• Things to do
    • Attractions
      • Beaches
      • Adventure, Theme & Waterparks
      • Animals & Aquariums
      • Museums, History & Heritage
      • Arts & Culture
      • Parks & Gardens
    • Activities
      • Walking
      • Cycling
      • Surfing & Watersports
      • Horse Riding
      • Golf
      • Fishing
      • Health & Fitness
      • Shooting
      • Coastal Walks in North Devon
    • Shopping
      • Shopping in North Devon
  • Accommodation
    • Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Self Catering & Cottages
    • Camping & Caravans
    • Holiday Parks
    • Farm Holidays
    • Glamping
  • What's On
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Children’s
    • Food & Drink Events
    • Gardens & Nature
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Tell Us About Your Event
  • Food & Drink
    • North Devon Food Trail
    • Restaurants
    • Cafes & Tea Rooms
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Street Food & Takeaways
    • Deli’s and Farmers Markets
    • Fish & Chips
  • Explore
    • Biosphere
    • AONB
    • Exmoor
      • Wild Camping on Exmoor
      • Wildlife on Exmoor
    • Beaches
    • North Devon Film Locations
    • Villages & Towns
      • Appledore
      • Barnstaple
      • Bideford
      • Braunton and Saunton
      • Clovelly
      • Combe Martin
      • Croyde
      • Great Torrington
      • Hartland Peninsula
      • Holsworthy
      • Ilfracombe
      • Instow
      • Lundy Island
      • Lynton, Lynmouth & The Valley of the Rocks
      • Minehead & Porlock Weir
      • Northam Burrows
      • South Molton
      • Westward Ho!
      • Woolacombe
    • Family Discoveries
    • Tarka Trail
  • Discover North Devon
    • Dog Friendly North Devon
    • History & Heritage
    • Free Days Out
    • Weddings
    • Rainy Days
    • Outdoor Adventures
    • Family Holidays
    • Romantic Breaks
    • Conferences & Functions
    • Nature in North Devon
      • Dark Skies at Exmoor
      • Nature trails in North Devon
      • Puffins in North Devon
    • Devon Cream Teas
    • Itineraries
      • North Devon WW2 & Natural History Tour
      • North Devon Second World War Itinerary
      • North Devon Mayflower Celebration Itinerary
      • Bideford History & Tour Itinerary
      • Lynton & Lynmouth Victorian Heritage Itinerary
      • Lynton & Lynmouth Rocks & Rivers Walking Itinerary
    • Literature in North Devon
    • Pirates in North Devon
    • Nighttime Adventures in North Devon
    • Stag and Hen Weekends
  • Plan Your Visit
    • How to get here
    • Getting Around North Devon & Exmoor
    • Advertise With Us
    • Interactive Map
    • TICs
    • Enewsletter Sign-up
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Special Offers
  • COVID-19
    • Good to Go Accommodation
    • Good to Go Things to Do
    • Eat Out to Help Out North Devon
Menu
  • Explore

    Explore North Devon

  • Stay

    Stay

  • Experience

  • What's On

    What's On in North Devon

Site Search

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Logo
  • Print Logo

You are here > Things to do > Northam Burrows Country Park

Northam Burrows Country Park
  • Northam Burrows Country Park
  • Dog walking

Northam Burrows Country Park

Book Tickets Online

About

Northam Burrows Country Park is a beautiful expanse of common land popular with visitors throughout the year. Situated at the mouth of the Taw/Torridge Estuary, the Burrows is surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery and is part of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The park also lies within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is home to many rare plants and animals.

Torridge District Council manages Northam Burrows as a country park and access is provided year round. With 253 hectares of countryside to explore the Burrows is perfect for walking. Dogs are welcome but need to be controlled around wildlife as well as the sheep and horses that graze the coastal pasture. Golf is another popular pursuit. The Royal North Devon Golf Club has the oldest links course in England and have played on the Burrows since 1853. Pedestrians are able to cross the course, but please be aware of games being played.

The Pebble Ridge is a famous natural landmark that runs along the western edge of the Burrows and protects it from the sea at high tide. At low tide the sea retreats to reveal the golden sand of Westward Ho! beach that stretches over 2 miles. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag for excellent water quality and facilities. It is lifeguarded in the summer with typically calm waters suitable for swimmers and people learning to surf.

‘Potwalloper’ is a local term that originates from 1701 when the right to vote depended on owning a second fire place for cooking (to boil a pot!). In 1716 this status was linked with the right to graze livestock on Northam Burrows. Common grazing is a practice that remains today and is something that has helped to preserve the park’s unique environment.

Northam Burrows consists of several habitats perfect for novice and expert nature enthusiasts. Rockpools at the southern end of Westward Ho! beach hide all sorts of creatures amongst the seaweed and underneath pebbles. Shore Crabs, Prawns and Blennies dart about the pools while Anemones, Mussels and Limpets stick to the rocky shore.

