There’s nothing like a day at the beach! And the beautiful Somerset coast offers a wonderful range of beaches, from tranquil coves to bustling hotspots, so you can find a place by the coast to suit you and your friends and family.
Discover a few of the best beaches in Somerset and begin planning your next holiday by the sea. We have a wonderful selection of cottages for you to browse dotted all along the Somerset coast, so if you’ve yet to book accommodation, take a look and find your perfect seaside retreat.
Coastal cottages in Somerset
1. St Audries Bay
Two waterfalls cascade down the cliffs at this beautiful beach, making it a magical place for a beach day out with the family. It’s quite possibly the most magical Somerset beach due to these exquisite falls that provide the background to a relaxing break. This wonderful dog-friendly beach in Somerset can be found on the coast of the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and pebble and sand sit on the beach itself, making it ideal for rock pooling or sandcastle building.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year with no restrictions.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: A path leads down to this picturesque bay from a local holiday park, where you’ll also find parking and a shop. The path has a few steps to tackle and is a bit of a trek, however it is reasonably well-maintained.
Stay nearby: Seagull Lodge, St Audries | sleeps 4 and 1 dog
Watchet holiday cottages
2. Weston-super-Mare Beach
The perfect place for a classic beach day out with the kids, Weston-super-Mare beach is an all-round favourite Somerset beach with a large expanse of sand, ice cream vans and snack shacks, and the fantastic Grand Pier which stretches out into the sea and boasts amusements and entertainment. As the bustling town of Weston-super-Mare sits just behind the beach too, there are plenty of amenities including shops and restaurants, and lots of things to do in the vicinity.
Dogs: There are dog restrictions between 1st May to 30th September.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: There are ramps directly from the pavement down onto the beach and beach wheelchairs available for hire so it’s a great choice for those with limited mobility. There’s a choice of car parks in town including pay and display parking behind the beach.
Stay nearby: Beauty Villa, Weston-super-Mare | sleeps 8 + 2 dogs
Weston-super-Mare cottages
3. Bossington Beach
The National Trust cares for the Holnicote Estate which encapsulates the village and beach of idyllic Bossington on the beautiful Somerset coast. It’s a particularly nice beach in Somerset, offering peaceful, pebble shores where you can escape the world with your partner, family or canine companion by your side, and boasts breathtaking views across the Bristol Channel to the shores of Wales. Spot animals in this wildlife-rich section of coast, and roam across the estate or along the coast path during your trip to this Somerset beach.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: A National Trust pay and display car park sits in idyllic Bossington village and from here the main beach is around 0.5 miles away through the village. Another way to access the beach is over a small footbridge which leads from the car park, over a stream and onto the coastal path that carries on to the eastern end of Bossington Beach.
Stay nearby: Station Masters Cottage, Minehead | sleeps 4 and 4 dogs
Minehead holiday cottages
4. Clevedon Bay
Backed by the promenade and the town, Clevedon Beach is an old Victorian resort, one of the best beaches near Bristol, and another great place for fun family days out as there’s easy access to plenty of amenities including shops, restaurants and amusements. This Somerset beach is a mix of sand and pebble and it has a beautiful pier, with events to attend and resources to discover, always a delightful place for a stroll. Behind the beach, there’s an impressive Marine Lake which makes a wonderful place for swimmers and is surrounded by benches and a few cheerful murals.
Dogs: With the exception of guide dogs, restrictions are in place all year.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: There’s street parking on the promenade beside the beach.
Stay nearby: Church View Retreat, Wick St Lawrence | sleeps 2
Clevedon cottages
5. Glenthorne Beach
Often overlooked, Glenthorne Beach is a quiet, hidden beach that sits right on the border of Somerset and Devon and is the ideal coastal retreat for when you want to escape it all. Go walking with your partner, family or playful pup to this tranquil, pebbly spot on the coastline of Exmoor National Park before roaming the rest of the breathtaking region of the UK. Unique features of this idyllic Somerset beach include a ruined boathouse, a trout pool, some old lime kilns, a small waterfall and caves lining the cliffs. Its interesting features make this a lovely choice if you're looking for secluded or dog-friendly beaches.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: Take your pick of two routes to the western and eastern ends of the car park that both wind down to the beach. Both descend 1060 feet, so bring your walking shoes, and are well-signposted, taking your through pretty wooded cliffs down to the shore.
