When you think of picturesque beaches full of fossils, it's probably the Jurassic coast of Dorset and Devon that springs to mind. But did you know that you don't have to travel all the way to Lyme Regis if you want to get your fossil hunt fix on a day trip, as there is a hidden gem right on Bristol's doorstep?
Nestled between Minehead and Bridgwater is Kilve beach, a real jewel and a stunning fossil beach accessed through a remote, narrow laneway, around one hour and 20 minutes drive from Bristol. But as you make your way down Sea Lane to the rocky beach, you'd think you were a million miles away.
Near Watchet, Kilve beach is a fascinating stretch of the Somerset coast with fantastic rock formations and was once described by poet William Wordsworth as a "delightful shore". The beach is on the West Somerset Coast Path and sits within the Quantock Hills, which was the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to be established in 1957.
The beach is so picture perfect it featured heavily in the moody, windswept music video for Bryan Adams' 1991 record-breaking single (Everything I Do) I Do it For You, directed by Julian Temple, who lived nearby.
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Full of interesting geological rock formations, the beach also has plenty of rock pools for children to play in. A site of special scientific interest, Kilver is a popular haunt of geologists, turning up fossils, including ammonites and reptile remains.
More modern historical artefacts have washed up onshore, too, including 15 wartime shells in 2019.
As a small village, getting to Kilve is most easily done by driving along the A39 from Bridgwater, then taking a right turn at the pub, and following the road down to the pay and display car park at the beach.
Travelling via public transport is tricky and takes much longer, but you can get the train from Temple Meads to Taunton, followed by the number 28 bus to Watchet, then the number 15 to The Crossroads, which will drop you 2.2 miles from the beach, around a 45-minute walk.
If you need some refreshments, The Chantry Tea Gardens near the car park is a gorgeous little cafe with tables and chairs in the shadow of an ancient church serving sandwiches and freshly made scones for cream teas. Alternatively, you can bring your own, as at the top of the cliffs is a large grassy area where you can picnic.
Next to the cafe, you'll find the old Chantry, which was founded in 1329 and once used for storing barrels of spirits smuggled into Kilve Pill. In the village, there's also the 14th Century Church of St Mary which contains an ancient carved screen in the vestry.
Another interesting site includes the remains of the 1920s Somerset oil boom that never came to be. At the far end of the car park sits a red brick retort built in 1924 when it was discovered that the shale found in the cliffs at Kilve was rich in oil.
The Shaline Company built this structure to convert shale to oil, but as the company was unable to raise sufficient capital, the project floundered, and this is all that is left.
In the village of Kilve, there are holiday cottages and shepherd's huts available for accommodation as well as The Hood Arms, a hotel and traditional pub dating back to 1689. The bar is open Tuesday - Saturday: 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm, while the restaurant serves lunch and dinner 12pm - 2pm and 6pm - 9pm. There are also roasts on Sunday from 12pm to 3pm.
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