After three long days, I’m looking forward to a short walk, exploring the area. No better way to start than a full English breakfast, to make up for the shocking three beers and three packets of peanuts for dinner last night. Reminds me of student days.
I catch a bus back to Brean. The village bus stop has a couple of Banksy style stencils on the walls. I love discovering outdoor art, one of my incentives for walking the urban stretches of the coast.
It’s a beautiful morning, and the bracing sea air soon clears my head. There is a group of birdwatchers at the base of Brean Down, hoping to see a Black Redstart. I don’t know it, but Google displays a very pretty, robin-sized bird. There are fewer than 100 breeding pairs in the UK. Sad to see so many lovely birds at risk.
I take the road back to the village instead of retracing my steps along the beach. A small image in a ruined building captures my eye. It’s another Banksy style stencil! I am ridiculously excited. You would never spot this driving past.
I later discover that the art only appeared a few weeks ago, and there is a lot of debate as to whether they are by Banksy or just inspired by him. The little girl is reading a newspaper with the headline “Brum Banksy fools experts”. He is said to come from Bristol. All great fun.
Further along the road, two more paintings adorn the walls of the rather less exciting public toilets.
Fortunately, the Brean Down Way opened in 2017, creating a new crossing of the River Axe, at Brean Cross Sluices. The path is flanked by The Bird Screen, by Katy Hallett, reflecting piles of driftwood, protecting birdlife roosting on the nearby mud flats.
I arrive back in Weston-super-Mare late afternoon. It will be a difficult, long day, tomorrow, so just time for a pint of Butcombe Original at a lovely pub, The Regency, before an early night.
Walk distance: 10 miles.
Total distance: 1,079 miles.
This looks an interesting coast walk, with the urban art providing extra interest along the way. I wonder if some of them are by Banksy! The driftwood bird screen is interesting structure too. You’re making good progress Tony, you’ll soon be over the Severn! All the best
Rich
Hi Rich. Looking forward to Pembrokeshire and following in your footsteps.
Making rapid progress now. Glad to hear that the sluice gate now provides a crossing point. I thought Brean Down was an amazing place, and the beach you cross before it is beautiful.
Brean Down was definitely my favourite point along the five day walk. The fort was great to explore, with some amusing information about failed experiments. I enjoyed a lovely coffee and pastry upstairs in the cafe next to the beach, looking out across the sand. They have made a lovely job of the Brean Down Way.