Burnham-on-Sea

The lighthouse stands sentinel on one of Britain's lowest beaches, its Victorian ironwork a striking contrast against the endless mudflats that stretch toward Wales. This is proper seaside Somerset - no frills, no pretension, just miles of sand when the tide's out and a working town that doesn't put on airs for visitors.

Burnham-on-Sea feels refreshingly different from its brasher cousin Weston-super-Mare just down the coast. The seafront runs long and straight, backed by modest guesthouses and the occasional fish and chip shop. Low tide reveals an extraordinary expanse of beach - you can walk for what feels like miles across the firm sand, though the famous lighthouse becomes your only landmark in this vast landscape.

St Andrew's Church anchors the old part of town, while the more unusual attractions lie south toward Brean. The imposing bulk of Brean Down dominates the coastline - this limestone headland offers cracking views across the Bristol Channel and houses fascinating remnants including an Iron Age Hill Fort and various wartime archaeological sites like Machine Gun Emplacements and WW2 Barrack Foundations.

Getting here couldn't be simpler - the M5 delivers you practically to the door, with junction 22 just minutes away. Weston Milton station connects to the main rail network for those travelling by train. The area works brilliantly as a base for exploring the Somerset Levels inland or hopping along this stretch of coast.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Warren Farm Holiday Centre or Diamond Farm Holiday Park puts you right in the thick of things. You're close enough to walk to the beach for dawn low tides, yet surrounded by countryside that feels a world away from the seafront crowds.