Sandy Lane Car Park, Braunton Burrows, Braunton, Devon, EX33 1HY
Braunton Burrows deserves recognition not just as a dog walking route but as a genuine natural attraction in its own right, one that offers a remarkable ecological and sensory experience for anyone who visits. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, this vast sand dune system is internationally significant, home to over 500 species of flowering plants and a biodiversity that would be astonishing anywhere in Britain.
For dog owners, the Burrows represents one of the most freely accessible natural attractions in North Devon. There is no admission charge, dogs are welcome throughout the year, and the sheer scale of the landscape means there is always space to roam without feeling crowded. The experience of walking through towering dune ridges with your dog, the sea audible but not visible through the sand hills, and skylarks rising invisibly overhead is something that lodges permanently in the memory.
The Burrows is privately owned by Christie Estates and managed in partnership with Natural England. Three entry points via different car parks give access to different zones of the system, and information boards at each car park provide current guidance on which areas contain livestock. The dune slacks between ridges hold remarkable collections of wildflowers in spring and summer, including several rare orchid species, and the estuary edge of the reserve where the Taw and Torridge rivers meet is a wonderful area for birdwatching.
Dogs should be kept on leads or under very close control in areas where ground-nesting birds are present, particularly between April and July. The Sandy Lane car park in the middle of the reserve is the most central access point and costs a small daily fee, with toilets and basic refreshments available on site.
Visiting the Burrows connects you to something genuinely wild and precious on the North Devon coast.
