Walk Title : Northam Burrows & The Skern

Location: Free parking at the end of Burrows Lane

What 3 words: ///decoding.stalemate.headline

Date/ Time : Saturday 19th December 2026 11:00am to 2pm

Leader : Dave Gilbert

Contact : northcornwall_hub@cbwps.org.uk

Facilities : Public toilets at visitor centre. Cafe open 9am to 4pm

Details :

Northam Burrows Country Park is a beautiful expanse of common land popular with visitors throughout the year. Situated at the mouth of the Taw/ Torridge Estuary , the Burrows is surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery and is part of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The park also lies within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is home to many rare plants and animals .

Northam Burrows consists of several habitats perfect for novice and expert nature enthusiasts. Rockpools at the southern end of Westward Ho! beach hide all sorts of creatures amongst the seaweed and underneath pebbles. Shore Csrabs, Prawns and Blennies dart about the pools while Anemones , Mussels and Limpets stick to the rocky shore.

The sand dunes of Northam Burrows are home to some rare and wonderful plants. Water Germander and Sea Stock are only found here and a few other sites in England . Meanwhile lizards are commonly seen basking in the sunshine and Skylarks soar above their nests in tussocks of Marram Grass .

The salt marsh is locally known as the Skern and attracts hundreds of wading birds feeding on the creatures found buried in the mud. Curlews, Golden Plover , Oystercatchers, Redshanks , Greenshanks, Grey and Ringed Plover and Dunlins are likely to be seen. In the winter Brent Geese patrol the shoreline eating the algae along with Shelduck , Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. Other rare and occasionally exotic species can be found on this fantastic feeding ground, drawing bird watchers from all over the country.