Do you ever look at maps and wonder how some places earned their names? Some are obvious. Others raise more questions. Middle Hope Bay in Somerset seems to fall into this latter group for me. Was there ever an Outer Hope or an Inner Hope? Were they washed away? Did the locals watch as their Inner Hope was swept away by the waves?
I’m over thinking this. I’m sure there is a good reason for the name.
None of these questions seemed to get in the way of any of us enjoying time on the beach, last weekend. It is a site of special scientific interest. Covered in fossils and volcanic rock. All of them smoothed by the sea. Perfect for pebble art and building towns of pebble towers. I could have spent all day just combing it for interesting pebbles.
Youngest’s cricket training gave him an advantage in the pebble throwing competition. Then the children were off scrabbling up rocks again and spotting birds wadding further out. (Completely out of range of the pebble throwing)
The pebble beach was less comfortable for the dogs to walk on. They found the grassy banks and downs a good place to wait for the younger members. Exchanging news with passing dogs.
Last time we visited, we missed the ruin of the shrimp house. The roof has gone, but the fire place is still obvious. Imagine preparing the shrimps in such a beautiful location?
Then it was time to go. Until next time.
Details: Middle Hope Bay is along the coast from Weston- Super-Mere, heading towards Clevedon. It is an up and down hill trek from the car park, but worth it. The car park is free and can be found by turning right through Sand Bay and heading along the narrow lane. Nearest facilities are at Sand Bay.
I used to live in Clevedon with my parents when I was very young, yet I don’t remember visiting here. I remember somewhere called Blue Anchor, but I’ve no idea if it is close. This looks an amazing little coastal find with beautiful grassy coastal walks and a lovely bay. Is it sheltered down there? I’d love to get my hands on some of those stones, they would be great for painting. Thank you for sharing your day in this pretty location on Country Kids.
Blue Anchor is further down the coast. Another great beach for fossil hunting. There are so many interesting beaches down the Somerset coast. I really like Middle Hope because the only way to get there is by walking, which always adds to a trip. The cove is fairly sheltered. It has great acoustics too.
What a stunning place to visit. That looks really wild and rugged with plenty of little nooks to explore and hide in 🙂 #countrykids
Oh too true! The children found a cave last time, just further along.
What a beautiful spot and I love your photos, especially the one of the 3 children having their pebble throwing competition
They did have fun.
Looks lovely, in spite the pebbles. We do have pebbled beaches too here in Cornwall, difficult to walk in them isn’t it? But I do love expecting the pebbles 😉 x #countrykids
They are more difficult to walk on, but, oh, spotting the perfect pebble makes up for it.
Looks like a perfect place for some outdoors fun x #countrykids
It was.
How absolutely beautiful is that!!! And you had sunshine and blue skies… perfect!!!
Not quite as blue as yours, but they are getting better. (As we slowly steal daylight back from you southerners!) 🙂
It looks like a wonderful rugged beach to visit.
It is rugged. With it’s own charm
Such a beautiful place. Great place to have fun with stones and exploration.
Absolutely. Love being out there.
Wow, this looks amazing. So pretty and so interesting – my boys would love searching through the pebbles!
It is fun. And quite addictive. I have to remind myself to look up from my search for sea glass.
I love pouring over maps and looking at the place names, in some parts of the country they are really odd. There is a village near my brother called Shelf! That beach looks wonderful not what I imagine the Somerset coast line to be like at all, I lived in Somerset for two years but never made it to the coast! It doesn’t look like there were many other people around either?
Maps are fabulous. Love the idea of a village called Shelf. So many jokes about “being on the Shelf”, I’m sure.
There is quite a variety of beaches along the coast. A few that remind me of Rupert Bear holiday locations, with steam engines puffing through them. Some have perfect sand for sandcastles. There are some that are more muddy, but then they are pretty good for bird watching. So there is something for everyone.
It is interesting wondering about how places got their names, isn’t it? Sounds like an interesting place to explore and love the ruins of the shrimp house 🙂
Ah maps! I really do love looking at them. The names, mysterious landscape and old tracks. Tell their own history. Yes, I’m glad we found the shrimp house this time. Ruins by the sea have a certain romantic feel, I think.