Great Facilities
Adventure Playground
For those that love to bounce and play the adventure play ground is a magnet for young children who love to swing, slide and climb.
Coarse/Carp Fishing
Fishing in 11 acres fed from an underground spring whether you are a competitve angler or novice there is something on offer for you. Located in beautiful North Devon countryside primarily stocked with carp to 25lbs but also with tench and roach the lake offers quality fishing for everyone. The Lake is located away from the cottages but cottages are easily accessible and with its own kingfisher to look out for relax and unwind.
Heated Indoor Pool
The luxury indoor pool to use every day. Roman style steps lead into the shallow end at just 0.9m deep make it the perfect pool for beginners. Rarely crowded the pool is used by all ages and is ideal to de-stress or tone up. Located on your doorstep perfect if you do not want to go far. Poolside loungers chairs and tables are perfect for relaxing. Fun even on a rainy day! Kept at 30 degrees and open from 9am to 7pm with changing rooms and toilets.
Hot tubs
Unwind and relax in one of our hot tubs. Each heated to 37 degrees cleaned each week you can be sure of a good time For stress reduction try the hot tubs. 3 are privately located with Heron, Swallow and Mallard cottages with the large 6 seater available to all in the Leisure complex. In same area as pool ideal for families to relax together.
Wifi
We know that it can be diffficult to escape work completely and so we have dedicated internet access in the Indoor Play Area for accessing emails and internet access.
Great Activities
Birdwatching
Situated in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB), and designated as a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Saunton Sands Farm is an ideal base for bird watching.
On Braunton Marshes and Swanpool birds such as lapwings, wheatears, and golden plovers, can be found along side mallard ducks mute swans and moorhens. A solitary heron is normally found here as well as a little egret and at night the sound of a little owl can be heard clearly.
Braunton Burrows Nature Reserve is also home to whitethroats and meadow pipits.
The Taw and Torridge estuary is a major over-wintering home for many birds, and species found here include curlew, redshank, dunlin, spoonbill, brent geese and cormorants.
The RSPB's Isley Marsh reserve is also found along the Taw estuary at Fremington and here Little Egret and Spoonbill have been seen. There is also an RSPB reserve at Chapel Wood (15mins ) offering a great woodland setting for birdwatching.
Willowfield Lake cottages is also home to many permanent and visiting birds. From the cheeky robins who nest in the garage and great tits who can be seen chasing their smaller relations the blue tits around the grounds. to a buzzard who is often sitting on the fence or soaring overhead. Many swallows live here in the summer and at 5.00pm it is like the dam busters as about 30 of them swoop down onto the lake. There is also a resident Sparrowhawk often seen "patrolling" the hedges alongside the cottages.
The smaller hedgerows have jenny wrens darting in and out, whilst the trees near the lake are home to different finches including green ones. A green woodpecker although quite shy is sometimes here feeding on ant hills. We are lucky to be surrounded by delphs, (small ditches) which are home to ducks and moorhens, and swans visit us in the mornings sometimes. The lake is also home to a pair of Kingfishers ,often only sighted as a flash of blue darting up the lake.
Cycling
We have recently installed cycle racks for upto 10 cycles, for use of residents and in each Cottage is a cycle trail map for the Tarka Trail.
We are fortunate to be close to the Tarka Trail, which is fantastic for cycling. It is named after the book Tarka the Otter, famously written by Henry Williamson who lived in nearby Georgeham. The trail has been created from an old railway line, and is a very safe way of exploring along the banks of the Rivers Taw and Torridge.
From Braunton the riverside route leadsto Barnstaple, taking in the sights of the River Taw and estuary with all the wildlife. If you feel fit carry onto Bideford stopping at Instow beach.
There are many places to stop for refreshments or just take in the countryside views. The route is in the main flat and level and suitable for cyclists of all ages as well as being safe for the younger riders Bike hire is available locally.
Golf
Within one mile is the famous Saunton Golf Club, with it's magnificent 18 hole championship standard links course (the East Course). Ranked No 60 in the world (between Valderamma and Royal Troon!!)
Golf has been played at Saunton for more than 100 years and the East course, redesigned in 1912 by the famous W Herbert Fowler has remained virtually unchanged since that date.
The newer West course was originally built in the mid-thirtires, but was lost as a training ground during the second world war.
Albert MacKenzie the Saunton pro says of the East course: The strength of the course lies in the long 4 par holes which usually require a driver from the tee. The wind plays an important part in the decision making process and the prevailing wind is from Hartland Point in the south west.
He also says of the West course: The West course is a championship course in it's own right and arguably needs more attention to course management than its wonderful neighbour the East. The west in my opinion needs more thought to club selection from the tee and more precision into well guarded greens.
Other golf clubs in the area include, Royal North Devon at Westward Ho!, Ilfracombe and Willingcott (near Woolacombe).
Horseriding
Whether you want to ride along a sandy beach or ride across the open moors, it is all within easy reach of Saunton Sands Farm Holiday Cottages.
Most stables in the area cater from novices to the more experienced and have riding hats, some have boots to make your ride comfortable and safe.
Croyde is the nearest having Roylands stables close to the beach.
Woolacombe has its own riding stables and also Mullacott Cross, just before going into Ilfracombe.
For Exmoor there is Outovercott stables and Brendon Farm, both at Lynton.
There is nothing more enjoyable than taking in the wonderful north devon scenery on horseback.
Surfing
North Devon enjoys some of the best surfing conditions and beaches in the UK. Surfing beaches of Saunton, Croyde, Putsborough and Woolacombe together with the renowned Oysters break are all closeby.
Whether you're an experienced surfer or a novice there something for everyone. If the surf is down then you can always chill at the Red Barn at Woolacombe, have a drink or two with fellow surfers whilst watching a surfing video.
For the novice there are some excellent surf schools to choice from and we will be pleased to give you contact details.
When there is no surf why not try another pursuit such as coasteering with an experienced and qualified guide.
Swimming
At Saunton Sands Farm Holiday Cottages you benefit from the indoor heated swimming pool which incorporates a 31' x 19' swimming pool with children's shallow area, 86cm with gentle steps to enter the water. There is the free use of the Spaform Hot Tub, and has changing facilities including showers and toilets.
Of course we have nearby Saunton Sands, Croyde, Puttsborough and Woolacombe beaches which are great for sea swimming.
Indoor Public swimming pools at Barnstaple and Ilfracombe with fun afternoons and of course Cascades in Croyde with it's water slides and shallow areas.
Walking
There are wonderful walks along the coastal path and hinterland. North Devon hosts a walking festival during the Spring.
There are free organised walks through the Burrows in the holiday season which commence from a car park about 1/2 mile from Saunton Sands Farm Holiday Cottages.
From Saunton Sands Farm Holiday Cottages you can take a walk to Saunton Beach or join the Tarka Trail that can take you to Barnstaple, Instow, Bideford, Torrington and beyond!
For more information about local walks visit www.explorebraunton.org or www.westcountrywalks.co.uk