What Makes Saunton Special
Saunton Sands is the kind of beach that photographers discover and can't stop returning to. The geometry is extraordinary: a dead-straight three-mile stretch of golden sand running perfectly north-south, backed by the enormous rolling dunes of Braunton Burrows. At low tide the beach is so wide and flat that the incoming tide seems to cross it in slow motion, catching the light in vast shallow sheets of water that mirror the sky.
Unlike Croyde (2 miles north) or Woolacombe (5 miles north), Saunton doesn't have a village attached. There's the famous art deco Saunton Sands Hotel on the clifftop, a National Trust car park, a seasonal café — and then three miles of Atlantic coastline. The absence of a village and its attendant crowds is its greatest virtue. Even in August, you can walk 20 minutes from the car park and have a significant stretch of sand to yourself.
The beach was used by Allied forces during Second World War training for D-Day landings, due to its resemblance to the Normandy beaches. The dunes behind still occasionally reveal military artefacts after winter storms.
💡 The Saunton Secret
Most visitors park at the main car park and stay near the northern end. Walk south for 15–20 minutes and the beach becomes dramatically quieter. The sand is firmer near the water's edge and perfect for running, cycling or long mindful walks. At low tide you can walk the entire length and back in a morning.
Braunton Burrows — Britain's Largest Dune System
Immediately behind Saunton Sands lies one of Britain's most extraordinary natural landscapes. Braunton Burrows is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — only the second site in England to receive this designation — covering 900 hectares of dynamic sand dunes, slack grassland, and coastal heath.
The dunes here are active and shifting — some reach 30 metres high — and support an astonishing diversity of plant life. Over 400 plant species have been recorded, including rare orchids, sea rocket, and sand sedge. The dune slacks (shallow depressions between dunes that fill with water) are internationally important for amphibians and invertebrates.
Walking through the Burrows feels genuinely wild — the undulating landscape swallows people quickly and the sound of the sea can disappear entirely behind the taller dunes. It's an extraordinary place for a long barefoot wander, birdwatching (curlew, stonechat, peregrine all regularly seen), or simply exploring.
🌿 Wildlife at Braunton Burrows
Spring/summer: Pyramidal orchids, bee orchids, southern marsh orchids in dune slacks. Natterjack toads calling at dusk from ponds. Skylarks overhead.
Autumn: Migrant waders on the estuary edge. Peregrines hunting over the dunes.
Winter: Golden plover flocks on damp slacks. Short-eared owls quartering the ground on still days.
Surfing at Saunton Sands
Saunton faces the same Atlantic swells as Croyde and Woolacombe but delivers a distinctly different surfing experience. The beach is shallower and the gradient gentler, which means waves break more softly and travel further up the sand. This makes it Devon's best beach for absolute beginners — there's plenty of space, the waves are forgiving, and even on 3–4ft days the break is manageable for those just starting out.
For experienced surfers, Saunton is better in smaller conditions — when Croyde is too big and closed out, Saunton's more forgiving break still offers playful 2–3ft waves worth a session. The northern end near the car park sees more people in the water; the southern half is less crowded and can hold slightly better shape.
Surf Schools at Saunton
- Saunton Surf School — resident at Saunton, beginners to improvers, group and private lessons, equipment included
- British Surfing Association — approved coaching courses operate from here, good for certification-level progression
- Cross-over from Croyde — most Croyde-based schools offer Saunton lessons when conditions suit beginners better
Dogs at Saunton Sands
One of Saunton's biggest advantages over Croyde and the main Woolacombe beach in summer: dogs are welcome year-round with no seasonal restrictions. The sheer size of the beach means dogs can always find open space away from bathers, and the Braunton Burrows walks behind are also dog-friendly (keep them on leads near livestock and during the ground-nesting bird season, April–August).
This makes Saunton the default choice for dog owners in the North Devon area during the summer months. Bring plenty of water — the beach can be exposed and warm in summer, and fresh water sources aren't close to hand.
Parking at Saunton Sands
The National Trust car park at Saunton Sands is large and usually easier to park in than Croyde, though it still fills in peak summer:
| Car Park | Capacity | Cost | Walk to Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT Saunton Sands Main | Large (300+ spaces) | Paid (NT members free) | 2 minutes |
| Saunton Sands Hotel | Hotel guests only | Hotel guests | 3 minutes |
| Braunton (village) | Town centre parking | Short stay paid | 2 mile walk or cycle |
Saunton Sands Hotel
The elegant 1930s art deco hotel perched on the clifftop above the beach is a North Devon landmark. Non-residents can use the café and restaurant — the terrace with its direct view over the full sweep of the beach is one of the best vantage points in Devon. A post-beach cream tea here is something of a North Devon institution. The hotel also offers surf packages for guests, spa facilities and a pool.
Facilities at Saunton
- Lifeguards: RNLI patrols in season (late May to mid-September), but Saunton is less intensively staffed than Woolacombe — always swim between the flags and check conditions.
- Toilets: At the main car park. No beach toilets further along the beach.
- Café: Seasonal beach café at the car park end of the beach, open summer months. Limited menu — bring your own lunch if walking far.
- No amusements: This is a feature, not a bug. Saunton has none of the beach arcade noise that accompanies more commercialised beaches.
Walking: The Tarka Trail & Coast Path
Saunton sits on the South West Coast Path, which follows the clifftop to the north and south. From the northern end of the beach, the path climbs through the Saunton Down dunes towards Croyde (2 miles) — a spectacular walk with outstanding views back over the full length of the beach. At low tide you can simply walk north along the beach itself to Croyde.
The Tarka Trail cycle and walking route passes through Braunton village (2 miles east of the beach) and connects to Barnstaple and the wider Devon cycle network. Braunton Burrows can be accessed directly from the southern end of the beach car park — there are no formal paths through the dunes, just follow the worn tracks and navigate by the distinctive dune peaks.
🚲 Cycling to Saunton
The Tarka Trail runs from Barnstaple to Braunton (mostly traffic-free) and from Braunton it's 2 miles on quiet lanes to the beach. This is one of the most pleasant ways to reach Saunton — park at Barnstaple (free in the evenings), cycle to the beach, spend the morning, and cycle back. Total ride each way: about 6 miles.
Wildlife Watching
The combination of beach, dunes and the Taw-Torridge estuary directly south makes Saunton one of North Devon's finest wildlife spots:
- Grey seals — regularly spotted in the surf zone, particularly in autumn and winter. They follow the fish shoals close to shore.
- Bottlenose dolphins — occasional sightings in summer, usually in the morning from the dune clifftops
- Gannets — spectacular white plunge-divers frequently visible offshore year-round
- Peregrine falcon — hunts over the Burrows; resident pairs nest on the nearby sea cliffs
- Natterjack toads — one of Britain's rarest amphibians; calling at night in spring from dune slack ponds
Nearby Attractions
- Croyde Beach — 2 miles north, Devon's premier surf village with hollow beach break
- Woolacombe Beach — 5 miles north, 3 miles of Blue Flag surf beach
- Braunton village — 2 miles east, traditional North Devon village with good pubs and the Croyde Bay fish and chip shop
- Barnstaple — 8 miles east, North Devon's market town, good for rainy day shopping and the Pannier Market
- Instow — 10 miles east on the estuary, pretty village with a sandy estuary beach, excellent for children and calm water