Weston-Super-Mare

While waiting to move into our furnished rental in Bristol, we decided to head to the seaside for a few days as we'd been missing the sea already.

Just an hour or so from Bristol is Weston-Super-Mare, a traditional seaside town. We went not knowing what to expect, probably a faded, down-at-the-heels town with social problems. There was quite a bit of that, especially in the old-fashioned hotel we stayed in. Cobbled together from a row of old mansions, it was very worn around the edges and like a rabbit warren inside with steps up or down every few feet. Located directly on the front, across from the pier and adjacent to a shopping mall, the hotel was very busy. The included breakfast service, 'full English', of course, was run like a military operation. They couldn't serve a minute before 8:15, then, the whole team sprung into action. It seemed comical, but, the cheerful efficiency was appreciated and the food was mostly edible.

The town's natural setting on the Bristol Channel was superb. The weather was beautiful, cool, but, sunny, perfect for a long walk along the incredible beach.

Tidal heights of almost 14.5 metres did mean you had to watch the clock. The low tide mark is about 1.6 km from the seafront.  Although the beach itself is sandy, low tide uncovers areas of thick mud and gives the town its nickname of Weston-super-Mud.

One day, we walked east, the next west. One of the things I like best about the UK is you don't really have to plan a day trip, just set out from where you are and soon you will encounter something interesting. Today's treat was a Norman church, high on a hill with a vista of the Channel and the Mendip Hills. It was a hike to get up there, but, worth it. St. Nicholas Church, dedicated to the patron Saint of sailors, was consecrated in 1129. Although without a roof since 1860, there is a small, intact portion of the Church. It's usually locked, but, the day we were there it was being decorated for an upcoming Christmas candlelit choir service and was open to view.

At the base of the hill was a medieval port village, aptly named, Uphill.

Leading to the village was a tidal estuary and boggy marshland which we slogged through.

The next day we headed the other way, past the new, modern pier directly across from our hotel. It charged £1 admission to walk on it. It was full of tacky, noisy arcades with barely a way to get outside to admire the sea view.

Then, we came across the day's surprise. Just a little further along the front was the historic Birnbeck pier. Currently a ruin, there is a trust trying to raise funds for its restoration. Interested parties have come together to form the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust. It looks very much worth saving. Look more closely at the lifeboat shed and slipway. I'm assuming there must be a piece missing, otherwise it would have been quite a challenge to launch a lifeboat at low tide!

There were some quality buildings to look at.

Tucked in behind a sheltered wall, we also found this iris, in perfect bloom the first week of December, a welcome sight.