Moderate to easy
11 July 2024
Woolacombe to Braunton is a long stage, marking a shift in landscape—moving from cliffs and headlands to wide sandy beaches, sweeping dunes, and estuary marshland.
Points of Interest: Woolacombe to Braunton
Here’s what to look out for along the way:
Woolacombe & Putsborough Sands
Start at Woolacombe’s popular beach, then head south to the quieter sands of Putsborough—favoured by surfers and wild swimmers.
Baggy Point
A gently rising headland with striking folded rock formations, rich coastal flora, and wide views to Lundy and Hartland Point.
Croyde Bay
A lively surf village with a sandy beach backed by dunes. The official path skirts the beach before climbing inland past a well-known Grand Designs house.
Saunton Sands & Saunton Sands Hotel
A sweeping 3-mile beach backed by impressive dunes. The path climbs above the bay before rejoining the coast near the Art Deco hotel.
Braunton Burrows
One of Britain’s largest dune systems and part of a UNESCO Biosphere. A haven for wildflowers and wildlife, with visible WWII military remains.
The American Road
A long, straight track built by U.S. forces during WWII, once used for D-Day training. Still in use today as a route through the dunes.
Crow Point & Taw Estuary
A remote spot where the dunes meet the tidal estuary. Look out for birds, creeks, and panoramic views over the salt marsh.
Braunton Marshes
Historic reclaimed wetlands with Napoleonic-era drainage systems. Great for spotting waders, otters, and other estuary wildlife.
Velator Quay
An old quay on the approach to Braunton, where the path follows a raised dyke past salt flats and boats stranded in the mud.
Braunton Village
The largest village in England. Pubs, shops, and a small museum mark the end of the stage—and the start of the Tarka Trail.
Logistics
| Sleep Dog Friendly Accommodation | Shoreline (Holiday Apartment), Woolacombe We did 2 walks during a family holiday |
| Eat | Lots of opportunities around Woolacombe, too many to mention! We celebrated the walk with a Sri Lankan Curry at the Barricane Beach Cafe! |
| Travel Transport back from Braunton to Woolacombe | As we had 2 cars with us, we dropped one car in the Caen Street car park in Braunton and returned for the start in the other. |
Alternative: Travelling by Stagecoach involves a change at Twitchen Cross. The 303 bus leaves Woolacombe at 7:56 or 9:55. You’d then need to change to the 301 with journey times of between 50 – 96 minutes. Taw and Torridge have a direct service, the 31, at 9:35. As Taw and Torridge is principally a coach company, I wasn’t sure how dog friendly they’d be and there were no details on their website.