Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows Walk
Devon
This dog friendly North Devon walk threads together one of the country's grandest beaches and a UNESCO biosphere dune system. The route drops onto Saunton Sands and follows three miles of firm flat sand south to the Crow Point estuary, then loops back inland through the marram grass and slacks of Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in England, before returning to the car park along Sandy Lane.
Dogs are welcome year round on Saunton Sands and the Burrows, with no seasonal beach ban, and the dunes are a long-standing favourite for off-lead running. The one rule to watch is the conservation grazing herd of Ruby Red cattle that move between three signed zones in the Burrows, so check the gate signs and lead up if cows are present. The terrain is mostly flat but the dunes can be soft going and easy to lose your bearings in, so keep a route in mind. There are toilets and a cafe at the Saunton Sands car park.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 9.5 km (5.9 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 3 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Forest
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafe, toilets and ice cream kiosk at Saunton Sands; surf hire and beach shop at the car park; pubs in Braunton village.
- Parking
- Large pay and display car park at Saunton Sands (EX33 1LQ); smaller Sandy Lane car park (EX33 2NX) for direct dune access.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Booking links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices are a guide only and change with dates and availability.
All dog friendly stays in DevonVisitor Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
What’s Nearby?
Beach0.3 mi awaySaunton Sands
Devon
Over three miles of open sand with no seasonal ban, backed by a UNESCO-listed dune system that makes it one of Devon's most reliable dog friendly beaches.
Beach0.7 mi awayCroyde Beach
Devon
One of the UK's most celebrated surf beaches, Croyde is stunning but off-limits to dogs entirely from May to September -- an autumn and winter destination only for dog owners.
Beach1.4 mi awayPutsborough Sands
Devon
The quieter southern end of the Woolacombe beach system, Putsborough has partial year-round dog access with restrictions on the left section from Easter to November -- a solid year-round choice if you head to the right.
Beach3.6 mi awayBarricane Beach
Devon
A tiny, shell-strewn cove half a mile from Woolacombe, famous for cowrie shells washed in from the Caribbean and a beloved beach curry cafe, though dogs must be on leads when the cafe is operating in the warmer months.
Beach3.6 mi awayWoolacombe Beach
Devon
A massive Atlantic beach with a zone system that still leaves miles of unrestricted sand for dogs to run year round.
Beach4.1 mi awayCombesgate Beach
Devon
A secluded cove near Woolacombe popular for rock pooling and surfing, but with a full summer dog ban from late April to September meaning it is an autumn and winter option for dog owners.