Dawlish Warren Spit

The spit juts out into the sea like a finger pointing at France, all golden sand and marram grass bending in the salt wind. It's a proper geological oddity - this narrow strip of beach and dunes has been built up by the sea itself over centuries, and it's still shifting. Walk out along it and you'll get views back towards Dawlish town on one side and open water on the other; it feels like you're standing on something temporary, which you are.

Historically minded types will appreciate what's happening here - this is a textbook example of how coastal processes work, the kind of thing geographers get excited about. Kids find it brilliant for rock pooling at low tide, and the dunes are steep enough to feel like an adventure without being actually dangerous. The beach is wide and sandy, good for a proper paddle rather than just paddling in a designated swimming area.

There's no charge to visit and you can spend anywhere from forty minutes to a full afternoon here depending on tides and tide pools. Go early to bag parking near the spit itself - the car park fills up fast on decent weekends. Low tide is your friend if you want to explore properly.

If you're staying at either Haven park nearby - Devon Cliffs or Devon Cliffs Resort - this is an easy drive over (under three miles), and it makes a good escape from the holiday park bustle. It's wilder and quieter than the main beaches around Dawlish, which counts for something when you're after a bit of breathing room.