The Where to Stay Directory - Accommodation in Dawlish

Dawlish Water and The Lawn

The Where to Stay Directory - Accommodation in Dawlish

Tourist Information Centre The Lawn, DAWLISH. Tel: +44 1626 215665

Dawlish is a pretty resort, on the south Devon coastline, between the main holiday destination of Torquay and the city of Exeter. The town's location, makes it the ideal base for touring this idyllic part of the country. Dawlish has excellent rail links, with a mainline station situated right on the sea front - as well as good road links to the A38 and the M5.

The town itself has a quiet, relaxing feel to it - full of charm and loaded with atmosphere. Dawlish, was once the haunt of such literary giants as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Charles Dickens used the town as the birthplace of Nicholas Nickleby.

Architecturally, the town has two main influences, the Victorian and Georgian eras. Dawlish has a fine collection of buildings from both periods, as well as some buildings that date from much earlier, giving this seaside town a special character.

At the heart of the town is the central open space called The Lawn, an attractive public park, with an avenue of mature chestnut trees, stunningly colourful flower beds, accented by exotic cacti, tropical plants and evocative tall palms.

The Lawn is the ideal spot for the family, providing a safe environment for families to play, relax and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the park. This is the place to find a shady corner, where you can sit and relax in a truly spectacular spot. At night, a myriad of coloured lights running along the length of the water course are switched on, converting the area into a wonderland where you can enjoy a romantic evening stroll.

.The center piece of The Lawn, is 'Dawlish Water' or 'The Brook'. This river runs through the the gardens, providing that extra special finishing touch to this splendid location. As you walk along the edges of the Brook, you can watch the large numbers of trout feeding in the river, as it gently flows towards the sea, cascading over a series of small waterfalls.

The Brook is the home to a great variety of ducks, swans and rare wildfowl. Black swans, swim gracefully along the river, gently guiding their cygnets as they navigate the river, and feed from the small weirs which interrupt the water's flow. You can view hatchlings in the specially constructed pens on the edge of the park. The whole area has a special feel to it, refreshing and tranquil.

The town is worth exploring. A peculiarity of the town are the mainline trains which run along the edge of the main beach and the Railway station, which is a fine period piece - an attraction in its own right. Dawlish has a good selection of cafes, inns, restaurants, galleries, shops and though much of the centre has been commercialised, you can still find some fine examples of Regency Period buildings. Dawlish is relaxing, yet it still bristles with activity. The town has a comprehensive programme of entertainment's and events through out the summer months, based around the band stand in the park. With a theatre, museum and art gallery, along with a obstacle golf course, fishing and boating trips, Dawlish offers something for everyone.

Dawlish has three beaches, Coryton Cove, Boat Cove and the main beach. The main beach runs along the edge of the town. It stretches for over a mile, passing Langstone Rock leading into the large beaches at Dawlish Warren. The main access to the beach is under the railway line. The beach has toilets near by as well as all the usual amenities, such as snacks and ice-cream sales. Fast foods, cafe's and restaurants, are located in the main town, on the eastern edges of the Lawn.