Saunton Sands: Parking, Dogs and the Tide

Short answer: Three miles of firm flat sand ten minutes from Braunton, with dogs allowed all year — which Croyde does not do in summer. The car park takes contactless and closes when full on bank holidays, so arrive before ten. It is the best big beach on this coast for space.

Why Saunton over Croyde

Two things. Dogs are allowed at Saunton all year round, where Croyde restricts them in summer. And Saunton is three miles long, so even on a busy day you can walk away from people — Croyde is a small bay and fills visibly. Braunton parking is also cheaper than Croyde's if you are basing yourself inland.

Parking

The car park takes contactless, which is worth knowing on a coast where several beach car parks still want coins. It does close when full on bank holidays, so aim to arrive before ten in high season. Out of season none of this applies.

The sand itself

Firm and flat, which matters more than people realise — it is good for pushchairs, for walking distances, and for anyone who finds soft sand hard work. The tide goes a long way out, leaving a vast expanse that is the defining feature of this beach.

Surf and swimming

• It holds surf through the year and there are surf schools operating here.
• Lifeguard cover is seasonal — check before relying on it.
• The tide goes out a long way, so the walk to the water can be substantial.
• Rips occur, as everywhere on this coast; swim between flags when they are up.

Eating

The Beachside Grill sits right beside the beach and is dog friendly, so you walk off the sand into it. Book at busy times. Back in Braunton, the Williams Arms does a carvery every day and the Duck Dive opens at 8.30am.

Behind the beach

Braunton Burrows runs behind Saunton — a UNESCO biosphere reserve with D-Day training relics in the dunes. It is free to walk, but it floods in winter and has no facilities at all, so treat it as a separate expedition rather than an extension of the beach day.