12 TOP things to do along the Dawlish Coast
Looking for the best things to do in Dawlish? Read on and discover the amazing things to see and explore in this seaside town!
If you are looking for a traditional seaside coastal town then look no further. Dawlish offers a perfect blend of natural wonders and traditional British charm, making it an ideal holiday for all ages! It has a variety of attractions and eating places in the town and surrounding areas.
Back in the 18th century, Dawlish was a small fishing town. Since then it has expanded into a seaside resort attracting approximately 20,000 people during the summer months.
Dawlish is not as well known as larger nearby towns such as Torquay and Paignton, but it is a great destination to explore either as a holiday or day trip. Whether you want to see the famous black swans, relax on the beach, indulge in afternoon tea or hike the coastal route, there is something for everyone.
Getting to Dawlish
Dawlish is located along the south coast of England in Devon county. The best way to get to Dawlish depends on your starting location and transportation preference. Here are the main modes of transport:
- Train: ‘Dawlish railway station’ is located in the center of Dawlish which makes catching the train one of the easiest modes of transport. If you are traveling from London it is possible to get a direct train. If you are traveling from a different city you will likely need to change at Exeter. Ensure you check times and prices of trains before you travel. Booking your ticket in advance means you are likely to get better priced fares.
- Driving: Dawlish is easy to reach by car with well connected major roads from most of England’s main cities. From London you can take the M3 and A303 taking around 4 hours. This route also takes you past Stonehenge which is definitely worth a stop off. Please read my article on Stonehenge if you would like to know more. It is useful to use a GPS to help navigate your route to the south coast.
- Bus and Coach: There are buses that can take you to the nearby city Exeter. From London the bus takes approximately 5 hours and usually drops you off at Exeter bus station. There are different companies to choose from including Flixbus, Megabus and National Express. From here you can ride bus number 2 for 40 minutes to Dawlish. It is always worth checking with local bus companies to find the best bus routes and schedules as these are subject to change.
- Plane: If you are coming from abroad you may wish to opt to fly to London and take one of the above routes down to Dawlish. Alternatively you can consider flying into Exeter and then taking a bus, train or taxi to Dawlish.
So now we know how to get there, read on to discover the very best things to do in Dawlish!
1. Photograph the famous black swans
Visiting the town lawn and brook is a must see when visiting Dawlish. Here you can photograph the famous black swans – they can often be seen swimming in the stream or nesting on the banks. They were brought to Dawlish from Australia in 1906 and lived there ever since! These swans are so popular they have their own black swan live camera which you can tune into at any time!
The Lawn is a lovely open space and a perfect spot for both relaxing and exploring. From a bowling green, to tempting eateries to safari adventure golf, as well as aviary and duck houses you have a variety of activities to choose from.
2. Coastal Walk to Dawlish Warren Beach
From Dawlish you can embark on a scenic coastal walk to Dawlish Warren. Featuring Dawlish’s iconic sandy beach, draping cliffs and vibrant beach huts.
You can soak in the sun, take a dip in the sea, delve into water sports or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the promenade.
On route is The Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. Unfortunately this was closed during our trip but if you are a wildlife enthusiast you can admire the diverse ecosystem and abundant birdlife here.
The walk takes around 40 minutes to complete each way. Make sure you check the weather before planning this trip and opt to go on a dry day. On rainy and windy days the water can come over the edge of the coastal path making the pavement very slippery!
3. Coastal walk to Teignmouth
In the opposite direction to Dawlish Warren is the picturesque coastal walk to Teignmouth. Starting in Dawlish you embark along a path that takes you through lush greenery, hidden coves and sandy shores. The path hugs the coastline, so there are some hills / cliff climbs – making this a moderate walk with great views. Once you have navigated these, you will walk along the sea wall to reach Teignmouth.
Upon approaching Teignmouth the path becomes more busy and vibrant with energy from the seaside town. The red cliffs of Teignmouth make a brilliant photo backdrop along the promenade.
