Saunton Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Saunton showing rugged coastline and a coastal town
Saunton showing a house and tranquil scenes
Saunton which includes a beach, a house and a coastal town
Saunton featuring a sandy beach and a house
Saunton which includes a sandy beach

This tiny coastal village is situated in the beautiful North Devon countryside, with miles of beach offering fantastic surfing.

Enjoy long walks on Saunton’s beach and hit the waves for excellent surfing, particularly for beginners. Relax with a round of golf at the local course and enjoy great food and drink at the clubhouse. Explore the dunes and discover their importance during World War II.

Learn to surf on Saunton Beach, where the flat sands and slow-breaking waves provide excellent conditions for beginners. Grab a longboard if you’re more experienced and enjoy the fantastically shaped surf, which allows for longer rides. These qualities have made the beach a frequent host of British Longboard Union events.

Take long walks on the 3-mile (5-kilometre) beach and feel free to bring your dog along, as this is the only beach in the area which allows dogs year round. Enhance your tan when the weather is good or go for a swim. Wander the Braunton Burrows or book a World War II tour and learn about the role the area played in defending Britain from the Nazis.

The burrows are at the heart of North Devon's Biosphere Reserve. Explore the 55 square miles (140 square kilometres) of dunes and grasslands and watch for birds such as lapwings, whinchats and whitethroats.

Play a few rounds at Saunton Golf Course, the 36-hole course which has been open for over a hundred years. Enjoy a drink at the bar afterward and sample from the restaurant menu if you’re hungry.

Saunton’s nearest train station is Barnstaple it is served by buses from Barnstaple and Braunton. Visit in the summer to enjoy the best weather or avoid the crowds by arriving in the off-season.

Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness

Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness

4 out of 5
Saunton Sands Hotel Braunton England
The price is ฿6,878 per night from 4 Jan to 5 Jan
฿6,878
฿8,254 total
4 Jan - 5 Jan 2026
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Braunton. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (159 reviews)
The staff make this hotel, all wonderfully friendly and gave the 5* experience

Reviewed on 2 Dec 2025

Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness
The Royal & Fortescue

The Royal & Fortescue

3 out of 5
Boutport Street Barnstaple England
The price is ฿3,280 per night from 12 Dec to 13 Dec
฿3,280
฿3,936 total
12 Dec - 13 Dec
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Barnstaple. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (636 reviews)
Staff was great. Decor in the common areas was great, especially in the restaurant. Food and drink were very good. There were only two blemishes on our stay: the parking was difficult to find, some of the parking spaces were difficult to get into, some bar patrons took some of the hotel parking spaces, ...

Reviewed on 27 Nov 2025

The Royal & Fortescue
The Barnstaple Hotel

The Barnstaple Hotel

3 out of 5
Braunton Road Barnstaple England
The price is ฿3,048 per night from 8 Dec to 9 Dec
฿3,048
฿3,657 total
8 Dec - 9 Dec
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Barnstaple. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (384 reviews)
Great facilities, Great location

Reviewed on 23 Nov 2025

The Barnstaple Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Westbeach Holiday Apartments

Westbeach Holiday Apartments

4 out of 5
Nelson Rd Bideford England
Stay at this beach apartment in Bideford. Enjoy free parking, balconies and rainfall showerheads. Popular attractions North Devon Coast and Royal North Devon ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (127 reviews)
An excellent choice!
We have stayed in another property at this location previously, the apartments have an amazing location, minutes from the centre of Westward Ho! The apartment was clean, comfortable and even had a welcome pack. Amenities were great, including an iron and board, hair dryer and hoover. Great on sight ...

Reviewed on 21 Sept 2025

Westbeach Holiday Apartments
The Mole Resort - Lodges

The Mole Resort - Lodges

4 out of 5
The Lodges at The Mole Umberleigh England
Stay at this family-friendly villa in Umberleigh. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (71 reviews)
The staff were very nice and helpful. The accommodation was clean inside, but the hot tub steps were a bit mouldy and the bike/cleaning hose fired water in two different directions

Reviewed on 8 Nov 2025

The Mole Resort - Lodges
North Devon Resort

North Devon Resort

3 out of 5
Marlborough Road Ilfracombe England
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Ilfracombe. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Ilfracombe Harbour and Verity Statue are ...
6.8/10 (18 reviews)
Lovely place to stay
The holiday was amzazing, the rooms could do with a re-vamp. We could see loads of work going on. Definitely on our to come back list.

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

North Devon Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Saunton

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
1
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

We went to play golf at Saunton Sands - which was superb championship standard - and stayed at this nearby hotel because it was closeby.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

On a sunny day you could imagine you were abroad!