Walk - Dawlish Countryside Park
Walk information provided with help from Natural England. Map reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100022021.
- Difficulty
- Easy
An easy walk, mostly flat on pavements and paths. Some paths in the Countryside Park are made of earth and/or grassed over, and their condition is subject to weather conditions. There is a sloping section in the Park, but this can be bypassed.
- Start
- Dawlish Warren Car Park, Beach Road, Dawlish Warren, EX7 0NF
- Finish
- Dawlish Warren Car Park, Beach Road, Dawlish Warren, EX7 0NF
- Length
- 3.3 miles (5.3 km)
- Summary
The route begins at the car park at the entrance to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. It then proceeds along the main road before going through a housing estate and then entering Dawlish Countryside Park. From the Park, the route enters Shutterton Lane. (No pavements but the road is quiet and usually free from traffic) and then connects with the Coast Path on Dawlish Warren Rd and leads back on tarmac pavements to the start.
To download our Access guide, click here where you can find additional mapping and photographs showing gradients, path surfaces and other detailed information such as parking and toilet provision.Checked by SWCPA Volunteer in 2022.
- Public Transport
Bus stop at the junction of Beach Road, Dawlish Warren Road, and Mount Pleasant Road with buses to Teignmouth and Exeter. No. 22 bus to the Torquay and Paignton. Also No. 222 (open top summer service) to Teignmouth.
There is also a regular train service from Exeter St Davids Exeter, or from Teignmouth.
- Nearest car park
Public car park at the start with charges managed by Teignbridge District Council paid for with credit card, cash, or Ring-go.
- Nearest toilets
Accessible toilets in the car park at Dawlish Warren Car Park and at Sainsbury Supermarket on Exeter Road.
- Nearest refreshments
Refreshments are available at cafes, restaurants and convenience stores in Dawlish Warren, and at the car park at Dawlish Warren Countryside Park.
Route Description
- Starting at the Dawlish Warren Car Park on Beach Road. Head over the roundabout and turn right along Dawlish Warren Road in the direction of Starcross. Continue along the pavement, past the shops and the holiday parks on either side.
- Continue until just past Hazelwood Holiday Park, where you will find the start of the cycle way to the left (Signposted Shutterton, Superstore) Follow this route for approx. ¾ of a mile.
- When you reach the A379 Exeter Road turn right and proceed along the tarmac footpath for approx. 100m. At the roundabout, turn right again and continue along Black Swan Road past Sainsburys Supermarket. At the next (mini) roundabout, turn left on to Swift Road and then right again at the ‘T’ intersection on to Curlew Way.
- At No.13 Curlew Way, turn left down an unmarked gravel path for approx. 30m., following it acrossShutterton Lane. Proceed through a kissing gate and continue along the gravel path until you reach an opening in the hedgerow.
- Upon entering Dawlish Warren Countryside Park, immediately turn left and follow the mown meadow path leading to the car park.
The 65-acre Countryside Park was established in 2017 with the aim of helping protect key conservation sites at Dawlish Warren, the Exe Estuary and East Devon Pebbled Heaths. It receives some 18,000 visitors a month and is a popular place to visit for dog walkers and wheelchair users.
- Turn right at the car park and continue up the slope, past the noticeboard and picnic area, and across the field to an opening in the tree-lined hedge.
- The way ahead becomes more challenging rising to a Level 2 / Level 3, so as an alternative, you may wish to turn right at the opening immediately before or immediately after the tree-lined hedge and continue along one of mown meadow paths leading eastwards across the Park until you intersect path leading to the waymark at 9.
- Follow the natural path past the fenced perimeter up the slope to the tree line where you can enjoy panoramic views across the pastoral valley westwards towards the Haldon Hills. Continue along the ridge on natural path to The Lookout – the highest point in the Park.
- Follow the natural path as it curves around The Ridge and down the slope to an opening in the hedgerow. Go through the opening and continue along the mown meadow path until you reach a noticeboard near to the access point to Shutterton Lane.
- Upon entering Shutterton Lane, turn and continue along the road for approx. 500m until you reach the main road. There are no pavements on Shutterton Lane, however, the road is very quiet and usually free from traffic.
There is an alternative route about half way along the lane; turn right past bollards on the pedestrian route through to Millin Way; turn left on Millin Way to the end of the road.
- Upon reaching Dawlish Warren Road, turn right and continue, passing the holiday parks and shops once again until you reach the roundabout. You are now on the Coast Path, sometimes marked as the Exe Trail.
- Turn left at the roundabout and return to the start / finish point in the Dawlish Warren Car Park on Beach Road.
Nearby refreshments
Refreshments are available at cafes, restaurants and convenience stores in Dawlish Warren, and at the car park at Dawlish Warren Countryside Park.