Braunton: Dunes, History and Trails

Braunton combines an exceptional dune landscape with a multifaceted history and a variety of discoveries. Anyone wishing to plan a trip around nature, culture and activity will find different options for structuring each day. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore decide whether you mainly want to explore landscapes, visit museums or spend time on a walking and cycling trail.

Dune landscape with remarkable biodiversity

Braunton Burrows is one of the largest dune areas in the British Isles and covers approximately 1,000 hectares. Extensive, species-rich calcareous dune grasslands are characteristic of the area. More than 470 plant species have been recorded in the Braunton Burrows SAC. The landscape is also home to populations of sand lizards and great crested newts. Braunton therefore offers access to nature where not only the size of the dunes but also their distinctive flora and fauna play a role.

The Braunton Marshes form another interesting landscape. They were probably reclaimed from the tidal waters of the River Taw in the Middle Ages. This historical development adds a cultural-historical perspective to the natural experience: in Braunton, landscape forms and traces of earlier use come together directly in the history of the village.

Discover history and surfing culture

Braunton Great Field is one of only three medieval strip fields that have survived in England. For visitors interested in the development of rural areas, this field is a striking example of the historical character of the surrounding area. The Church of St Brannock also preserves older building fabric: the chancel contains fabric dating from the 13th century. Alongside Great Field, the Church of St Brannock therefore represents another historical perspective on Braunton.

Braunton Museum focuses on Braunton's agricultural, maritime, wartime and social history. Among its special exhibits is a working model of the railway station as it looked in the 1950s. The Museum of British Surfing displays historic surfboards and was established as a national registered charity to preserve the heritage of surfing. It is located on Caen Street in Braunton.

In addition, the Braunton Museum & Information Centre offers exhibitions and information about the coastal and agricultural landscapes around Braunton. Its programme also includes guided walks, illustrated talks and film screenings. Depending on your interests, this allows you to combine an active activity with a deeper exploration of the landscape and local history.

Getting around by bicycle or on foot

The Tarka Trail is a walking and cycling route in the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. Anyone who enjoys travelling by bicycle can make this route a focus of their trip planning. For families with different interests, the combination of nature observation, cultural discoveries and active time offers the opportunity to enjoy varied holiday days without planning all activities in the same way.

The journey there also deserves some consideration. The nearest railway station to the Museum of British Surfing is in Barnstaple, 6 miles away.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation

A holiday apartment in Braunton is particularly well suited to a trip that allows you to switch between nature, local history, surfing culture and cycling. Before searching, decide which of these experiences should take up the most space. Braunton Burrows and its biodiversity appeal to nature enthusiasts, while Great Field, the museums and the Church of St Brannock offer other ways to explore history. The Tarka Trail adds an active way to experience North Devon to this selection.

For further destinations in this selection, you can continue planning your trip with Hawkchurch, Hemyock, Salcombe, Lydford, Bovey Tracey, Budleigh Salterton, Payhembury and Chagford.

To the overview of destinations: Devon.