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Accommodation Braunton North Devon Holidays Surfing Braunton Devon UK
Braunton accommodation is plentiful, and handy for the North Devon coast and as a surfer base. Braunton is a surfing centre for all things surfing clothes and surfing gear. There are many shops selling wetsuits and surfboards, as well as a selection of attractive cottages and 1930s villas.
The Braunton Museum is well worth checking out for local history focusing on agricultural and maritime history. Braunton is however perhaps most famous for it's splendid Braunton Burrows sand dunes. This is the largest area of sand dunes in Britain, and an exquisite area of natural beauty. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in November 2002. The golden sandy beach of Broadsands at the estuary mouth is gentle surfing territory, ideal for the novice surfer!
Braunton Burrows Sand Dunes
Braunton Burrows are so called because you'll notice when you visit the large numbers of rabbit burrows in the area. Rabbit grazing in this area keeps the turf short and cropped. This area is celebrated for it's diverse plant life, and over 400 recorded species of vascular plants have been found here. Braunton Burrows area of sand dunes extends nearly 4 miles along the coast to Saunton. In between the sand dunes are valleys known as slacks and these are marshy in wintertime, and home to many marsh herbs and creeping shrubs. The area designated a UNESCO site has been expanded to include the Northam Burrows, the Taw-Torridge estuary and Braunton Marshes.
Located on the buffer zone next to the Marsh of Braunton Burrows is the medieval historic Braunton Great Field, one of only two surviving Mediaeval Open Strip Field systems in the UK. This historic medieval field is still farmed today, and farmers continue to grow crops on narrow strips of land measuring one ""furrow long"", and the strips are distributed amongst farmers so they have a mix of good soil and not so good soil strips. For excellent views of medieval Braunton Great Field climb to Braunton Beacon at the top of West Hill and enjoy the panoramic views of both Braunton Great Fields and Braunton Burrows nature reserve. Of particular importance on Braunton Burrows is the Marram Grass, essential to the preservation of the Dunes. Find out more on the UNESCO link to the right.
Braunton is not only a great base for exploring this beautiful natural sand dune area, it's superb for walking or as a walking stopover. The 180 mile long Tarka Trail, which link the North Devon Coast with Dartmoor actually passes through Braunton village and can be cycled safely along the estuary to Barnstaple and on to Torrington. Good base for cyclists too! In the opposite direction you can hook up with the spectacular South West Coastal Path along the coastline to Woolacombe, Ilfracombe, Lynton and Lynmouth. Braunton is well served with a variety of North Devon accommodation types, including budget campsites, self-catering cottages and check out the Saunton Sands Hotel for a touch of luxury, with spa baths, which has great leisure facilities and superb food!
Braunton Tourist Information Centre, The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street, Braunton, Devon. EX33 1AA. Tel: (+44) 01271 816400.
Braunton Surfing & Braunton Village
Braunton is a great surfing base, with easy access to it's own beach, Broadsands which is great for picnics and Saunton Sands for great coastal walking on paths which weave behind the dunes. Surfing fans will find gentler surfing waves on the beaches near the Burrows, and it's great for beach sports in general such as kite flying. Surfing fans have easy access to other surfing hotspots on the North Devon coast including Woolacombe, Croyde and Westward Ho!
Braunton is a good base for amenities, with a selection of good cafes, shops, pubs and surfing gear shops. There's a great local museum, plus take time if you're a Devon arts and crafts fan, to pop into the Elliott Gallery (check their website link to the right for details). This North Devon gallery often has events in connection with the North Devon Festival annually, plus there are a number of arts displaying their work here in oils, ceramics, wood and check out Mike Taffinder's unusual mirrors. Well worth a look in, with a cafe on-site and arts and crafts all with a local North Devon theme, especially with a focus on North Devon's striking coastline.
The Elliott Gallery, Hillsview, Braunton, North Devon. EX33 2LA. Tel: 01271 812100 or 01271 863539.
Braunton Museum, The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street, Braunton, Devon. EX33 1AA. Tel: 01271-816688
Devon Food & Drink, Braunton
Squires Fish Restaurant and Take-away, Exeter Road, Braunton. Tel: 01271 815533. Acclaimed throughout the South West for it's legendary fish and chips! Modern Resturant.
The Sands Café, Saunton Sands, Near Braunton. Tel: 01271 891288. Great views of the Atlantic Ocean from this great modern café.
Saunton Golf Course Near Braunton
Saunton Golf Course, with it's 36 holes, is renowned for being one of the best golf courses in Britain! There's some prestigious names in their guest book anyway, thoroughly backing up Saunton as one of the best golf course, aka the likes of Jimmy Tarbuck and Gary Linekar.
Saunton Golf Club, Saunton, Nr Braunton, Devon. EX33 1LG. Tel: 01271 812436.
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