Braunton offers two distinct ways to explore its history and landscape: the expansive Braunton Burrows and museums covering topics from surfboards to local history. You can plan your trip around whether you want to explore nature, heritage or both.
Dune Landscape and Biodiversity
Braunton Burrows is one of the largest dune systems in the British Isles, covering around 1,000 hectares. Its landscape includes extensive, species-rich calcareous dune grassland.
Braunton Burrows SAC is home to more than 470 plant species. It also supports populations of common lizards and great crested newts. If you are weighing up nature and cultural experiences for your trip, Braunton Burrows offers a distinct focus alongside the museums and historic sites.
On Foot and by Bike
The Tarka Trail is a walking and cycling route in the North Devon Biosphere Reserve.
Museums with Different Focuses
The Museum of British Surfing on Caen Street displays historic surfboards. Some displays may change. The museum was established as a national registered charity to preserve surfing heritage. Its focus is therefore the history of surfing, while the exhibitions at Braunton Museum take a different approach.
Braunton Museum covers Braunton’s agricultural, maritime, wartime and social history. Its exhibits include a working model of the railway station as it looked in the 1950s. Another venue, Braunton Museum & Information Centre, offers exhibitions and information about the coastal and agricultural landscapes around Braunton. It also offers guided walks, illustrated talks and film screenings.
Historic Landscape and Architectural History
Outside the museums, the landscape and buildings also tell stories from different periods. Braunton Great Field is one of only three medieval strip fields to have survived in England. Braunton Marshes were probably reclaimed from the tidal waters of the River Taw in the Middle Ages. The historical dating of the marshes is considered probable, not certain.
At the Church of St Brannock, some of the chancel fabric dates from the 13th century. Together with Great Field and Braunton Marshes, the church offers a view of three different features: a medieval strip field, a landscape altered probably in the Middle Ages, and surviving fabric from the 13th century.
Plan Your Journey and Accommodation
The Museum of British Surfing is on Caen Street in Braunton. The nearest railway station to the museum is in Barnstaple, six miles away. If you are combining your trip with a museum visit, you can factor this into your travel plans.
When looking for a hotel in Braunton, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: are the dunes and their nature your priority, are you particularly interested in the museums, or would you like to explore the historic landscape and architectural history? This can help you tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that matter to you, without combining the different themes into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Broadwoodwidger, Manaton, Dalwood, Bratton Fleming, Southleigh, Harberton, Burlescombe, Barnstaple.
For the regional travel overview: Devon.
