For over 20 years our beautiful Dawlish Warren beach has been awarded the iconic Blue Flag. This flag is one of the world’s most recognised awards where a serious amount of environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained to suceed and beaches are assessed every year.
As one of only 195 Blue Flag beaches in the whole of the UK, you can rest assured Dawlish Warren is the perfect place for seaside fun for everyone! This certification not only means that our beach has really high quality bathing water, but also that there is plenty of environmental and education information, a management plan to keep the beach clean, public toilets, lifeguards, drinking water and great accessibility to the beach.
The perfect beach
Dawlish Warren beach stretches to the Exe estuary in one direction and Dawlish Town in the other. With its long sandy beach, sheltered sand dunes, award winning clean waters and family amusements, we think it’s the perfect beach! There are also heaps of family friendly activities and attractions, go karts, golf, rides, cafes and watersports that will keep everyone happy and entertained.
Even though the beach is popular, with 1.5 miles of sandy beach there’s plenty of room for everyone and there’s nearly always something going on! If you like to surf or would like to try – this is a great beach to start, especially as you know the lifeguards will be keeping an eye out!
Hire a beach hut
Did you know you can also hire a beach hut? From just £18 a day, or £80 for the whole week beach huts are the ultimate seaside tradition. You can even buy as a gift voucher – now that’s a great present – more information can be found on the Teignbridge District Council website.
Dogs welcome on certain areas all year round
For all of our four legged friends, its good to know that dogs are welcomed on the beach all year round on the section of the beach directly to the right of the lifeguard tower and between groyne 3 and 9 on the main beach. Dogs are also allowed around the main resort and nature reserve but must be kept on leads.
Nature Reserve
Backing onto the beach is Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve. This area of grassland, sand dunes and mudflats stretches along 1.5 miles of beach across the mouth of the Exe Estuary. It is one of the most important places for wildfowl and wading birds in the whole of the South West as over 23,000 birds come to feed, on migration, or to spend the winter here.
The dunes and grassland have over 600 different types of flowering plants and has many different habitats including salt marshes, fresh water ponds, wet meadows and woodlands. The Warren is so important that it is protected for its wildlife by both national and international law.
The Visitor Centre has displays and leaflets and the Wardens are based here. The centre is open most days from April to September and weekends from October to March and there are guided walks and events for all ages throughout the year.
Fantastic quality beaches
Visit South Devon’s Jo Butler said “We are absolutely delighted that Dawlish Warren Beach has retained this highest of environmental accolade. To have achieved Blue Flag status again is truly flying the flag for South Devon. The award reaffirms to our local communities, businesses and visitors that our region has fantastic quality beaches. If you haven’t visited Dawlish and Dawlish Warren yet, please do come and have a look”
We may be biased of course but we think our Dawlish Warren beach is simply perfect, with something for everyone, clean, safe and protected for future generations to enjoy! Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!
