Dawlish
Dawlish is a small south Devon resort on the Riviera railway line, between Exeter and Teignmouth. Trains run along the sea wall at the edge of the beach, which is either the town's trademark or a reason to book a room set one street back if you are a light sleeper. A brook, Dawlish Water, runs through lawns between the town and the sea, and the black swans that live on it are as famous locally as the trains.
The town itself is compact. Shops and cafes sit just inland of the water. The beach is a mixture of sand and shingle, fine for a stroll and a swim on a calm day, and less of a dune landscape than the next bay north. That next bay is Dawlish Warren, a sandy spit with a nature reserve, a long beach, and a large holiday-park trade. Warren and the town are a short distance apart but they feel different: the Warren is busier with families and golf, the town is a Victorian seafront with a brook.
Where to stay
Guest houses in the town put you next to the lawns, the station and the bakery. Ask for a room facing away from the sea wall if you do not want the night trains. Holiday parks at Dawlish Warren suit people who want a pool, entertainment and a longer beach, and they are a poor fit if you wanted a quiet high street. Teignmouth, one stop down the line, has a bigger beach and a pier. Shaldon, across the Teign from Teignmouth, is the village option.
Days out
You can walk the sea wall towards Teignmouth when the tide and the path allow; parts of this coast are dramatic and parts are simply the railway, so check the route rather than assuming a continuous promenade. Dawlish Warren's nature reserve is the place for birds and a longer sandy walk. Exeter is about fifteen minutes by train if you want a city for the afternoon. Dartmoor is a drive inland, not a stroll from the station.
Getting there
Dawlish station is on the main line from Exeter to Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Cornwall, with stopping trains along the coast. You do not need a car to arrive or to hop to Teignmouth and Exeter. A car helps for the Warren, for parking near a specific guest house, and for Dartmoor. The wider county is covered in the Devon guide.
Guide me to UK is an independent information site. We do not own hotels or take bookings. Fares, opening hours and timetables change, so confirm them before you travel. Reviewed October 2026.