Lilstock Beach
A pebbly shore at the eastern end of the Blue Anchor to Lilstock coast, with the remains of a 19th-century harbour, a nearby car park and cliff-foot tides.
At a Glance
Beach Type
rocky
Parking
Available
Access
Moderate (steps/path)
Swimming
Swim with caution
Activities
What Lilstock is
Lilstock gives its name to the far end of the Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest, a stretch of coast that gives an outstanding series of sections through the Early Jurassic Lower Lias. It is a quiet end of the Somerset shore, on the West Somerset coast path, with a pebbly beach and a car park near the water at the end of the lane from the village.
The old harbour
The beach has a built history. Around 1820 Sir John Acland built a boat house on the beach with a pier and breakwater to form Lilstock harbour, and about 1860 a stone pier was added on the north side of the harbour wall. The harbour was abandoned after storm damage on the night of 28 and 29 December 1900, and the pier was eventually destroyed after the First World War. There is more on the history of Lilstock harbour, and its short working life is worth knowing before you look for traces of it on the shore.
Fossils and rough ground
The cliff and beach at Lilstock are rich in reptile remains, and the coast has produced a unique ichthyosaur specimen named Excalibosaurus costini. Wear sturdy footwear on the pebbles. The shore is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so leave the cliffs alone and do not dig into them. The Quantock Hills National Landscape team can advise on the wider coast.
Tides, mud and cliffs
Take the tide seriously. Somerset Council warns that the Bristol Channel’s large tidal range can trap people at the bottom of cliffs by an incoming tide, and that people can get trapped in mud at low tide. Stay well away from the cliff base, check tide times before you leave the car park, and allow time to get back. No lifeguard cover is listed here. Check Somerset Council’s dog rules for beaches before bringing a dog.
Neighbours
For a car park with toilets and a tea room, go west to Kilve Beach. For a walker’s bay with a waterfall, see St Audries Bay. For the nearest harbour town, see Watchet.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Where do you park for Lilstock Beach?
- A car park sits at the shore end of the lane from Lilstock village, and TA5 1SU is the postcode people use. Check for signs on the day, as no council listing sets out the arrangements.
- Are there any facilities at Lilstock?
- None are listed for the shore itself, so bring water and food. Kilve Beach, to the west, has toilets and a tea room.
- Can you collect fossils at Lilstock?
- The shore lies at the eastern end of the Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest, so leave the cliffs alone and do not dig into them.
- Is Lilstock safe at high tide?
- Take the tide seriously. Somerset Council warns that the Bristol Channel's large tidal range can trap people at the bottom of cliffs by an incoming tide, and that people can get trapped in mud at low tide.