Braunton Day Out for £50 or Less: How to Do It

Short answer: Braunton's parking is cheaper than Croyde's, the Tarka Trail is free and flat, and Braunton Burrows costs nothing to walk in. The Williams Arms does a carvery every day, which is the best-value proper meal in the village.

Parking is the first saving

Braunton parking is cheaper than Croyde and the village is ten minutes from Saunton Sands. For a north Devon beach day in August, basing yourself here rather than in the honeypot villages is the single biggest cost difference available.

What costs nothing

• Braunton Burrows — a UNESCO biosphere reserve, free to walk, with D-Day training relics in the dunes.
• The Tarka Trail, flat and traffic-free through the village.
• Horsey Island Wildlife Reserve and the Great Sea Wall walk — quiet and good for birds.
• Baggy Point's 2.5 mile circular, free for National Trust members.

The carvery

The Williams Arms does a carvery every single day, is dog friendly, and is the best-value substantial meal around here. Check the carvery times before you turn up — they do not run all day and arriving at half three is a wasted trip.

Cheap breakfast

The Duck Dive is the best rated place in Braunton and opens at 8.30am. Starting the day there and then walking or cycling the Tarka Trail is a full morning for the price of breakfast.

Where the money goes

Beach parking at Saunton or Croyde, and the Crow Point toll road, which is cash only. If you are keeping to a budget, walk or bus to the sand rather than paying twice for parking in one day.

A day around £25

Breakfast at the Duck Dive, the Tarka Trail or the burrows in the morning for nothing, carvery at the Williams Arms, then Saunton Sands in the afternoon. Two meals and one parking charge is the whole day.