Type of beach
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, but must be kept under effective control.
Lifeguard
Beach cleaning
Parking
Nearest town
Postcode
OS grid reference
What3words
Backed by farmland and overlooked by the moors of Exmoor, Bossington beach forms part of the Holnicote Estate managed by the National Trust, and runs from Hurlestone Point to the small harbour at Porlock Weir.
The long, curved beach is made up of shingle and pebbles and its steep banks act as a barrier between the Bristol Channel and the flood plain of the River Homer. The river, which rises near Luccombe, runs down the valley from Bossington village before appearing to disappear into the shingle. When the water level is very high, the river will breach the bank.
The currents at Bossington beach are very strong so swimming is not recommended. These currents have also shaped the beach itself, sorting the pebbles by size with the smallest stones closest to the sea, and the largest towards the back of the beach.
Until relatively recently, the land behind the beach was a freshwater meadow used for growing barley and grazing sheep and cattle. However, during a major storm in October 1996, caused by hurricane Lili, the shingle ridge on the beach was breached flooding the area with saltwater. The breach was never repaired, and today at high tides sea water still flows into the marsh.
The resulting saltmarsh and intertidal lagoon is now designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a haven for various species of bird including shelducks, redshanks, curlews, and little egrets. Look out too for coastal plants, such as sea purslane, samphire, and sea beet, as well as butterflies, and a variety of small fish. A boardwalk runs across the marsh giving visitors the opportunity to get close to the wildlife without disturbing the fragile ecosystem.
At the boundary between the farmland and the beach, you can find the remnants of four 19th century lime kilns, once used in agriculture. Along the beach’s edge, there are also the remains of a WWII pillbox control centre, partially embedded in a stone wall. A memorial once stood here to honour American airmen who crashed on the beach during the Second World War, but it was lost in the storm of 1996.
There are plenty of walking trails in the area around Bossington. From the eastern end of the beach, climb up the path to the old coastguard lookout station, and then carry on up Bossington Hill. The area was used for tank training in WWII and two trackways were built into the hill used to provide moving targets for firing practice. Follow the path eastwards, where much of the land is heath where you can find bell heather, ling heather, gorse, and bilberry, as well as grasses and wildflowers such as bristle-bent grass and tormentil.
On a clear day it’s possible to see the Welsh coast from the top of Bossington Hill, and you might spot dolphins and porpoises playing in the water below. The hilltop’s strong winds make it popular with kite-flyers and paragliders, while also attracting birds of prey like buzzards, kestrels, and peregrine falcons.
Follow the path around the hill before retracing your steps back down to the beach. Be aware that due to the frequent changes to the beach and saltmarsh caused by high tides, you may not be able to walk the full length of the beach itself, so check tide times before you go.
There are no facilities or parking at Bossington beach, but there is a National Trust car park in Bossington village about half a mile away. It’s well worth a stroll around this pretty hamlet with its charming, lime-washed thatched cottages with distinctive tall chimneys and bread ovens.
Stop for a cream tea at Kitnor’s Tea Rooms, which also serves sandwiches, quiche, soups, light lunches, and cakes in a delightful garden filled with flowers.
From the car park cross a small footbridge over a steam to the South West coast path which takes you to the eastern end of the beach.
AMENITIES