Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren – South West Coast Path Walks
December 23, 2021
Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren sees us back on the South West Coast Path. It feels as though we’ve been cheating on our beautiful coast path walks with the moodier but equally as handsome Dartmoor. Perhaps a reflection of our personal feelings as Covid yet again threatens to thwart plans of travelling and seeing friends and family. However, I’ve been having cravings for the sea and as we live on the coast it seems rather stupid that said cravings have not been satisfied. Time to remedy with some sea air and toe dipping…
Teignmouth to Dawlish
We ended our previous coast walk in the very small and quaint seaside village of Shaldon. Just across the river Teign is Teignmouth and on this side of the river the mood seems to have changed somewhat. 
There are miles of expansive sandy beaches (that attract thousands of sun worshippers in the summer) and Teignmouth feels less quaint seaside village and more ‘beach resort”. However, the coastal path which passes between the train line and those lovely beaches is easy level walking. This means no concentration is needed and opportunities abound to just admire the sea.
For me, this stretch of the South West Coast Path from Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren lacked the rural-feel and ruggedness that we love. Lacking are the glorious countryside and clifftops, to be replaced with a bucket-and-spade-and-an-ice-cream. Hopefully the next stretch after the River Ex will take us back to the more natural landscapes we prefer.
The highlights of Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren
- The grand pier at Teignmouth. A traditional victorian pier with all the iconic penny arcade games alongside some of the newer computer games. Always good fun and a trip down memory lane.
- The sandy beaches at Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren. Expansive and lovely to walk along in the less crowded (virually empty) winter months.
- I have fond memories of Dawlish and enjoyed a wander through the town and along the river that goes through the middle…and a chance to see the official symbol of Dawlish, the black swans. Not native in the UK, but brought over from New Zealand in the early 20th century. I loved seeing them when I was young and am still delighted today.
- While in Dawlish I can recommend a good-old traditional ice-cream topped with clotted cream (and a flake of course)
Where next?
Our South West Coast Path endeavour has two ends (as we have started in the middle); after the Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren section our next walk will start in Exmouth. At the other end we are about to step into Cornwall. Not quite another country but they do have their own language. A’gas dynnergh! Welcome to Cornwall!
