Dawlish Warren

About this route

Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve is over 500 acres of protected grassland, sand dunes, mudflats and centres home to over 600 different species of plants and over 23,000 wildfowl and wading birds.

The Warren is a vital component of the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, recognised for its international significance to wildlife. Additionally, the Warren is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for its dune grassland, humid dune slacks, and the rare ‘petalwort‘ that thrives there. In addition to fixed and mobile dunes, the area features meadows, copses, reedbeds, ponds, and saltmarsh, making the entire sandspit of great geomorphological interest.

 

 

Getting Around

By car, by bus, by train (On the Paignton-Exmouth rail line).

 

Facilities
Toilets, café, bird watching areas, parking.
Terrain
Footpaths, sandy beach.
Accessibility

Interesting information

It is estimated that around 2,000 species of invertebrates inhabit the area, along with nearly 600 different types of flowering plants. A significant draw for birdwatchers is the abundance of wading birds, ducks, and geese. As the incoming tide inundates the mudflats, which serve as rich feeding grounds, the birds are gradually pushed up to the high tide mark. At high tide, the Warren provides one of the few safe roosting spots for these birds.

Dawlish Warren is essentially a sandy spit shaped by natural coastal processes. It developed as the railway brought in more visitors eager to enjoy the South Devon coast’s beaches, and today, it successfully combines the charm of an outstanding nature reserve with the appeal of a family-friendly seaside resort.

 

Nick Russill unsplash Dawlish warren scaled

You can explore more in this area

Photo of black swans on a nest in Dawlish
5.5miles/
8.75kms

The Dawlish Discovery Walk

This walk is based around Dawlish, a small picturesque Victorian town with an interesting seaside history. The town dates back
Photo of cyclists on the Tarka Trail alongside the estuary near Instow
16.4miles/
26kms

Exe Estuary Trail

This newly constructed cycle trail offers an almost entirely traffic-free, wonderfully level route which forms part of the South Coast
Photo of cyclists crossing a wooden bridge on the Exe Estuary Trail
75miles/
120kms

South Coast NCN 2

This route stretches from St Austell in Cornwall to Dover in Kent and covers 359 miles  / 574 kms in total. 
Photo of cyclists on the Tarka Trail alongside the estuary near Instow
16.4miles/
26kms

Exe Estuary Trail

This newly constructed cycle trail offers an almost entirely traffic-free, wonderfully level route which forms part of the South Coast
Photo of black swans on a nest in Dawlish
5.5miles/
8.75kms

The Dawlish Discovery Walk

This walk is based around Dawlish, a small picturesque Victorian town with an interesting seaside history. The town dates back
Photo of cyclists on the Tarka Trail alongside the estuary near Instow
16.4miles/
26kms

Exe Estuary Trail

This newly constructed cycle trail offers an almost entirely traffic-free, wonderfully level route which forms part of the South Coast
Photo looking along the coast over the sea and red rocks to Parsons tunnel at Dawlish
2miles/
3.2kms

Dawlish to Dawlish Warren

Part of the South West Coast Path, this path runs between the pretty town of Dawlish and the National Nature
Close up photo of red sandstone cliffs at Dawlish

Dawlish Warren and Cliffs

Dawlish Warren is a fascinating place. This sand spit at the mouth of the Exe Estuary is not only of
Close up photo of red sandstone cliffs at Dawlish

Dawlish Warren and Cliffs

Dawlish Warren is a fascinating place. This sand spit at the mouth of the Exe Estuary is not only of
Photo looking along the coast over the sea and red rocks to Parsons tunnel at Dawlish
2miles/
3.2kms

Dawlish to Dawlish Warren

Part of the South West Coast Path, this path runs between the pretty town of Dawlish and the National Nature