Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Devon
If you want to recapture that sense of good old fashioned days by the sea when you’re on your group holidays in Devon, you should go to Dawlish Warren. It’s the kind of place that summer holidays are made of; not so long ago there would have been many a man happily snoozing in a deckchair with a knotted handkerchief on his head. Later on, trouser legs rolled up to his knees, he’d be enjoying a paddle in the sea with the kids before waddling up to the kiosk for ice creams.
Dawlish Warren is unique in that the one and a half miles of unadulterated sandy beach lies between the Exe estuary and the sea; to the front are award winning clean waters, up behind are sheltered sand dunes. With all those great British traditions like beach huts, deck chairs and parasols for hire you can see why it’s a popular spot for families. There really is something for all ages – watersports, amusements, adventure golf, rides and go karts, and just a stone’s throw away, a 500 acre National Nature Reserve that attracts wildfowl and wading birds by the hundreds.
The beach has all the facilities you’d expect – loos, picnic areas and a café, and although the town isn’t very big there’s a supermarket, local shops and plenty of places to buy a little keepsake. If you’re not so keen on the risk of sand in your sandwiches, go and have lunch at The Mount Pleasant Inn or The Boathouse Bar & Grill.
Part of the beach is dog friendly year round and it’s only right to tell you that there are a few caravan parks and campsites around Dawlish Warren, so it can get quite busy in the summer months.
All information correct at the time of writing