Things to Do in Dawlish, Devon: Beach, Walks & Day Trips

Dawlish is a classic Devon seaside town with beaches, coastal walks, family-friendly attractions and easy day trips by train. Nearby Dawlish Warren offers a long sandy beach, a nature reserve, and more seaside entertainment.

Dawlish Warren is next to Dawlish on the south coast of Devon, with amusements, holiday parks, bars, a long sandy beach and access to the nature reserve.

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Things to Do in Dawlish

Seafront & Promenade

Dawlish also has a sandy beach on the other side of Longstone Rock. The beach has a few small rock pools to explore and a promenade for a leisurely flat walk.

Dawlish Town Centre

The town centre offers shopping options, including touristy shops. Cafés serve a host of delights, including Devon cream teas in the afternoons. For some seaside entertainment, there are some amusement arcades to enjoy.

Dawlish Lawn is a central park area of the town, beautiful with flowerbeds throughout the year. One highlight of the park is the black swans and other birds that call this home. Events take place on the former tennis court throughout the year. Alongside the lawn is a waterway called Dawlish Water, which runs from Haldon Forest into the sea.

Dawlish Museum

The town has a museum of its history with 11 rooms. One of the more recent displays is the great storm of 2014, which damaged the railway line, the principal route into Cornwall.

Dawlish Warren Beach

The beach is a long, sandy one with calm, clean water. Dawlish Warren beach has views out to sea, towards the mouth of the River Exe and towards Longstone Rock. The beach has lifeguards in summer. The top of the beach has a seawall and sand dunes to explore.

The beach has cafes, shops and amusements to keep people entertained and fuelled. The Boat House Tavern & Grill overlooks the beach with both indoor and outdoor seating. This is a nice pub for a beer or to enjoy some Tex-Mex food. Walking on the beach is tranquil out of season, as it was when I went, and great during the golden hours to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve

This nature reserve is between Dawlish Warren Beach, the mouth of the River Exe, and the Exe Estuary. It is a scenic part of the beach with some diverse habitats, including sand dunes and wetlands. The site has bird hides that keen birdwatchers can use at all times of day. The nature reserve has a visitor centre that opens from April to September.

This is one of the most significant places for wildfowl and wading birds in the region. The sand dunes and grasslands are home to over 600 species of flowering plants. For those that like big animal experiences, I have spotted seals on a secluded part of the estuary here.

Hiking on The South Devon Coast

The area lends itself to some good coastal hiking, mainly because it is on the South West Coast Path. This is a long-distance walking route that follows the coast from Dorset to North Devon. Hikers can follow this path in either direction towards Teignmouth or Exmouth. There are also walking routes on Komoot in the local area, including circular routes.

Family Attractions

Funder Park is a small funfair with a cool go-kart track and a few beachside shops. Most of the rides at this funfair are designed for younger visitors, but the area has a wonderful holiday vibe. Also in the area is an adventure golf course suitable for people of all ages.

There are two amusement arcades in the area: Harrison’s Arcade in the town centre and Pavilion Amusements along the beach at Dawlish Warren. Both have a variety of machines to play.

Day trips By Train From Dawlish

There are some engaging day-trip options by train from Dawlish. I’ve done all these day trips by train from the town.

Visit Exeter City

Exeter is the nearest city and a quick train ride away. One highlight of a visit is the cathedral, which dates from the year 1400. It is a historical city which is on the River Exe. Its history dates back to Roman times, particularly the city walls. Exeter also has a Norman castle and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery to enjoy.

The English Riviera

The English Riviera is along the coast, and it’s only a 25-minute train ride to get to either Torquay or Paignton station. These are great British holiday resorts, with plenty to see and do, including boat trips. From Paignton, you can enjoy a steam train ride via Dartmouth with a trip back on a steamship. We also enjoyed a mackerel fishing trip from Paignton while on a day trip from Dawlish. This was a fun thing to do, and it was great cooking fresh fish for the evening meal.

Teignmouth

Teignmouth is a gorgeous town that is 3 minutes by train down the coast. The town has many historic Georgian buildings and long sandy beaches. There are also eateries serving fresh local food.

Train & Ferry To Exmouth

Exmouth is also a nice day out, best reached by boat across the River Exe estuary. There are lots of things to see here, including walking along the coastal promenade, shopping or dining out.

Holiday Parks & Other Places to stay in Dawlish

There are loads of options to stay in the local area, including an abundance of holiday parks and B&B guesthouses. Dawlish also has some hotels, including cheaper stays. Outside of the school holidays, accommodation is much cheaper. Booking.com also has some dog-friendly places to stay in the area.

Welcome Holiday Park

Welcome Family Holiday Park is near the train station on Dawlish Warren Road. This is a primarily family-friendly site. Accommodation includes bungalows, apartments and static caravans, to name a few. There are some dog-friendly stays on their website, too. The whole holiday park has free Wi-Fi for visitors to utilise.

The site has a reception area, a bar, and a clubhouse for entertainment, including bingo and other activities. There is plenty of open space here for guests to enjoy sitting in the sun. Another pleasant touch is the indoor swimming pool available to guests.

Food Shops For Self-Catering Holidays

If staying in Dawlish Warren, the most convenient store is Gerald’s, a general store. They supply a good range of essential food items and a decent range for picnics. A short walk down the coast is the Co-op in Dawlish, which has a good range of fresh foods ideal for a barbecue or self-catering dinner. A lot of the other holiday parks in the Warren have small convenience stores, too.

The town also has some good bakeries selling freshly baked bread, pastries, and tasty cakes. Lloyd Maunder Butchers is a butcher and delicatessen in the centre, selling local Devon produce.

Getting to Dawlish by Train

Dawlish and Dawlish Warren both have train stations on the line between Exeter and Plymouth. The local trains stop here, so you will need to change trains at Exeter or Dawlish, depending on where you are travelling from.

The train line here often gets a pounding in storms. Dawlish railway station, and the line sometimes gets waves crashing over it. This is great for photographers, but not so good for your hair or your best clothes.

Is Dawlish Warren Worth Visiting For a Holiday

The area near Dawlish is a fantastic place to visit for either a day trip, a weekend away or a family holiday. There are options for things to do in the area, including free activities. The Welcome Holiday Park is a great place to stay and an ideal base for exploring this area of Devon.