Historic Dawlish is a wonderful place to enjoy a holiday year round; from sunbathing and sea swimming in the summer, watching the resident Wildfowl paddling in The Brook during the spring, steam train spotting in the warmer months, migratory bird watching in the autumn and admiring the wild winter sea as it collides heavily with the recently completed sea wall during an Easterly storm.
If your stay coincides with one of the wonderful community organised events then you are in for a real treat! Highlights such as; Dawlish Carnival in August (The Pram Race is not to be missed!), EAT Festival and Dawlish Christmas Market in November / December.
Other annual events include; food markets, plant sales, craft markets, motorcycle and vintage car show, brass band concerts and marching bands to name a few.
Dawlish also boasts a theatre, museum, a bowling green, a wonderful play park, crazy golf, boat trips in the summer and a fantastic stretch of the South West Coast Path from Coryton Cove to the magnificent nature reserve of Dawlish Warren and beyond.
If you wake early on a clear morning, amble down to the breakwater at Boat Cove and bathe in the golden glow as the sun rises out of the sea whilst listening to the birds chirp from their burrows in the red sandstone cliffs behind.
Outside of Dawlish there are plenty of lovely seaside towns to visit including Teignmouth, Torquay and Brixham. Paignton Zoo and Dartmouth Steam Railway are top attractions for the local area.
The city of Exeter makes for a wonderful daytrip and is quickly accessed by train from Dawlish; you can walk the Roman Walls, visit the Catacombs on a guided red coat walking tour and enjoy the magnificent Royal Albert Memorial Museum on a rainy day.
If you are travelling to the area by car, then a day on Dartmoor is not to be missed. On a clear day you can see for miles which makes for a thrilling yomp across the Moors; waterfalls, tors, forests and wild Dartmoor ponies are just a few of the highlights here. To add a little more excitement and mystery to your day, make sure you read up on the local Dartmoor legends before your trip; such as The Headless Horseman, Kitty Jay’s Grave and The Hairy Hands to name a few.
South Devon has been a highly popular tourist destination for centuries; with varied landscapes, great attractions and natural beauty, come and stay at Pilchard Cottage and explore this incredible area.