Immerse yourself in nature in North Somerset at these scenic locations – all accessible by public transport!
Sophie Neill is a wellbeing college tutor at North Somerset Wellbeing College and a forest therapy practitioner, trained with the Bristol community interest company Light Box. She now brings her forest therapy expertise into the College, offering sessions that help learners to slow down, notice the natural world, and find space to reflect.
This spring, North Somerset Wellbeing College is launching a four-week Forest Therapy course, running every Tuesday from 3 to 24 March 2026. Each two-hour session includes guided meditations, ways to engage the senses, and time to reflect and journal outdoors. Find out more and book your place here.
In my last blog post, we discussed how spending time in nature has many benefits for our mental and physical health. Nature is all around us, but for those of us who live in urban environments it doesn’t always feel like it – if we want to feel completely immersed in nature, we need to hunt out the perfect spot to enjoy.
This can be even more challenging if, like me, you use public transport to get around. With this in mind, here are my favourite natural spaces in North Somerset to relax and recharge in – with the added bonus that all these locations are accessible by public transport:
Weston-super-Mare Beach
The beach at Weston-super-Mare is a popular sweeping sandy beach on the North Somerset coast. With wide views of the sea and it’s iconic pier, this beach is a great spot to sit quietly and unwind your mind.
How to get there: The X1 service runs from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol, making it easy to hop on and off for a day out by the sea. The route takes you through scenic countryside and villages too.
Clevedon Beach
A scenic pebbly beach that runs southwest from Clevedon. A Victorian pier at the north of the promenade provides the opportunity to wander along and enjoy the sights and smells of the sea, while Clevedon Marine Lake to the south fills from the sea and is open to swimmers all year round.
Continue walking south of the marine lake you will find that the promenade ends but the journey continues, bringing you onto coastal paths that are surrounded by countryside and sea.
How to get there: The X5 from Weston-Super-Mare Interchange will take you the Salthouse Fields stop, just by the Marine Lake or take the X7 coming from Bristol.
Backwell Lake
The perfect location for an accessible and relaxed walk. Walking around the edge of the lake is one mile in total and takes 20 to 30 minutes, making it the perfect spot to watch birds and enjoy the surroundings. The lake is home to ten species of bird and you can also spot coot, moorhen, swans and even heron!
How to get there: The train running from Weston to Bristol stops at Nailsea and Backwell station which is a few minutes’ walk from the lake. Please be aware that there are steep steps down from the station.
Sand Bay
Tucked away just north of Weston-Super-Mare with views across the Severn Estuary and to Sand Point (which can also be walked to, but is a steep journey), Sand Bay is perfect for enjoying the serenity of the water. It’s also a popular spot for dog walkers. There is a little café and a fish and chip shop, plus the bus journey in itself is an experience – the double decker climbs up onto the edge of Weston Woods giving dramatic views over the sea. Sit on the inner seats of the top deck to avoid tree branches!
How to get there: Catch the number 1 bus from Weston-Super-Mare Interchange.
Worlebury Woods
Nestled on the top of Worlebury Hill, with paths that meander throughout the woodland. If you stick to the main path through the centre of the woods (which is a mainly flat route), you can walk to the end and back in roughly an hour. There are picnic benches midway along the route, perfect for a spot of lunch. Hidden deeper in the woods you can find deer and on the main path look out for the ancient Worlebury Hillfort.
How to get there: Catch the number 6 bus from Weston-Super-Mare Interchange.
Parks of Weston
Clarence Park, Ashcombe Park, Princes Consort Gardens and Grove Park are perfect if you would rather stay closer to the urban area. Not strictly a park, but I have also added Princes Consort Gardens for the fantastic view over the estuary. Central to Weston you will find Grove Park, which is home to our North Somerset Wellbeing College Forest Therapy sessions which are running throughout March 2026. Spaces are still available, and you are welcome to join us if you live in North Somerset.
How to get there: You will need to double check the bus timetables for these routes, although Grove Park is centrally located to Weston-Super-Mare, a short walk from the Weston bus Interchange and 15 mins from the train station.
North Somerset Wellbeing College four-week Forest Therapy course is open to adults aged 18 and over in North Somerset. Sessions will be every Tuesday from March 3 to March 24, 2026, with each two-hour session offering gentle guided meditations, practical ways to engage with your senses, and time to reflect and journal. Find out more and book onto the course here.
