I have been to WSM when the tide was in and also when there was a SW force 8 blowing and we were advised by the police not to use the sea front road, it was September and spring tides, waves were high probably 12 - 18feet and coming in over the sea wall. However occasionally go there as a day trip from Barnstaple, not like the days when we came down on a day trip from Birmingham on a dedicated excursion train into Locking Road (now gone of course), usually behind a Hall. Do you remember the Saturday & Sunday seaside excursions from both Snow Hill and New Street to all the coastal areas within reasonable travel time WSM, Barry Island, Yarmouth (using the old M&GNJ), Rhyl and Llandudno, Blackpool and Southport, superb reasonably priced days out, but then it was before Global warming and I remember August as being long and hot. I cannot remember if there were ever ant trips to Skegness and Scarborough on a same day return system. The best trip we ever did was 1961, Oban and the Kyles of Bute, left New Street on a Friday evening in a two coach train hauled by a Class 2, 2-6-0 - some were standing, however we only went to Tamworth, the Class 2 detached and we were reversed on to a set of coaches already at the platform, a larger engine was attached, those standing were advised to move down the train to some empty coaches and we travelled West Coast route to Greenock, then McBraynes to Oban after a cruise through the Kyles of Bute, caught the train at Oban and came back via the Settle & Carlisle again overnight, arriving New Street about 11am Sunday morning. The trip cost very little about 19/6d each. At the end we were shattered, but it was just one of many such trips that we enjoyed from both Snow Hill and New Street during 1960/61 and early 1962. Alternatively we also travelled by coach on a couple of occasions, once to WSM, once to Brean Sands and once to Tenby (where we had about two hours before having to return back to the coach).
Incidentally remember that the Bristol Channel has the world's second highest tides.
Bob