About the village of Braunton
Leave the shopping centre with it's selection of delicatessens, bakers, gift & craft shops and you will soon find yourself in the narrow streets of the old village. The parish church of St Brannock's, first founded in the 6th century by a welsh missionary, bears testimony to the history of the ancient village, which was a royal manor of some importance by the time of the Norman conquest.
Climb to Braunton Beacon at the top of West Hill and enjoy the panoramic view of Braunton Great Fields, one of the few remaining examples of medieval strip farming and the Braunton Burrows nature reserve.
Today, Braunton is a lively village, catering for the diverse interests of it's many visitors. The large number of surf shops, which sell and hire equipment, reflect the status of local beaches as major surfing venues.
The Tarka Trail, a 180 mile long network of paths linking the North Coast with Dartmoor, passes through the village and can be cycled safely along the estuary to Barnstaple and on to Torrington. Travel in the opposite direction on foot and the trail joins the the South West Coastal Path along the coastline to Woolacombe, Ilfracombe, Lynton and Lynmouth.
St Brannock's Church and the Elliot Art Gallery are well worth a visit, as are the Countryside Centre and Braunton Museum, both located adjacent to the car park in the centre of the village.