Ask anyone in Weston where the locals go on a sunny evening and a good number will say Sand Bay. Two miles north of the town, on the far side of Worlebury Hill, Sand Bay, Weston-super-Mare’s quieter beach, is a long crescent of sand with dunes behind, a National Trust headland at the end and almost none of the crowds. It is also five minutes from our cottages, which is why we know it so well. Here are seven reasons we think it is the best beach on this coast.
In this guide
1. The space
The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tides in the world, and when it goes out at Sand Bay it leaves a vast expanse of flat sand. Even on an August Sunday you can find a patch to yourself. Kites, football, sandcastles and long walks all have room, and the beach is backed by low dunes rather than a car park.
2. Sand Point at the end
The road stops at the northern end of the bay and the National Trust headland of Sand Point begins. A short path along the ridge takes you out to the tip with views over the whole bay, across to Wales and back to Weston. It is the perfect after-dinner walk and takes about an hour there and back.
3. Dogs are welcome all year
Unlike the main beach in Weston, which has seasonal restrictions, Sand Bay is dog friendly throughout the year. That makes it the obvious choice for guests staying in our dog-friendly cottages, and you will see plenty of happy, sandy dogs on the promenade at any time of day. Our dog beaches guide lists the others nearby.
4. The sunsets
Sand Bay faces west across the Bristol Channel, so on a clear evening the sun goes down straight into the sea beyond Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands. It is the best free show in North Somerset. Bring a flask or a bag of chips and sit on the sea wall.
5. Fish and chips on the beach
The chip shop at the northern end of Beach Road is a local institution, and fish and chips eaten on the promenade with the tide coming in is the classic Sand Bay evening. There is also a café on the seafront for daytime coffees and ice cream.
6. Easy walking
A promenade path runs the length of Beach Road, flat and paved, so it suits buggies, wheelchairs and anyone who wants a gentle stroll rather than a hike. At the southern end the Monks’ Steps climb through the woods into Weston Woods for those who want more, and the Kewstoke village pub is a short walk inland.
7. Peace and quiet
There are no arcades, no funfair and no traffic queues. Sand Bay is a residential beach with a promenade, a few benches and the sea. If you want the full seaside experience, Weston and the Grand Pier are ten minutes away over the hill. Most of our guests do both and come back to Sand Bay for the evenings.
Sand Bay through the seasons
Sand Bay changes with the year more than most beaches. In spring the headland at Sand Point is covered in wildflowers and the beach is empty on weekdays. Summer brings families, kite flyers and long evenings on the sea wall, though it never gets crowded the way Weston does. Autumn is our favourite, with warm sand, low sun and the first log fires back at the cottage. Winter storms throw driftwood up the beach and the promenade is bracing, but a bright January morning on Sand Bay with a dog and a flask is hard to beat.
Sand Bay for families
Children like Sand Bay because there is nothing to queue for. At low tide the sand is a vast, flat playground for kites, cricket and sandcastles, and the pools left by the tide are full of small crabs and shrimps. The promenade is safe for scooters and bikes. The chip shop and the café cover lunch, and the headland walk at Sand Point is short enough for small legs and exciting enough for big ones. Weston’s pier and Marine Lake are ten minutes away when they want the full seaside.
Sand Bay for walkers
The beach is the starting point for several of the best walks on this coast. Sand Point and Middle Hope give a two-mile headland loop with views to Wales. The Monks’ Steps at the southern end of the bay climb through the woods to Worlebury Hillfort and on into Weston Woods. Footpaths lead inland from Sand Point to Woodspring Priory. And the promenade itself is a flat two miles for an easy stroll. Our best walks guide has the routes.
Wildlife at Sand Bay
The mudflats beyond the sand are feeding grounds for wading birds, and in winter the bay fills with dunlin, curlew and shelduck. Sand Point is a National Trust nature reserve with rare limestone plants and butterflies in summer, and peregrines are sometimes seen on the cliffs at Middle Hope. Look out to sea and you may spot the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm, both nature reserves, and on a very clear day the Welsh coast beyond.
A short history of Sand Bay
For centuries Sand Bay was farmland and a scattering of cottages below Kewstoke village, with the monks of Woodspring Priory the nearest thing to neighbours. Holiday chalets and caravans arrived in the twentieth century, along with the promenade, but the bay was never developed the way Weston was, which is why it still feels like a village beach. The Sand Bay hotels and holiday parks are at the northern end near the headland, and the rest is quiet.
Sand Bay: what our guests say
The single most common comment in our reviews is about the walk to the beach. Guests arrive planning days out and end up spending half their holiday on Sand Bay, because it is at the end of the lane and it is beautiful. Dogs run, children dig, grandparents sit on the sea wall with a coffee, and everyone comes back for the sunset. Our experiences page lists the rest of the coast, but start here.
Practical details for Sand Bay, Weston-super-Mare
- Parking is along Beach Road, free in most sections. It fills on hot weekends, so arrive early or walk from Kewstoke.
- The number 1 bus runs from Weston seafront to Sand Bay.
- Check tide times before going far out on the sand. The sea returns quickly across the flats.
- Public toilets are on the seafront near the middle of the bay.
- The beach is unsupervised, so swim only close to shore and on a rising tide.
Sand Bay: quick answers
Is Sand Bay dog friendly?
Yes, all year round, on the beach and the promenade. Keep dogs on leads on Sand Point where sheep graze.
Can you swim at Sand Bay?
Only close to shore on a rising tide. The beach is not lifeguarded and the mud beyond the sand is dangerous, so most people paddle rather than swim.
Is there parking?
Along Beach Road, mostly free, with more space at the Sand Point car park at the northern end. It fills on hot weekends, so arrive early or walk from Kewstoke.
How far is it from Weston?
Two miles over Worlebury Hill, about ten minutes by car or on the number 1 bus, or a good hour on foot through Weston Woods.
Where can we eat?
The chip shop and the café on the seafront cover most days, and The Old Manor Inn in Kewstoke village is a short walk inland for a proper meal. Weston’s seafront restaurants are ten minutes away for anything fancier.
Is it good for sunsets?
The best on this coast. The bay faces west, so on a clear evening the sun drops straight into the Bristol Channel beyond the islands. The sea wall along the promenade is the place to watch it.
Stay five minutes from the beach
Our five cottages are on Lower Norton Lane in Kewstoke, a few minutes from Sand Bay on foot and the same from Sand Point. All are dog friendly with enclosed gardens and private parking. Browse the cottages, read our Kewstoke village guide, or see the National Trust page for the headland. For the wider coast, Visit Weston-super-Mare has beach and event information.