Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Dawlish

Dawlish offers two beaches for days at the seaside during a camping or Glamping Holiday in this part of South Devon. A short walk from the Victorian and Regency buildings of the town brings you to the sandy shores of town beach, backed by red cliffs and the scenically-situated railway line and, a couple of miles up the coast, is the well-known Dawlish Warren Beach. A sand and shingle spit at the mouth of the River Exe, this Blue Flag beach offers wilder beauty with 1.5 miles of beach backed by dunes which are part of a nature reserve and a great place for birdwatching.

Dawlish town has its own remarkable birds, black swans which can be seen on the brook which runs through The Lawn, a green space in the centre of town. You can learn more about the town at the small Dawlish Museum. Seaside attractions in the area include go karting, adventure golf and amusements. It’s not far to some of South Devon’s other treasures from Torquay with its connections to the crime writer Agatha Christie, to picturesque Exmouth and quirky Totnes. If you like walking, set out on the South West Coast Path and for cycling try the Exe Estuary Cycle Trail. And there’s more adventure and stunning scenery out in Dartmoor National Park, less than half an hour’s drive away.

Dawlish in Devon is better known for its easterly neighbour, Dawlish Warren, generally considered a part of the same town and the archetypal seaside resort. There are numerous campsites near Dawlish, letting campers make the most of the town and Blue Flag Beach, but only the best make the but for Hipcamp.