Stay nearby: Exmoor Farm Cottages - Stags View, Wheddon Cross | sleeps 4 and 2 dogs
Exmoor cottages
6. Sand Bay
A wide, open stretch of sand and shingle shoreline, beautiful Sand Bay has been described as a ‘wild’ beach for its feeling of openness, sparse amenities, and impressive coastal views. There are a few places to eat and multiple free car parks, yet as this Somerset beach is just north of Weston-super-Mare, you could always pop down into town for supplies. Sand Point, cared for by the National Trust, runs beside the beach and is an extension of the Mendip Hills. Follow this National Trust walking route for more fantastic views of the area.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: Step from Beach Road straight onto the grassy dunes and make your way down to the main beach.
Stay nearby: Church View Retreat, Weston-super-Mare | sleeps 2
Weston-super-Mare cottages
7. Porlock Weir Beach
Porlock Weir is a small settlement around a harbour just a couple of miles west of the village of Porlock and on the Exmoor National Park coastline. It’s home to a long and pretty pebble and rock beach, popular for both walking and summer sunbathing, while the thatched houses and harbour is a wonderfully picturesque setting to explore with cafes, restaurants, shops and a museum inside a manor house that exhibits the history of this quaint village.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: Parking is available in Porlock Weir with direct access to the beach.
Stay nearby: Porlock Sunnyside, Porlock | sleeps 6 and 1 dog
Porlock holiday cottages
8. Blue Anchor Bay
An impressive, expansive Somerset beach with sand and shingle that’s always a top choice for summer sun-seekers and may be one of the best beaches in Somerset. Blue Anchor Bay is also a prime place to look for fossils with alabaster rocks lining the shore, and a great place for a dog walk with the coast path running just behind the beach. Stroll along the shore or let the dog off-lead down on the sand and, when you’re ready for lunch, there’s a delightful cafe and a pub you can stop by.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: There is beach parking with plenty of bays along Blue Anchor Road which runs parallel with the beach.
Stay nearby: Blue Anchor Seaview, Blue Anchor | sleeps 4 and 1 dog
Blue Anchor cottages
9. Minehead Beach
Another bustling coastal spot, perfect for a beach break, is Minehead Beach, otherwise known as The Strand. This sandy Somerset beach is just the place for a kick about or for building sandcastles, ideal for families and groups on holiday that need a fun place to spend the days, with plenty of amenities in the holiday resort town of Minehead behind the beach. There’s a promenade, a choice of amusements as well as cafes and restaurants too.
Dogs: From May until September, the stretch of beach between the harbour and golf course are off-limits to dogs.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: There are multiple car parks in Minehead and access from the promenade down to the beach via short ramps or steps.
Stay nearby: Station Masters Cottage, Minehead | sleeps 4 and 4 dogs
Minehead holiday cottages
10. Kilve Bay
On the Quantocks coast, Kilve Bay is a serene Somerset beach with a fascinating rocky shore and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its geological features including oil-rich shale and layers of lias in which fossils can be found, although it should be noted that removing fossils is prohibited. It’s ideal for children to go rock pooling and there’s a wonderful grassy area behind the beach great for a family picnic.
Dogs: Dogs welcome all year round.
Lifeguard: There is no lifeguard service.
Access: A pay and display car park sits around 200 metres from the beach.
Stay nearby: Kilve Granary, Kilve | sleeps 2 and 1 dog
Kilve holiday cottages
Somerset's best beaches on a map
Stay with us in Somerset
From idyllic, tranquil spaces where you can escape it all, to bustling family-friendly beaches with plenty of amenities and entertainment, Somerset offers up a range of wonderful beaches ideal for your next day at the seaside. If you’ve yet to book yourself a cosy cottage for your trip, browse our collection of Somerset holiday cottages by the coast and find your ideal place to stay.
Coastal cottages in Somerset
