of parking available along Brean Beach, and as it’s so long, it’s ideal for beach walks, games or simply stretching out and enjoying some solitude!
Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but due to Brean Beach’s position on the Bristol Channel (which has the second biggest tidal difference in the world), there is some sinking mud around, so make sure that you keep your four-legged friend in sight at all times!
Dunster Beach
How to get there from Bath: Two hour drive. No feasible public transport route.
Dunster Beach is located in one of the most gorgeous parts of Somerset, the Quantock Hills/ Exmoor area.
Popular with walkers, this beach is part of the West Somerset Coastal Path. You can also embark on the West Somerset Railway Line which is nearby!
The beach has a mix of sand and shingle that’s close to the Medieval Dunster Village, home of the famous Dunster Castle.
Parking-wise, there are a few car parks close by, and the beach is easily accessible from the road..
Minehead Beach
How to get there from Bath: 2 hour drive, ortake the train to Taunton and change to the 28 bus to Minehead.
A popular Somerset tourist town, Minehead has a lovely sandy beach that spans about one mile. As you walk along the shore, you’ll find mini-golf, fish and chip restaurants and friendly cafes.
Also called The Strand, the beach itself is sandy, with some shingle patches.
There are plenty of rockpools, and the sandy areas are ideal for building sandcastles, making this one of the best family beaches near Bath.
Minehead is a busy resort town, largely thanks to the Butlin’s holiday camp that’s in town.
This means that if you visit during the summer – particularly in late July or early August – the town will be rather busy!
The beach ultimately terminates at the start of the South West Coast Path, a 630-mile-long trail that spans from Minehead all the way to Studland Bay in Dorset.
Minehead to Porlock Weir is the first section, taking about six hours, and is a beautiful hike if you fancy it!
Back on Minehead beach, you’ll find toilets and hireable gear like deck chairs and windbreakers. There isn’t a lifeguard.
Porlock Weir
How to get there from Bath: 2 hour 20 minute drive. No feasible public transport route.
If you’re looking for quieter beaches near Bath, Porlock Weir may be the answer! It’s a predominantly rocky beach, but it backs onto the lovely hamlet of Porlock Weir which is famous for its mussels.
The ideal place to visit when Minehead is too crowded, from Porlock Weir you can hike a little on the South West Coast Path – the next town going west is Lynmouth, although this is a full day hike that we found very challenging!
There are a couple of pubs in Porlock Weir itself, and part of the charm of the place is just taking it slow, enjoying the nature and taking in sea vistas.
Also, don’t miss the town of Porlock, which has charming winding streets and a few more pubs. There’s a great campsite here – Porlock Holiday Park – which we’ve stayed at a few times.
Bossington Beach
How to get there from Bath:2 hour 20 minute drive. No feasible public transport route.
Bossington Beach is a little further east from Porlock.
A small beach run by the National Trust, it’s worth visiting as an add-on to exploring Porlock and West Exmoor.
There are public toilets and a small café, and you can take in incredible views from the cliffs on either side!
Kilve Beach
How to get there from Bath: 1 hour 45 minute drive. No feasible public transport route.
Situated in the Quantock Hills, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Kilve Beach is difficult to get to, but it’s well worth the trip.
This isn’t a sunbathing beach – it’s completely pebbly – but it’s situated on the Somerset Jurassic Coast, this county’s answer to the more famous UNESCO Jurassic Coast in Devon and Dorset!
You can walk along the beach for a while, it’s lovely and flat and perfect for an amble with a dog or as a family walk.
Due to its distance from Bath, I wouldn’t recommend visiting Kilve Beach on its own, but you could see more of the Quantocks while you’re here.
Beaches near Bath in Dorset
Dorset has some stunning beaches, and some of them are really not that far from Bath!
Nearly all of Dorset’s coastline is the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, with spectacular cliffs looking down to postcard-perfect beach vistas.
Here are three of the easiest to access from Bath!
Bournemouth Beach
How to get there from Bath:1 hour 45 minute drive, or take a train from Bath Spa (around 1 hour 40) to Southampton Central and then change to the line to Bournemouth (around 30 minutes).
Another huge South West coastal town, Bournemouth beach has been a popular holiday destination since the 18th century.
Nowadays, it’s a university town and due to its relative proximity to London, it’s usually heaving on weekends during the summertime.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. The sandy beach stretches out for miles, with gloriously alluring blue water that’s popular with swimming, especially as there are lifeguards in the summer months.
Plus, Poole Harbour is beautiful and is a wonderful place for water sports like stand up paddleboarding, kayaing and sailing.
Bournemouth is a large town with plenty of amenities, including restaurants, bars and hotels.
If the weather turns while you’re in town there are plenty of things to do in Bournemouth in the rain too!
Weymouth Beach
How to get there from Bath: 1 hour 40 minute drive. Rail-wise, there are a few direct services from Bath Spa to Weymouth (1 hour).
Boasting an award-winning sandy beach, Weymouth town is an immensely popular seaside resort for British holidaymakers.
