Braunton Burrows

Braunton Burrows is a vast sand dune system on the North Devon coast, privately owned and managed by the Christie Devon Estates Trust. It stretches along the coast near Braunton and forms the largest sand dune system in England. The site is ecologically significant, containing the full range of dune plant communities and over 470 species of vascular plants. Rare species include the Amber Sandbowl Snail, found in wet dune slacks, and 14 others listed under UK Biodiversity Action Plans. The dunes support rich short-turf communities with abundant lichens and herbs, while the slacks provide wetland habitats. The Burrows played a key role during the Second World War as the American Assault Training Centre. Lieutenant Colonel Paul W. Thompson trained troops here for the Normandy landings, using the dunes and nearby beaches like Woolacombe and Saunton, which closely resembled Omaha Beach. Concrete replica landing craft still stand at the southern end, and 505 Nissen huts once housed 4,250 men. Temporary roads were built, including ‘the American Road’, a widened ferry way still in use today. The site remains leased by the Ministry of Defence and is occasionally closed for training. Visitors find open dunes, long sandy beaches and the small Crow Point Lighthouse at the southern end. The lighthouse, powered by solar energy, guides vessels into the Taw and Torridge estuary with a sector light. The area is popular for walking, dog-walking and summer tourism, with three large car parks providing access. Isolated parts are known for naturism, and the dunes remain a site for scientific research, especially in botany. The shifting sands and varied habitats offer quiet, wild landscapes close to Braunton’s village life.