Dawlish Warren Spit

The long sand spit at Dawlish Warren stretches across the mouth of the Exe Estuary, shaping a dynamic coastal feature that balances natural forces with human use. Formed over thousands of years through longshore drift and rising sea levels, it remains a rare example of an acidic dune system, built from local sandstone rather than shell fragments.

This structure creates sheltered mudflats and intertidal zones on its inner side, supporting thousands of wading birds and wildfowl that feed and roost there. Paths wind through the dunes, grassland, and slacks, passing ponds and scrub where rare plants like petalwort and orchids grow alongside marram grass that stabilises the sands.

At the tip, known as Warren Point, views open across the estuary to Exmouth, with the open sea on the outer edge.

Groynes and management works help maintain the spit’s form against erosion, preserving its role in reducing flood risk further up the estuary. A bird hide near the end offers close observation of species such as oystercatchers, godwits, and terns.

The spit links directly to the broader Dawlish Warren resort area, where the beach widens into expansive sands backed by dunes. Walking its length provides a sense of the site’s scale, from the busier entrance near the visitor centre to quieter sections towards the point.

Geologically young at around 7,000 years old, the spit continues to evolve with sediment movement and storm influences. Designated as a National Nature Reserve and part of wider protected areas including a Special Area of Conservation, it holds international importance for its habitats and wildlife.

Boardwalks and signed routes guide movement across softer terrain, while the surrounding golf course occupies part of the inner warren. Rates highly with many reviews.