Chapter Twenty Six - Braunton Burrows

The story crosses the Bristol Channel to the windswept Braunton Burrows of North Devon, a vast expanse of shifting dunes and wild nature. The area has many parallels with Kenfig holding its own stories of a town buried under the sand. In this chapter, the landscape becomes almost a character in itself — a place of danger, concealment, and testing for those who venture there. Blackmore’s eye for detail brings the setting alive, contrasting with the familiar South Wales coast we have come to know.The mention of Braunton Burrows highlights the strong historical links between South Wales and North Devon. For centuries, small sailing vessels crossed the Bristol Channel carrying limestone from Glamorgan’s quarries to North Devon, where it was burned in limekilns for agriculture and building. In return, cargoes such as farm produce and migrant workers often made the return trip. These coastal trades, worked by local crews under the stern “stone captains,” bound communities on both sides of the water together — a connection reflected in Blackmore’s choice of setting for this part of the story.For listeners from Porthcawl, Kenfig, and Newton, the chapter reminds us of the close ties once shared across the water — with ships, trade, and stories flowing between Glamorgan and North Devon.