Overview

Dawlish is a traditional seaside resort. It's quiet and low key, it's the perfect place if you want to go somewhere to relax and potter around. It also well connect with a regular train service and local buses which makes it ideal if you are wanting to also use it as a base from which to explore Devon.

Transport & Parking

Dawlish Railway Station has step free access to platform 2, with trains heading towards Exeter/ London. Platform 1 with trains towards Paignton/ Torquay is accessible via a railway bridge with stairs only. However through Special Assistance they can arrange and accompany you to cross the railway line. I found the special assistance excellent at Dawlish Station. There are also local, step free buses serve the town.

Access

Dawlish is a small resort and the main town centre by the seafront is flat. All the town's main tourist attractions are a couple of minutes, level walk from the train station, apart for Dawlish Museum (see seperate review) which is on a hill. Opposite the railway station is the safari mini golf (see my seperate review). There is a brook that runs through the centre of the town, which is home to the famous Black Swans and other waterfowl. Next to the brook is a large lawn, trees, flowers and shrubs. There is plenty of seating and it is a popular place to relax. In this area there is a tourist information office, which is step free (if I remember correctly) and there are toilets including a public, accessible toilet which requires a radar key. On one side of the brook is Brunswick Place and on the other The Strand. These two roads are the main shopping streets in Dawlish. There is a good selection of cafes, tea rooms and pubs in Dawlish. There are also a few gift shops and an indoor amusement arcade. There is also a co-op supermarket, bank and chemist. On Brunswick Place there is Dawlish Waterfowl Centre and the Shaftesbury Theatre, which I didn't visit during my stay. Continuing along following the brook you come to Manor Gardens, a waterside park with benches and a children's play area. There are lovely sea views and also a sea wall walk (see my seperate reviews).

Toilets

There are 2 public accessible toilets, which require radar keys. One is nextdoor to the tourist information office and the other is at the bottom of Barton Hill, and this one if locked in the evening. Both toilets are spacious, clean tidy and have grab rails. The accessible toilet next to the tourist information office also has an emergency cord.

Staff

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Anything else you wish to tell us?

I've fallen in love with Dawlish. It was so enjoyable and relaxing to sit sit by the brook reading and watching the world go by. At night the brook is illuminated with coloured fairy lights. There is a lovely selection for cafes and tea rooms during the day, although in the evening less places are open. I stayed at The Blenheim guest house (see my seperate review), which I would highly recomemned, and I've already booked to return to Dawlish next year. Highly recommend for a charming, seaside holiday resort.

Photos