Braunton and Barnstaple area

Barnstaple is the oldest borough in the country and is the commercial and agricultural centre of North Devon. A must visit for anyone seeking serious retail therapy. Saxons first settled in Barnstaple (Barum) over 1000 years ago; In 930 AD it was a Saxon stronghold serving as a market for the surrounding countryside.

Today it has a wonderful mixture of Victorian, Medieval and Georgian architecture and is proud to be a multiple winner of Britain in Bloom. Visit the Barnstaple Heritage Centre, sited in a fine Grade 1 listed building to learn more about the town's 1000 year history. Form more information on Barnstaple visit the local Tourist Information Centre.

Braunton is derived from the Old English elements: brom; and tun, meaning "farmstead", "settlement". It roughly translates to "the farmstead where broom grows". The name is recorded in the year 1086, in the Domesday Book, as Brantona.

The South West Coast Path National Trail links to the village and gives access to walks along the spectacular North Devon coast. The Tarka Trail also passes through the village. The nearby Braunton Burrows marsh has been designated as a biosphere reserve, the first place in the country to gain this status. The coastal part of the parish lies within the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Why not visit Braunton's Tourist Information Centre for more information on the area.

See map of Barnstaple >>>

See map of Braunton >>>