Plan Your Visit
Everything you need for a great day at Saunton Sands
A little planning can make a day at the beach even better.
Whether you are coming to surf, walk the dog, explore the dunes or spend the day with the family, you will find everything you need to prepare for your visit here, including parking, facilities, accessibility, tide information and beach safety.
Before you set off
Saunton changes with the weather, tides and seasons, so it is always worth checking the conditions before you travel.
The beach has a large tidal range and, at low tide, the sea can retreat a considerable distance across the sand. Check the tide times if you are planning to swim, surf, walk along the shoreline or use beach wheelchairs or mobility equipment.
On warm and sunny days, Saunton Car Park can become very busy. Arriving earlier in the day will usually give you more time to find a space, settle in and enjoy the beach.
Getting to Saunton Beach
Saunton Beach is situated on the North Devon coast, just beyond Braunton and approximately 8 miles from Barnstaple.
For sat nav, use:
Saunton Beach
Braunton
North Devon
EX33 1LG
From Barnstaple, follow the A361 towards Braunton. In Braunton, turn onto the B3231 towards Saunton and Croyde and continue until you reach the beach entrance on the left.
Saunton is also served by the Stagecoach 21C route, connecting Barnstaple, Braunton, Saunton and Croyde. Services and frequencies can vary, so please check the latest timetable before travelling.
Parking at Saunton Beach Car Park
Saunton Beach is served by a large car park, with the Beach Shop, places to eat, surf businesses and the main beach slipway all close by.
The car park uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and operates as a pay-on-exit system. You do not need to collect a ticket when you arrive, but you will need to remember your registration number and pay for your stay before leaving.
Payment can be made at the car park terminals, in the Beach Shop, or digitally using the YourParkingSpace app. Overnight parking and camping are not permitted.
Parking Charges:
Up to 1 hour: £1.75
Up to 2 hours: £3.50
Up to 3 hours: £6.00
Up to 4 hours: £8.50|
For every hour or part of thereafter: + £1
Charging hours vary throughout the year, so please check the current information before your visit.
Facilities beside the beach
Everything you need for a comfortable beach day is within easy reach of the car park and main entrance.
Facilities at Saunton include:
- Public toilets
- Accessible toilet
- Open-air showers
- Food and drink
- A traditional Beach Shop
- Beach wheelchair and mobility equipment
- Surfboard and wetsuit hire
- Surf lessons
- Seasonal beach hut and deckchair hire
- Dog-friendly and accessible accommodation nearby
The businesses and services at Saunton are independently owned and operated by different teams. Opening hours, prices, availability and individual policies may therefore vary, particularly outside the main summer season.
This website brings the information together to help you plan your visit, but we recommend contacting the relevant business directly before travelling if there is a particular service or facility you are relying on.
Visiting with your dog
Dogs are welcome at Saunton throughout the year, making it one of North Devon’s most popular beaches for dog walking.
At the bottom of the main beach ramp, visitors with dogs are asked to turn left onto the main stretch of beach. Dogs should be kept on leads at all times whilst in the car park.
During busy periods, please keep dogs close and under control until you have passed the main crowds. Dog-waste bins are provided around the car park and at the end of the slipway.
If you’re walking your dog through Braunton Burrows, you can find the latest updates regarding livestock grazing and zoning information here.
Planning an accessible visit
We want everyone to be able to experience Saunton.
Saunton offers designated accessible parking spaces, an accessible toilet, and a concrete ramp and specialist matting leading onto the beach. Please be aware that the ramp leads onto soft sand, and the distance to the sea varies considerably depending on the tide.
Through our partnership with Access For All, and with funding from North Devon Coast National Landscapes, specialist all-terrain beach equipment is available to help more visitors access and enjoy the sand. This includes Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchairs, a Hippocampe beach wheelchair, supportive inserts, a rollator, and a mobile hydraulic hoist.
Equipment must be reserved in advance, and early booking is strongly recommended during school holidays and the main summer season. Contact Saunton Beach Shop to book.
Our accessibility guide includes photographs and descriptions of the car park, routes, surfaces, facilities and equipment available.
Staying safe at the beach
Saunton is an open Atlantic beach and conditions can change quickly.
Always check the weather, tides and surf conditions before entering the water. Be aware of currents, changing water depth and the distance back to the main beach entrance, particularly at low tide.
Children must be supervised closely and visitors should remain within their own ability and experience.
In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Help us look after Saunton
Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows sit within an internationally important coastal environment, protected and recognised through a network of national and international designations.
Braunton Burrows forms the core of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is designated as both a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of its rare dune habitats, plants and wildlife. Saunton and the Burrows also lie within the North Devon Coast National Landscape, formerly known as the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Please help protect this extraordinary landscape by using the waste, recycling and BBQ bins provided, taking belongings home with you, and following any signs relating to wildlife, conservation, beach management or military training on the dunes.
Dogs should be kept under close control around livestock and within signed or fenced areas of the dunes. Please remain on recognised routes where requested and avoid disturbing wildlife or sensitive habitats.
Staying beside Saunton Sands
When one day is simply not enough, Saunton Beach Villas offer dog-friendly self-catering accommodation just a short walk from the sand.
Nearby in Braunton, purpose-designed accessible bungalows provide thoughtfully equipped accommodation for guests with a range of access requirements.
Stay close by and enjoy quiet morning walks, days in the waves and sunsets without needing to hurry home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dogs are welcome throughout the year Saunton Sands. Dog walkers are asked to turn right at the end of the slipway.
Yes. A large pay-on-exit car park is located beside the beach and facilities. ANPR in operation. Overnight parking is not permitted. Find out more.
Yes. Public toilets, an accessible toilet, and open-air showers are available on or near Saunton Sands slipway.
Sandcruiser beach wheelchairs, a hippocampe beach wheelchair (+beaded insert), a rollator, and a mobile hoist is available through Saunton Beach Shop, subject to availability. Advance booking is recommended. Find out more
Saunton Sands is not a lifeguarded beach
No. Overnight parking and camping are not permitted in Saunton Beach Car Park.