The walk is approximately 3 miles, and takes around 80 minutes with an average walking speed.
4. The Round Robin
The round robin is one of the best organised day trips consisting of different modes of transport – train, ferry, cruise and bus. This enables you to visit a couple of towns within one day. It runs on select dates from April to October so it is best to book tickets in advance if you can. If you book your tickets online there are suggested itineraries to suit your plans.
You can choose your departure point from either Paignton, Totnes or Dartmouth.
The routes can vary slightly but the most common route – departs from Paignton. From here you take a 20 minute bus ride (optional open top) to Totnes.
After spending some time in Totnes, you then take a 90 minute cruise to Dartmouth.
From Dartmouth take a 5 minute ferry ride to Kingswear.
Explore Kingswear and take the 30 minute steam train ride back to Paignton.
For £36 per adult and £23 per child this trip is worth every penny, and it was one of the highlights of the whole trip!
5. Take a break and have Afternoon Tea at Annies
There are several cafes and afternoon tea delights in Dawlish. One of the best that I would highly recommend is Annies – located centrally along Dawlish Lawn.
The staff were warm and friendly, and accommodating to catering requests. The menu consisted of light snacks, breakfasts, sandwiches, toasties, jacket potatoes, salads and afternoon teas.
I opted for a chicken sandwich on white bread – this was homemade and had plenty of filling. There were crips and salad on the side making this a decent lunch stop. I then ordered the cream tea – as I simply could not leave without sampling this. The clotted cream followed by jam made this scone simply heavenly. There are different options for the cream tea if you want to try something different!
6. Visit Gay’s Creamery
Your trip to Dawlish isn’t complete without visiting Gays Creamery shop and bakery. This is a family run business selling homemade pastries, pies, cream teas, icecream (with their speciality of a serving of clotted cream on top!), sweets, cakes and more.
You’ll be spoilt for choice here! The portions are a generous size. You can have your pie / pastry heated up in the shop or take it home and heat it later. There are gluten free options as well.
One of my favourites was the chicken and vegetable pie – I took it home and heated this up the following day. There was so much filling and it was super tasty!
7. Walk the Dawlish Town Trail
The town trail is a great way to orient yourself and find your way around whilst seeing some of the highlights of Dawlish.
You can find a copy of the trail here.
It takes approximately 90 minutes to walk the trail and take photos. You’ll see a great variety of attractions including railway viaducts and viewpoints, the red cliffs, museums, Dawlish water and lawn, tudor cottages and churches. On a dry day this is a pleasant stroll around the streets of Dawlish soaking up some of the culture as you go.
8. Dawlish Museum
The Dawlish Museum hosts centuries of history in an array of artifacts and exhibits showing the town’s rich maritime heritage. There are 11 rooms split over a total of 3 floors – here you can see the well known display of Piper Bill Millins’ D-Day bagpipes, as well as ancient fossils, maritime relics and local art. You can spend as little as 30 minutes here and have enough time to explore the rooms.
The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, and happy to answer any questions. The entry fee is only £2 per person and you can spend as long as you like looking around!
9. Explore the Magnificent Powderham Castle
A visit to Powderham Castle is a great day out for all visitors! Situated near the Exe Estuary and the town of Exeter, it is a 15 minute drive from the center of Dawlish or 30 minutes on the bus. The castle is open Sunday to Friday and closed Saturdays.
The castle dates back to the 14th century and has remained the ancestral home of the Earls of Devon, the Courtney family, for over 600 years. There have been various changes and additions over the centuries, resulting in a mixture of medieval, tudor and later styles. Inside the castle contains a wealth of historical artifacts, art collections and furnishings that offer insight into the castle itself and the history of the Courtney family.
