GAZETEER ESSENTIAL Information

Exeter For accommodation in and around Warren see the accommodation guides on pages 28-51 Don’t forget to visit: www.southdevon.org.uk for more information

Ranked the 5th best beach in the UK in 2004, Dawlish Warren

is a firm favourite with visitors all year round. Running along Dawlish Warren the southern bank of the for almost two miles, Dawlish Dawlish Warren has golden sands backed by sand dunes and an international nature reserve.

Dawlish Warren Essential Information Dawlish Tourist Information Centre The Lawn, Dawlish. Tel 01626 215665 Beach Manager’s Office Beach Walk. Tel: 01626 888317 Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Visitor Centre Tel: 01626 863980 see panel left. Guided walks take place on the Warren all year round. See also www..gov.uk/countryside www.exe-estuary.org Or contact: Dawlish Warren Warden, Countryside Management Section, Teignbridge District Council, Forde House, Brunel Road, , TQ12 4XX Or email: [email protected] Transport Links Stagecoach Bus Service runs every 15 minutes daily, for further information contact 01392 427711 rebuilt 500 yards north of it former location and One of the top beaches Dawlish Warren in the past Environment & Wildlife or ring Traveline 0870 608 2608. became known as Dawlish Warren. Local buses run through from to and Dawlish Warren is a recent phenomenon in Dawlish Warren is internationally important for It has been awarded the prestigious European Blue Dawlish Warren became a playground for the Newton Abbot. geological terms, and was formed a mere 7000 years wildlife. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Flag Award and Seaside Award Clean Beach status wealthy from the 1920s, and a number of holiday Arriva, Wessex Trains and South West Trains call regularly on ago in the wake of the most recent ice age, which Special Area of Conservation (SAC),National Nature for water quality, cleanliness, management, safety homes were built at Warren Point, some of them very the through route from Penzance, Exeter, Wales and ended around 12000 years ago. As the ice retreated, Reserve (NNR) and is part of the larger Exe Estuary and information - placing it among the top beaches expensively constructed. These have now all been Waterloo. Change at Exeter St. Davids for London the sea levels rose, eventually settling at its present Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, Paddington, The Midlands, Northern and Scotland. for safety and cleanliness in the country. destroyed by storms. level around 5000 years ago. Before this the coast designated for the huge flocks of wildfowl and Further details from National Rail enquiries: You can be assured of an experienced team of was around 15 miles further away from its present The Warren was first managed as a nature reserve in wading birds that over-winter here. 08457 484950 lifeguards on hand to watch over the kids, and a position, a landscape now inundated by the sea. The 1978 and in 1987 the visitor centre was opened. Local Medical Assistance The Warren has a wide variety of coastal habitats: whole range of facilities, including: large grassed combined action of the river and the tides at the Doctors surgery - The Barton Surgery Warren Road, mobile and fixed dunes, grassland, scrub, ponds, reed play area, amusements, weekly open-air market, golf point of entry of the Exe to the sea have deposited a Dawlish Warren, Tel: 01626 888877 Photos: clockwise from top left - bed, 'dune slacks', salt marsh and mudflats. These course, cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops. sand spit and a shifting set of bars and flats, easily Dawlish Hospital, Tel: 01626 888500 • Dawlish Warren beach with views to Langstone Rock habitats support over 600 different species of Ideal for exploring visible at low tide. • Family on Dawlish Warren beach Markets • Dunlin & Knot outside the bird hide flowering plants including the rare Warren or Sand A weekly market is held at Dawlish Warren on Tuesdays Dawlish Warren is an ideal centre for a car-free The sea is constantly changing the Warren and the • Lifeguards on Dawlish Warren beach Crocus. from May – September leisure break, with its own railway station, regular shape of the sand spit. Warren point has been cut off • Shopping at Dawlish Warren • Inside Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Visitor Centre The mudflat is a particularly valuable refuge for Farmers’ Market bus services and cycle hire. The nearby holiday at times producing a separate island in the mouth of • Nature Reserve information sign thousands of over-wintering and migratory Alternate Fridays on the Lawn in Dawlish. parks offer a wide choice of caravan, camping the estuary. waterfowl. The Warren harbours nationally important Also look at Dawlish Essential Information on page 5 and chalet accommodation. In the 1960’s and 70’s the spit was strengthened by populations of the following bird species in winter: It’s also an excellent location for exploring a man made rock “spine”, and beach groynes. A black tailed godwit, brent goose, ringed plover, countryside, sea, estuary and nature all in one. tidal creek which existed in the centre of the spit was dunlin, grey plover, slavonian grebe, red-breasted The Blue Flag is a symbol of high environmental standards as well as good Recognised as an important site for an assortment filled in to prevent sea breaching the gap between merganser, oystercatcher, wigeon and teal. Around sanitary and safety facilities at the beach. of vegetation, animals and birds, the nature reserve the spit and Warren Point. In the 1990’s the sea wall 180 different bird species are recorded each year. is known internationally as a centre for migrating was strengthened. All this effort to preserve the area The visitor centre is a 5 min walk from the car park. birds. may yet succumb to the elements and climate DAWLISH WARREN BEACH IS A BLUE FLAG change, and geologists think the spit could disappear AWARD RESORT. Everything you’ll need at some point in the next few decades Throughout the summer there is a programme of Local attractions free children’s entertainment. There is also a series Dawlish Warren was known simply as The Warren of guided walks organised throughout the year from (traditionally a place for rabbit rearing) up until the Grand Prix Go-Karts, Dawlish Warren Two seater sports racer for families. Grand Prix Karts for the nature reserve visitor centre. 20th century, when a new station was built on the London to Penzance line. The first station, called racing novices. The new super fast ‘Bullet’ Karts. Stretches of golden sands in a unique setting – Warren Halt, was constructed in 1905, and was Tel: 01626 862521 Dawlish Warren has everything you’ll need for a fun, useful for the members of the Warren Golf Club, www.grand-prix-go-karts.co.uk action-packed family holiday or idyllic day out all formed in 1892. In 1907 the platform was year round. lengthened and the name changed to Warren Platform. Finally, in 1912, the station was completely 2 3