Rainy Day in Braunton: Surf in the Rain, Then a Carvery

Short answer: You are already wet if you are surfing, so poor weather matters less here than anywhere. Braunton Burrows is empty and atmospheric in the rain, and the Williams Arms at Wrafton serves a carvery every day.

The honest position

Braunton is a working village inland of the beaches, and it does not have an indoor attraction. What it has is a location — so a wet day here is about choosing the right outdoor thing and then somewhere good to dry off.

Things rain does not spoil

Surfing

Saunton is ten minutes away and the surf does not care about the weather. As one reviewer puts it about this coast, surfing in poor weather is good fun because you do not notice the rain. Schools run outside the season — mention it is winter when you book so you get the right wetsuit.

The dunes

Braunton Burrows is the largest dune system in England and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with concrete D-Day training structures still standing in it. In the rain it is empty and genuinely atmospheric, and the dunes give more shelter than an open beach.

Where to dry off

• The Williams Arms at Wrafton — a carvery served every day, and its own car park.
• The Duck Dive on Caen Street — the best-rated place to eat in Braunton, with big breakfasts.
• Beachside Grill at Saunton — indoor seating right beside the sands.
• The white lion on North Street — the village local, with live music.

If you want a roof

Barnstaple is ten minutes away and has the covered Pannier Market, a free museum and a trampoline park. Bideford is twenty minutes, with The Big Sheep, The Milky Way and the region's best soft play all within reach.

One thing to check

The Crow Point toll road closes at times and takes £2.50 in coins at a barrier. In bad weather that is not a drive you want to make twice.