GORGEOUS golden sand, fairground rides, lighthouses, waterslides, countryside walks and seafront eateries can all be found in the neighbouring bays south of Weston.

Burnham
If you seek a quieter resort, or just a change from a day out in Weston, the Somerset town of Burnham-on-Sea is just the ticket. Its picturesque shoreline is encompassed by a grand esplanade of impressive listed buildings, amusement arcades, the shortest pier in Britain and two lighthouses.

The award-winning main beach comprises sand near the jetty, and pebbles, mud and marshland the further south you venture towards the River Parrett.

Here you can watch boats come in and out of the bay and spot seabirds as they fly in from the nature haven of Stert Island opposite and the nearby Apex Wildlife Park, all while sitting on the beach wall eating fish and chips.

The town's northern stretch of beach takes in the iconic low lighthouse, a nine-legged wooden structure built in 1832, which is now Grade II-listed and still used as an active aid to navigation.

The town centre is full of quirky gift shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, plus it has an independent cinema to visit if the weather isn’t great.

Brean and Berrow

Boasting the second longest stretch of golden sand in Europe, incorporating no less than eight beaches, Brean and Berrow are Weston’s neighbouring bays. These are surrounded by an abundance of campsites and caravan parks, pubs, cafés and gift shops.

Children will love the popular leisure park at Brean with more than 40 attractions including roller coasters, log flume, go-karts, fairground and smaller rides, as well as an indoor theatre with regular performances, a huge soft-play centre and Brean Splash, with its indoor and outdoor pool, toddler splash zone and waterslides.

One of the county’s most prominent landmarks, Brean Down, can be accessed via the village and is a haven for nature- lovers and walkers. The 320ft-high headland, which is National Trust-owned, is home to
an Iron Age fort where Roman coins have been found.

There is also a collection of tropical birds on display at Brean Down Bird Garden, which is open daily from March-October.

Another popular family attraction is Animal Farm, in Berrow, which offers a range of children’s rides and soft-play equipment, as well as housing an assortment of critters, birds and furry creatures to marvel at or pet.