Burrows and Beyond: Coastal Escape

Your coastal escape begins with a relaxing train journey into North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. Look out for Copplestone Station, where you officially cross into the reserve. As the countryside opens out around you, the views shift from rolling farmland to riverbanks, wooded slopes and wide skies, offering a gentle introduction to the landscapes you’ll explore over the next two days.

On arrival in Barnstaple, make your way to the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, where local stories, natural history displays and changing exhibitions help bring the region’s landscapes and communities to life. Their historic natural history collections include the marine herbarium of Rev William Strong Hore, and the Sharland herbarium. They also have examples of local animals, insects and birds, and historic birds’ egg collections.

Before setting off again, enjoy a well-earned break at one of the cafés nearby. A varied breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menu can be found at Queen Anne’s Café on the Strand. Tea by The Taw is a fully licensed vintage tearoom, serving homemade cakes and cream teas. For real, feel-good food, try The Feel Good Larder, where everything is gluten-free.

Head to the bus station for your onward journey to Saunton.

Begin your Braunton Burrows walk at the Saunton Sands bus stop, with the dunes rising ahead and the beach moments away. Follow the short path to the shore and turn south beside the wide sweep of Saunton Sands. When the dunes rise higher, leave the beach on a sandy trail into Braunton Burrows — one of Britain’s largest dune systems and a designated Special Area of Conservation at the core of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere.

Grassy ridges and sheltered slacks support over 470 plant species, 11 orchids and 33 butterfly species, along with skylarks and meadow pipits. Follow the winding paths through this peaceful landscape towards Sandy Lane Car Park.

Option A – Return to Saunton Sands Hotel:
Head north along the inland edge of the dunes on the South West Coast Path, where a variety of songbirds nest in the scrub.

Option B – Into Braunton Village:
Walk north up Sandy Lane, then take the first road east into Braunton Marsh, shaped in the early 19th century by drainage and bank works that created its network of dykes and pastureland. Continue beside the Boundary Drain to Second Field Lane, a track bearing left off the road. This leads through the Braunton Great Field, one of the only surviving medieval strip-field systems in England. Follow the public footpath across the open strips towards the village. The route brings you out near Caen Car Park, just a short walk from the Braunton Countryside Centre, where you can explore displays on local wildlife, landscapes and heritage.

Safety: Follow red-flag restrictions during military training.

How you bring your day to a close depends on the route you chose.
If you followed Option A back to Saunton, the Saunton Sands Hotel offers a gentle and relaxing end to the afternoon. You may wish to stay the night and enjoy its seaview lounges, calm atmosphere and beachfront setting, or simply pause for a refreshing drink or a light bite before beginning your return bus journey to Barnstaple.

If you chose Option B, your afternoon ends in Braunton and your evening continues in Barnstaple after catching the bus back to town.

Barnstaple offers a welcoming mix of restaurants, including the warmly reviewed modern Indian dishes at Tiffin, the Turkish grills and mezze at The Golden Horn, and the contemporary menu and cocktails at Lush Bar & Restaurant

There is also a wide variety of accommodation, from town centre hotels to comfortable B&Bs. Especially convenient are No.22 B&B, just a short walk from bus and rail stations, and the Royal & Fortescue Hotel, close to shops, cafés and evening dining.

Whichever path you chose, both provide an easy, relaxed end to your first day within our Biosphere.

Your starting point this morning depends on how you ended Day 1.

If you stayed overnight at Saunton Sands Hotel, begin by taking the bus back to Barnstaple. (Note: this service does not run on Sundays. Taxi’s are available.)
If you stayed in Barnstaple, head to the bus station for your onward journey to Appledore. Your walk begins near the Appledore Seagate Hotel on the waterfront.

Walk a short distance south to Appledore Gate, where the Red Trail begins. This waymarked 3.3-mile loop leads you into Northam Burrows Country Park, a rare mix of saltmarsh, grazing pasture and low dune systems shaped over centuries by tide and weather. Skylarks rise above the grassland, ponies and sheep graze the paths, and in spring and summer wildflowers colour the route.

Follow the estuary edge trail around The Skern, a peaceful inlet where waders and wildfowl feed across the mudflats. The trail then bends inland before reaching the Northam Burrows Visitor Centre — a great place for refreshments and to explore displays on wildlife, geology, local history, walking routes and maps for future visits or longer stays.

After your break, follow the trail north-east as it loops back to Appledore Gate, completing your morning circuit.

Take some time to enjoy Appledore at a gentle pace. This estuary village is full of character — narrow lanes, colourful doorways, small galleries and independent shops tucked between cottages. It’s the perfect place for a relaxed wander, a coffee break, or a browse before making your way back towards Barnstaple.

In the summer months (April to October), you also have the option of crossing the estuary on the Appledore–Instow Ferry, which operates roughly two hours either side of high tide when conditions allow. Timetables vary month by month, with services typically starting from early April and running daily through summer.
The crossing is short but wonderfully scenic, giving you a fresh view of the estuary as you arrive in Instow.

Once ashore, enjoy a stroll along Instow’s waterfront, where cottages, cafés and a wide sandy beach create an easy, unhurried atmosphere. It’s a lovely spot to linger before heading back.

When you’re ready, catch the bus back to Barnstaple from either Appledore or Instow.

Arrive back in Barnstaple and enjoy a gentle wander through the town as evening settles in. If you’d like to toast your two-day adventure, stop by Beer Matters, the friendly community micropub known for its relaxed atmosphere and everchanging selection of local beers and ciders — a cosy place to pause and reflect on your journey.

For dinner, you might choose Fullam Chinese, offering comforting classics in the heart of town, or Block, known for its warm welcome and flavour packed dishes — ideal for a relaxed final meal. Or simply enjoy a quiet stroll along the river as the light fades over the Taw.

When you’re ready, make your way to Barnstaple train station for your onward journey home — a calm, unhurried close to your Burrows and Beyond coastal escape.