The family-friendly Weymouth Beach is ideal for water sports and swimming, as it’s a sheltered bay with a sandy seabed and a large shallow area where you can splash about in.
Weymouth Beach is in the middle of the Jurassic Coast, so there are plenty of walks in the area, or you can just kick back and enjoy the highlights of the town, including many shops and restaurants and ice cream stalls!
Lyme Regis
How to get there from Bath: 1 hour 48 minute drive. No feasible public transport route.
Another Dorset resort town, Lyme Regis is famous for its historic cliffs with abundant fossils.
The town has four beaches.
The main beach, Front Beach, is part sandy and part shingle and is a great place for sunbathing, beach games or just relaxing.
It’s the most popular in the area for swimming as there are lifeguards in the peak season.
Plus, you can hire water sports equipment and take pleasure boats around the coastline!
There’s a pebble beach nearby, called Monmouth Beach, and Church Cliff Beach and East Cliff Beach are both small beaches which are a mix of sand and shingle.
Beaches near Bath in Wales
Beaches in South Wales are glorious, but they are a little far from Bath to do as a feasible day trip.
However, there is one that I can recommend that’s easy to access: Barry Island.
If you want to read about more beaches in South Wales, check out my beaches near Bristol post.
Barry Island
How to get there from Bath: Two hour drive, or take a train from Bath Spa to Cardiff Central (fastest services take one hour). Barry Island is a half hour train ride from Cardiff.
One of the most popular beaches in Wales, due to its connections with the famous show Gavin and Stacey, Barry Island offers a glorious British seaside experience, with colourful beach huts and arcades (like the one Nessa worked in – if you know you know!).
But the best part of the island is undoubtedly the Barry Island Pleasure Park, which offers 17 rides right by the seafront.
Plus, you can take a Gavin and Stacey tour to see the homes of Stacey, Doris and Bryn and other important filming locations for the series!
There’s limited availability for these tours, so it’s best to book in advance before you go to the island. You can click here to book a tour on Get Your Guide.
Beaches near Bath in Devon
Devon has some world-class beaches, some of which are great for surfing, others that have scuba diving opportunities. Plus, both coastlines are part of the South West Coast Path, so there’s some incredible hiking in this area.
However, Devon isn’t as close to Bath as other beaches on this list. That’s why, if you want to go to a Devonshire beach, I recommend Exmouth. It’s a huge sandy expanse with lots of amenities, plus it’s the start of the spectacular Jurassic Coast!
Exmouth Beach
How to get there from Bath: Two hour drive, or take a train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads (10-15 minutes) and change for a train to Exeter St Davids (average journey time one hour ten minutes). Exmouth Beach is a bus or train ride away.
The beginning of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, this sandy beach is a popular favourite amongst Devonshire locals. In fact, it’s one of the closest beaches to Exeter!
It’s a bit of a drive from Bath, but if you want proper golden sands, red cliff towering into the sky, palm trees (yes, really!) and a lovely seaside town with plenty of amenities, there’s really nowhere better.
The powdery sand beach stretches for two miles, lined with fish and chip shops and ice-cream stalls.
On one side is the Exe Estuary (there’s a beautiful trail that you can take with some amazing riverside views spanning back to Exmouth) and the other side is Orcombe Point, where the Jurassic Coast starts.
If you fancy a hike, the journey from Exmouth Beach to Budleigh Salterton is about five miles!
There are plenty of restaurants in the town centre of Exmouth for a meal after your day out. I recommend Spoken (which serves Mediterranean tapas) and Vino 32 (with Malaysian fare on offer!). Or, walk up Exeter Road a little to Krispies, which is an award-winning fish and chip shop.
Getting to these beaches near Bath
If you don’t have a car, I’ve included train options for some of the beaches. Not all of the West Country is connected by rail, and some of the connections listed can be infrequent.
So, make sure you plan your rail journey with plenty of time. I recommend Trainline to see up-to-date journey details for rail routes across the country.
There are lots of ticket options if you want to save money, including super off-peak tickets which operate after the morning rush.
You can also enjoy lower train ticket prices by booking return journeys and nabbing a Railcard – with one of these, you can save 30% off your train ticket!
Are there any beaches near Bath?
Most beaches around Bath are at least a one-hour drive from the city, but they are just about accessible as a day trip!
What is the nearest seaside to Bath?
The nearest beach is probably Severn Beach, but Weston-Super-Mare is very easy to reach by train.
What is the nearest coastal town to Bath?
Probably Weston-Super-Mare, which also has lots of facilities, a pier and plenty of space to stretch out.
How far away is Bath from the beach?
Severn Beach is around 30 miles/ 50 kilometres from Bath.
Does Somerset have nice beaches?
While Somerset’s beaches aren’t quite on par with its neighbour, Devon (and nowhere near as other-worldly as Cornish offerings like Fistral Beach!), you’ll find plenty of spots of sand and holiday towns with fun atmospheres.