Exploring Dawlish Warren and the surrounding area without a car is an easy, rewarding and relaxing way to explore South Devon as a family. Whether you don’t drive, prefer to leave the car at home or are looking for a greener way to holiday, it’s easy to get here – and there are plenty of ways to explore by foot, train, bus or bike.
Here’s your car-free family holiday guide to Dawlish Warren.
The Benefits of Car-Free Travel
Travel is as much about the journey as the destination – and that’s certainly true of travelling to Dawlish Warren by train or bus. Instead of stressing about traffic and narrow country lanes, you can simply sit back in comfort and watch the glorious Devon countryside and coastline drift by.
Car-free equals stress-free for so many reasons. Your family can enjoy the journey together without one harried driver trying to concentrate on the road, and it alleviates the hassle of trying to park in popular destinations. What’s more, you can move around in comfort with toilets and food on board or at stations, which is a great help when travelling with young children.
It’s also a much greener option, with rail and bus travel cutting your holiday emissions – which is a huge help in sensitive wildlife areas like the Exe Estuary and Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve.
Getting to Dawlish Warren Without a Car
For most families, the easiest option is the train. Dawlish Warren has a small station on the Exeter–Plymouth main line, with regular local services from Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Paignton, and a limited number of direct long-distance trains from Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester, London and Plymouth. If you’re travelling from other destinations, head to Exeter St Davids then hop on the local service to Dawlish Warren.
If you prefer coach travel, National Express runs direct coaches to Exeter and Torquay from multiple UK locations. From there, you can continue by local bus or pick up a connecting train for the final leg of your journey.
Exeter Airport also has regular flights from UK destinations like Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, the Channel Islands and Ireland, offering an additional way to reach the region.
When planning a journey like this, travel apps are your friend. Rome2Rio and Traveline are fantastic for comparing travel options over various transport methods, while Trainline focuses on finding the cheapest options for train travel.  Â
Getting Around in Dawlish Warren
One of the biggest advantages of basing yourselves in Dawlish Warren for your South Devon family holiday is the compact nature of this seaside resort. From the railway station and nearby holiday parks, including Welcome Family, it’s a short, mostly level walk to the Blue Flag beach, amusements, play areas and cafes. Everyday essentials like takeaways and small shops are clustered around the seafront, so you’ve got pretty much everything you need within easy reach.
If you fancy stretching your legs, take a stroll around the nature reserve or follow the much-loved sea wall path between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish, part of the long-distance South West Coast Path.
Car-Free Days Out from Dawlish Warren
A car-free family holiday doesn’t mean you have to stay in one place. Dawlish Warren is well connected, and it’s simple to get around without needing to jump behind the wheel of a car. For an easy outing, Dawlish and Teignmouth promise traditional seaside fun just a short bus or train ride away.Â
Regular trains run from Dawlish Warren into Exeter for cathedral visits, museums, riverside walks and city-centre shopping. Continue to Exmouth for two miles of glorious beach and fossil-hunting at the western gateway to the Jurassic Coast.
In the opposite direction, the same line connects you to the Torbay resorts of Torquay and Paignton, home to family beaches, piers and attractions like Paignton Zoo and Torre Abbey. Local bus routes open up more options, like pretty Babbacombe, with its model village and cliff railway.
Accessibility and Planning Ahead
If anyone in your family has mobility needs, it’s worth doing a little extra planning. Dawlish Warren station is unstaffed but has step-free access, while Dawlish and Exeter St Davids offer more facilities and support.
Around the resort, main routes to the beach and visitor centre are generally pushchair-friendly, but soft sand, boardwalks and kissing gates in the nature reserve can be challenging.
Before you travel, it’s sensible to:
- Check up-to-date details for trains, buses and seafront facilities
- Allow extra time for connections
- Note a local taxi number as a backup.
Dawlish Warren is made for carefree, car-free holidays. If you’d like a family-friendly base within walking distance of the beach, nature reserve and station, take a look at Welcome Family’s accommodation options.