Watchet and Splash Point on the Somerset Coast.

Watchet on the Somerset Coast is one of my favourite places to visit.  It is not only an interesting, tranquil little harbour town, but the journey to it along the A358 through the gently rolling foothills of the Quantocks is a pleasure in itself.

I visited Watchet on 16 June, a very hot day, with the primary intention of walking up to Splash Point on the eastern side of the town to see if I could spot the tower of St. Decuman’s Church on the hill to the west.  The easier of the footpaths to Splash Point initially follows alongside the West Somerset Railway line and then passes behind the East Quay complex.

In my eyes, East Quay just about qualifies as a blot on the landscape.  It is garish and angular with what looks like a couple of bright blue shipping containers plonked between it and the marina.  The building’s odd geometrical design does mitigate its ugliness, but only slightly.  I did not linger!

East Quay at Watchet Harbour on the Somerset Coast.

I continued on along the footpath and up the steep steps to Splash Point where I found views east and west, and out over the Bristol Channel – well worth the effort of climbing those steps!  However, I was not rewarded with a view of St. Decuman’s.  The area around Splash Point was known to the Victorians as The Pleasure Ground – it once had a tea room for their refreshment. 

A view of Watchet looking across the marina and tidal harbour from Splash Point.

Unsurprisingly for such a vantage point, I came upon the remains of a World War Two bunker and coastal artillery emplacements.  No doubt they were ideally situated to defend Watchet Harbour and the approaches to the Cardiff, Newport and Avonmouth docks.

The World War Two bunker on Splash Point above Watchet Harbour in Somerset.  The footpath and steps down to the Eastern Pier, from where this photo was taken, are on the right.

From beside the WW2 bunker I walked down another set of steep steps to the Eastern Pier and proceeded on a gentle stroll around the marina, the Esplanade and the tidal harbour wall.  I was surprised at how few people were around considering it was such a fine day.

Pleasing shot of an old lifeboat in the marina at Watchet on the Somerset Coast.

The fossil beach below Splash Point at Watchet on the Somerset Coast.  The photo was taken from the Eastern Pier.  The forest of cranes at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station construction site can just be seen on the horizon to the right of picture.

After an interesting visit lasting two hours, at a very reasonable cost of £2.20 to park the car, I left Watchet at 1630. Heading home I took the B3191 to Williton, then the A358.  Both roads were very quiet so I had another chance to relax a little and enjoy the scenery.