The admission ticket cost £14.95 which includes entry to the castle and grounds. When buying your ticket you will be asked if you wish to book onto a guided tour to see the upstairs of the castle (you cannot see the upstairs by yourself). These guided tours typically run 3 times per day. Downstairs you can explore by yourself and also use an audio guide to learn more about each room.
I would suggest visiting the Castle on a dry day. A lot of the time is spent outside exploring the castle grounds which is more difficult to do when it is wet.
If the weather is bad on the day you visit the castle, your admission ticket allows you to re-enter the downstairs castle and grounds again within a 7 day period. So keep your ticket safe!
The castle also hosts various events, weddings, concerts and other gatherings throughout the year.
10. Take a day trip to Torquay
Torquay is a short train ride away (25 minutes) from Dawlish or drive along the scenic coastal route. Upon arriving in Torquay take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront and admire the boats in Torquay Harbour.
There is plenty to see and do in Torquay from exploring and shopping in the town center which offers a mix of shops, boutique and galleries, to finding out about the local history and region’s heritage in the Torquay museum. Other popular museums include the real crime museum, Torquay military museum, bygones and dinosaur world.
If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous I would suggest a short drive or bus ride to Kents Cavern – and taking a guided tour of the prehistoric caves learning about the history and geology of the area.
If you have time you might also want to visit the Babbacombe Model Village – a charming miniature village featuring intricate scale models of buildings, landscapes and people. Also close by is the Babbacombe cliff railway – a funicular railway that travels up and down the steep cliffs between Babbacombe Downs at the top, and Oddicombe Beach at the bottom. Check their facebook page for their latest updates before traveling here.
You might want to opt for a more relaxing day and head to one of Torquay’s beautiful beaches such as Oddicombe beach or Meadfoot beach. Soak up the sun, take a dip in the sea and spend the day relaxing.
11. Ferry from Torquay to Brixham
Brixham is well known for its fishing fleets so if you are looking for some locally sourced seafood Brixham is the place for you. Coupled with its colourful harbor, beaches, maritime heritage and museums makes this a town well worth visiting.
The easiest, most scenic and enjoyable way to get to Brixham is by taking the ferry from Torquay harbor.
The ferry is a medium sized vessel designed for passenger comfort. You can sit both inside and outside, the weather may influence this decision. The ferry ride takes around 30 – 60 minutes and an adult ticket costs £9 for a return.
As you approach Brixham you will see its colourful houses around the harbor making a scenic picturesque photo. Once you disembark, you can explore Brixham’s charming streets, shops and restaurants.
Walk along the coastal path and admire the views at Fishcombe Cove. A small cove with scenic surroundings. A great spot for relaxing, swimming and enjoying the natural beauty of the area. It takes 20-30 minutes to walk from Brixham with great photo spots along the way!
If you have more time head over to the Berry Head nature reserve – a 45 minute walk along the South West coast path in the opposite direction to Fishcombe Cove. It is managed by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and has stunning coastal views and diverse wildlife. It is also home to the Berry Head lighthouse – over 100 years old and still active today to guide ships in Devon waters.
If you’re making a round-trip you can catch the ferry back to Torquay at the designated time on your ticket if you have already pre booked. The return journey offers another opportunity to take in the coastal views, seabirds and marine life.
12. Sample the Ice-cream at the Local Scoop
Round the day off with a refreshing ice cream from the local scoop. They have some unique creations including blackcurrant and liquorice, banana and peanut butter and apple and raspberry pie flavoured ice cream. As well as the more traditional flavours too.
The malteaser ice cream did not disappoint!
The local scoop also does waffles, sorbets, milkshakes and cookie sandwiches.
If you plan on making several trips here, it could be worth getting a loyalty card and starting to build up your loyalty stamps for free sweet treats.
Is Dawlish worth visiting?
Whether you’re an adventurer, nature lover or simply looking to get away, you won’t be disappointed. Regardless of your age there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Remember to check local events and seasonal activities, as there may be festivals, markets or other special events taking place during your visit.
