Saunton is a village located approximately two miles from

Braunton Braunton is a large village, civil parish, ecclesiastical parish and former manor in Devon. The village is situated west of Barnstaple. It is one of the largest villages in Devon with a population at the 2021 census of 10,217 people. There ...

on the North Devon coast in the South West of England. Several kilometres long, the village borders

Braunton Burrows Braunton Burrows is a sand dune system on the North Devon coast. It is privately owned and forms part of the Christie Devon Estates Trust (see Tapeley Park). Braunton Burrows is a prime British sand dune site, the largest sand dune system (psamm ...

, the heart of North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, the first "new style"

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

-designated

Biosphere Reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

. Its beach

Saunton Sands Saunton Sands is a beach near the English village of Saunton on the North Devon coast near Braunton, popular for longboard surfing. Beyond its southern end, Crow Point, England is the mouth of the River Taw estuary. It is part of the Taw-Torrid ...

is part of the Taw-Torridge Estuary. In 1994 termites, of the species

Reticulitermes ''Reticulitermes'' is a termite genus in the family Rhinotermitidae. They are found in most temperate regions on Earth including much of Asia and the Middle East, Western Europe, and all of North America. Caste descriptions ''Reticulitermes' ...

grassei, were identified in two bungalows in Saunton. Anecdotal evidence suggests the infestation could date back 70 years before the official identification. In 1998 Termite Eradication Programme was set-up, with the intention of containing and eradicating the colony. In 2021 the UK’s Termite Eradication Programme announced the eradication of the colony, the first time a country has eradicated termites. The Saunton Surf Life Saving Club is based here. The South West Coast Path National Trail runs through the village, and gives access to walks along the rugged North Devon coast. Saunton Down lies within the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Served by Stagecoach 308 bus service between Barnstaple, Croyde and Georgeham

References

External links

Villages in Devon Braunton {{Devon-geo-stub