Camping in Burnham-on-Sea

Camping around Burnham-on-Sea takes full advantage of one of Somerset's finest stretches of coast, with the wide sands of Burnham and Berrow beaches and the dramatic headland of Brean Down all within easy reach of the region's campsites. As in the rest of England, wild camping is not permitted here without the landowner's explicit permission, so this stretch of coast is best explored using one of the many established touring parks, campsites and glamping sites in the surrounding villages of Berrow, Brean and Highbridge, most of which welcome tents, touring caravans and motorhomes.

The terrain is flat and low-lying, typical of the Somerset Levels meeting the coast, with sandy dune systems, grazing marshes and a scattering of working farms that have diversified into camping and caravanning. Several sites, such as those near Coombes Cider Mill, sit on working farms and combine touring pitches with a genuine taste of Somerset agricultural life, while larger holiday parks toward Brean offer bigger, more resort-style camping with on-site pools, entertainment and shops, better suited to families wanting facilities close at hand. Smaller, quieter touring sites tend to cluster around Highbridge and the villages just inland, offering easy access to the coast without the scale of the bigger parks.

The best camping season runs from late spring through early autumn, when the huge tidal beaches are at their most inviting and the coastal paths over Brean Down and along the dunes are at their driest and most walkable. Even in a wet British summer, the flat, well-drained sandy ground around Berrow copes better than heavier inland clay. For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, a growing number of glamping options in the area offer bell tents, pods and shepherd's huts, giving campers the Somerset coastal air with rather more comfort than a standard tent, and often within walking distance of the beach itself.