The Pebble Ridge is a natural coastal defense that migrates inland over time due to high-energy wave action.
Royal North Devon Golf Club was established in 1864 and remains on its original links land.
The Burrows are technically common land, maintaining ancient grazing rights known as 'stints'.
It is one of the few places in the UK where rare salt-marsh beetles and specific coastal insects can be found in a single ecosystem.
The sand dunes are dynamic and constantly reshaped by prevailing Atlantic winds.
Northam Burrows Country Park is a 253-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest located at the mouth of the Taw-Torridge estuary. The landscape consists of unimproved grassland, salt marshes, and sand dunes, bordered by the iconic Pebble Ridge. It is a working common land where sheep, cattle, and horses graze freely from April to October. The park is home to the Royal North Devon Golf Club, which is the oldest golf course in England. The area serves as a critical habitat for rare maritime flora and fauna, including the bee orchid. Visitors can access the beach via a concrete slipway or across the dunes. The site is a key component of the UNESCO North Devon Biosphere Reserve. Extensive tidal shifts frequently alter the coastline and the appearance of the salt marsh environment.
The crest of the Pebble Ridge looking out toward Bideford Bay at low tide.
Bring binoculars to spot waders and wildfowl in the salt marsh pools.
Check the local tide tables before venturing onto the mudflats or sandbanks.
Keep dogs on a lead during the grazing season to protect both livestock and ground-nesting birds.
Attempting to cross the estuary channels on foot, as rapid incoming tides create dangerous currents.
The park operates year-round, but access for vehicles may be restricted during extreme winter weather or coastal flooding events.
Strictly adhere to the 'leave no trace' principle; do not feed the grazing animals; stay on marked paths to prevent dune erosion.
