I can only imagine how distressed you have been, my loyal reader, with no blogs to read since last Sunday. No rehashed views, no old jokes, no nothing. I can but apologise. You see, we’ve been holidaying in Dawlish Warren. And not any old holiday: a Sun holiday in a caravan.
We normally go away the week before the second May bank holiday. There are numerous advantages in going away at this time. Firstly, and most importantly, the weather is always good. This year, Tuesday and Wednesday were spent on the beach in blazing, largely unbroken sunshine. When you are away for three full days, two hot days represent a decent return. Then, there is the absence of lots of other people, especially children. You can a table in a pub quite easily, you can get a fair bit of space on the beach in which to grill yourself and, as I did, suffer sunstroke. and it’s cheap.
I had not been to Dawlish Warren before. It is not exactly scenic and photogenic until you get to the beach, which is quite exceptional. It’s lovely, too, if you are an anorak and enjoy the supply of trains whizzing past on this most beautiful of railway lines. The place is essentially holiday accommodation, some domestic accommodation and a few shops and bars. There are amusement arcades for those who like to lose money and there are, near the beach, some half-decent shops selling unmarked clothing brands which slightly took us aback. I’d definitely recommend an out of season break!
Highlights: a walk to Cockwood, a lovely little harbour with two pubs and a few houses. We ate and drank in the Ship, which was a pub that serves great food, as opposed to the Anchor which looks like a pub but acts like a restaurant, a very good one by the looks of it, but a restaurant nonetheless. Teignmouth, which is a little tired but lovely for all that. The Exmouth to Starcross ferry. The second most beautiful railway line in Britain (Settle and Carlisle line is the best).
Lowlights: People who use the public toilets but don’t wash their hands afterwards. Exmouth which we went to twice: our first and last time! (Boom! Boom!) Not bringing my golf clubs: Warren’s links golf course looks great, albeit very tight fairways.
