The town is some 2 miles north of Bideford and south of Westward Ho, with a population of around 5500 people. Northam Burrows is 253 hectares of coastal plain at the mouth of the Taw/ Torridge estuary, part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Tarka Trail cycle route also forms part of the south west coastal path here. The town is also home to The Royal North Devon Golf Club, the oldest links course in England. Local amenities include a church, post office, restaurant, library, surgery and village hall as well as the well regarded Marshford Organic Foods. In nearby Bideford are numerous shops, including the Affinity Devon Outlet Shopping Centre and supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrisons and Asda. St George’s Primary School is rated as Good by Ofsted as is Braunton Academy. Independent education is offered at Kinglsey School and Grenville College.