The sand dunes of Northam Burrows are home to some rare and wonderful plants. Water Germander and Sea Stock are only found here and a few other sites in England. Meanwhile lizards are commonly seen basking in the sunshine and Skylarks soar above their nests in tussocks of Marram Grass.

The salt marsh is locally known as the Skern and attracts hundreds of wading birds feeding on the creatures found buried in the mud. Curlews, Oystercatchers, Redshanks and Dunlins use long beaks to dig out their meals. In the winter Brent Geese patrol the shoreline eating the algae. Other rare and occasionally exotic species can be found on this fantastic feeding ground; drawing bird watchers from all over the country.

Map & Directions

View Map

Sandymere Road, Northam, Bideford, Devon, EX39 1XS

Add Northam Burrows Country Park to your Itinerary

What's Nearby

  1. Westward Ho! Beach

    Westward Ho! Beach

    Westward Ho! is a beach geared up to cater for every tourist's needs. With seaside shops,…

    1.13 miles away
  2. Instow Beach

    Instow Beach

    A wheelchair accessible sandy beach set where the Torridge River meets the Taw estuary.…

    1.68 miles away
  3. braunton burrows

    Braunton Burrows

    Braunton Burrows, is one of the largest sand dune systems in the British Isles. At the…

    2.12 miles away
  1. Saunton Sands

    Saunton Sands

    Another key component of North Devon's golden coast Saunton Sands is a long…

    4.11 miles away
  2. Croyde Beach

    Croyde Beach

    Croyde Bay is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes and situated in a small bay on the North…

    5.24 miles away
  3. Putsborough Sands

    Putsborough Sands

    Three miles of golden sands stretching north towards Woolacombe and Morte Point and…

    6.21 miles away
  4. Bucks Mills Beach

    Bucks Mills Beach

    Bucks Mills is a rocky secluded cove at the bottom end of the picturesque village. It is…

    7.28 miles away
  5. Dartington Crystal

    Dartington Crystal

    Take in the Factory Experience & Visitor Centre where you can see and hear the…

    7.69 miles away
  6. Barricane Beach

    Barricane Beach

    Barricane is a picturesque cove tucked in between the rocks, famous for cowries and other…

    7.94 miles away
  7. Combesgate Beach

    Combesgate Beach

    Combesgate is a lovely secluded beach located approximately 600 metres north of…

    8.38 miles away
  8. Clovelly

    Clovelly

    Clovelly, North Devon.  Welcome to a different world

    The picturesque, ancient, fishing…

    8.78 miles away
  9. Clovelly Court Gardens

    Clovelly Court Gardens

    Clovelly Court Gardens are a classic example of a Victorian walled kitchen garden to…

    8.79 miles away
  10. RHS Garden Rosemoor

    RHS Garden Rosemoor

    RHS Garden Rosemoor is an enchanting garden nestled in the beautiful Torridge Valley and…

    8.89 miles away
  11. Rockham Beach (Mortehoe)

    Rockham Beach (Mortehoe)

    A small secluded bay with good rock pools is a good way to describe Mortehoe.

    9.21 miles away
  12. The Milky Way Adventure Park

    The Milky Way Adventure Park

    You'll find fantastic and SAFE fun for the family at The Milky Way - the only attraction…

    9.22 miles away
  13. Lee Bay Beach

    Lee Bay Beach

    This wonderfully secluded beach regarded by some as 'the jewel in the crown of Lee' is…

    10.02 miles away
Previous Next
More

Search What's Nearby

Product Type
Proximity
Within miles
Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..
Loading..Loading..Loading..

Contact Us

Contact Us

Request a Guide

Request a Guide

E-newsletter

E-newsletter

Travel Info

Travel Info

  • Email Page
  • Print Page
  • Visit Devon
  • Visit North Devon
  • Sidmouth
Things to do
Attractions
Activities
Shopping
Accommodation
Hotels
Bed & Breakfasts
Self Catering & Cottages
Camping & Caravans
Holiday Parks
Farm Holidays
Glamping
What's On
Arts & Crafts
Children’s
Food & Drink Events
Gardens & Nature
Music
Theatre
Tell Us About Your Event
Food & Drink
North Devon Food Trail
Restaurants
Cafes & Tea Rooms
Pubs & Bars
Street Food & Takeaways
Deli’s and Farmers Markets
Fish & Chips
Explore
Biosphere
AONB
Exmoor
Beaches
North Devon Film Locations
Villages & Towns
Tarka Trail
Discover North Devon
Free Days Out
Weddings
Rainy Days
Outdoor Adventures
Family Holidays
Romantic Breaks
Conferences & Functions
Devon Cream Teas
Itineraries
Plan Your Visit
How to get here
Getting Around North Devon & Exmoor
TICs
Enewsletter Sign-up
Contact Us
News
Special Offers
Accommodation Offers
Activities & Attractions Offers
Food & Drink Offers
Seasonal Offers

© Visit Devon Community Interest Company

  • Enewsletter Sign-up
  • Site Map
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By