Cliffden Hotel Swimming Pool

The Cliffden Hotel pool sits right on the seafront at Dawlish, which means you get proper coastal views while you're doing your lengths. It's a working hotel pool rather than a public leisure centre, so access depends on whether you're staying there or can sweet-talk your way in as a day visitor - worth ringing ahead to check current policy. The water's heated, which matters when you're this close to Devon's rather bracing English Channel.

Families staying at Lady's Mile or Golden Sands holiday parks nearby will find this a convenient spot for a proper swim rather than paddling in the shallows. Older kids and confident swimmers get the most from it; toddlers might prefer the beach itself, which is right there anyway. You're looking at maybe an hour in the pool itself, though the sea views mean you could easily loiter longer with a coffee afterwards.

Timing-wise, aim for quieter mid-week periods if you can - hotel pools fill up with guests during peak season. The real bonus is location: Dawlish itself is a proper Victorian seaside town with the red sandstone cliffs that give the place its character. If you're based at Cofton Holidays or Parkdean Resorts down the coast, this is easily reachable for a morning or afternoon session.

Honestly, it's not a destination in itself, but if you're holiday-park hopping along the Devon coast and want a genuine heated pool with a sea view, it beats driving inland to a leisure centre.