To the end of the world...

Standing on the end of Brean Down on the west Somerset coast, on a beautiful Summer's day, with stunning views in all directions...

Looking down, the Victorian Palmerston Fort, built in the 1860s when Britain feared an attack from the French, and took steps to improve its coastal defences. At the beginning of the Second World War, the down was once again re-armed, when the intriguing-sounding 'Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development' used Brean Down for a variety of top secret experiments, including the creation of such weapons as the Expendable Noise Makers and a proto type of the Bouncing Bombs.

In front of us, the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel.

To the West, the South Wales coast, stretching along to Swansea, with the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff clearly visible.

To the North, the Brecon Beacons and Sugar Loaf Mountain.

To the East, across the Somerset Levels to Glastonbury Tor.

To the South, Exmoor and the North Devon coastline.

Was it worth the climb up the 200+ steps from the beach up to the top of the down and then a further walk of a mile and a half? Most definitely!!