The Clipper

The Clipper is a Victorian paddle steamer that's been parked in Dawlish for over a century - and yes, it's still there, beached on the seafront like some enormous monument to the age of steam. Built in 1870, she actually worked the waters around here before being permanently moored, and you can walk right up to her and peer through the portholes at what remains of her interior. It's one of those things that feels more impressive the longer you stand looking at it. Kids love clambering about the outside and imagining what life was like when this was a proper working ship.

There's something beautifully melancholic about the Clipper - she's not a museum with interactive exhibits and admission fees, just a genuine relic that locals have grown up with. You'll spend maybe twenty minutes investigating the hull and taking photos from different angles, unless you're the sort who gets genuinely lost in maritime history, in which case you could quite easily spend longer just thinking about her. Best visited on a clear day when the light catches the weathered hull properly.

Stay at any of the holiday parks within easy reach - Dawlish Sands or Haven Devon Cliffs are both close enough that you could pop down to the Clipper between other beach days. She works well as a quick stop rather than a full afternoon's activity, particularly if you're combining it with walks along the South West Coast Path or exploring Dawlish Warren just along the shore.