Braunton Burrows is one of those natural places that repays time spent understanding what you are looking at. The UK’s largest sand dune system, it stretches for three miles behind Saunton Sands beach in a landscape that appears desolate at first glance but is in fact one of the richest and most biodiverse habitats in Europe. Over 400 species of flowering plants have been recorded here, including several rare orchid species and a range of specialist dune plants found almost nowhere else in Britain.
The Burrows were designated the core of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and they carry additional protections as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, and a Special Area of Conservation. All of this is deserved: the mosaic of slack, dune ridges, scrub, and open grassland supports invertebrates, reptiles, and birds in extraordinary variety.
The WWII connection adds another dimension. American and British troops trained extensively here in the lead-up to D-Day, and the scale and character of the landscape gave it an almost unique value for rehearsing amphibious landings on open beaches. Remnants of military infrastructure are still visible in places.
The Braunton Countryside Centre is the best starting point for a visit, offering maps, guided walks programmes, and interpretation of the landscape. It is located at the north end of the Burrows, on Sandy Lane approaching from Braunton village. The Burrows are free to access, and the Saunton Sands car park provides an alternative approach from the beach side. About 8 miles from Woolacombe.
Guided walks and nature events run throughout the year from the Braunton Countryside Centre, and these are strongly recommended for anyone who wants to understand the ecology of the dunes in depth. The Centre also runs school and family education programmes and can provide detailed maps of the access routes through the reserve. Cycling through the Burrows on the track connecting the Saunton Sands car park to Crow Point is a popular family activity that gives a sense of the scale and variety of the dune landscape without requiring any particular fitness.
