The seaside town of Cleveon is a little under an hour’s bus ride from Bristol. Time for a day out, even though the weather was cold and windy. After heavy overnight rain, thankfully it was dry. Bus fares in England are still capped at a maximum £2 for any journey. The buses used on the routes to Clevedon are double-deckers, affording a good view of the mostly pleasant, agricultural landscape.
The beach at Clevedon is rocks, shingle and mud. The tide was out. Despite the windy and cold weather, a few stoics were out there with their children. The children seemed happy enough, searching the rockpools for creatures.
Clevedon Pier was opened in 1869, initially for a ferry crossing to take railway passengers to Wales. Cardiff is about 13 miles (28km) across the Bristol Channel. That’s Wales in the dim distance below. The opening of the Severn Tunnel put paid to that after only 20 years. The pier was used by pleasure steamers for much of the next 100 years. It is owned by a trust. There is an admission fee to be paid. Detailed Wikipedia article here. The area of the beach close to the pier is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A variety of unusual rocks can be found there.
Clevedon also has a Marine Lake, a kind of salwater bathing pool. Opened in 1929, it provides safe bathing. The water is regularly refreshed by the high tides of the Bristol Channel. It is maintained by a volunteer group – website here. Not many takers on a cold Sunday morning but I did see a small group braving the elements.
The wall across the lake encloses a shallow area for children.
Tom's Place - a sort of blog by a British resident of Albufeira 