Dawlish Warren
Dawlish Warren is a sand spit at the head of the Exe Estuary in Devon and is a great spot to paddle when the tide and weather permits.
Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is an area of grassland, sand dunes, mudflats and centres on a 1½ mile long sandspit/beach across the mouth of the Exe Estuary. Dawlish Warren is an important holiday resort and is visited by thousands of people each year.
As part of the Exe Estuary it is one of the most important places for wildfowl and wading birds in the whole of the South West. Thousands of birds come to feed, on migration, or to spend the winter here.
The dunes and grassland have a host of special plants. Over 600 different types of flowering plants have been recorded on the Warren. This varied Reserve has many different habitats including salt marsh, fresh water ponds, wet meadows and woodland.
The Warren is so important that it is protected for its wildlife by both national and international law.
Landing on the Warren
The spot marked by a red dot is the "official" landing spot and no craft should really land anywhere else. Quite often paddle boards and kayaks do land further up toward the Exmouth end.
Be aware that closer to the point means you are landing inside the Exe mouth and the tides will be at their strongest there.
The beach here shelves sharply and gets wake from passing boats as close to the landing zone is the main shipping channel and maintained depth. As such this is a more experienced paddle and one where you must be OK with tides and weather.
Once on the Warren it is beautiful however and well worth a venture but do please remember that it is a nature reserve so please leave only footprints!
Paddle Board safety
If crossing from Exmouth you must be aware of the tides as you are crossing a mooring zone and also the mouth of the estuary. An hour before high water is advised and you are advised to leave no more than one hour after high water.
We recommend a waist leash as you are paddling through a mooring zone!
Once on the spit it is worth a wander to the seaward side - the beach here is beautiful - on the right day it is like being in the tropics!
On a busy day on the water the sea gets a little choppy so this trip is more suitable for competent paddlers - if it's too bumpy you can always simply kneel down of course but the channel can get a little busy in summer.
The Exmouth water taxi often runs trips out to the Warren so you're never alone out there.
A great day would be to depart Exmouth Duck Pond 1 hour before high water (Neaps is good) and head to the Warren stopping for 20 minutes to admire the view, take a coffee and some snaps then head west up towards Cockwood arriving there at high water. The local pub is right by the little harbour - depart Cockwood at high water back home.
This paddle needs planning and at Exmouth SUP & Paddle Group you can get some great courses on tidal awareness!
Click here for the Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Guide for Water Use
Local by-laws
- No camping anywhere at anytime
- No lighting of any fires, stoves, heaters, barbeques or anything capable of causing a fire anywhere at the Warren
- Do not deliberately disturb, collect or remove wildlife
- You must not remove rocks, sand or soil
- You must not dig up, damage or remove any plant or parts of a plant including driftwood
- Dogs are restricted or banned on many parts of the site. Check notices.
- Flying of drones is not permitted
- Abide by restrictions to access and do not climb fences or enter fenced areas
- Metal detecting is only permitted on the beach, not the dunes, mudflats or grassland
- Only use bins provided for waste or even better take your litter home with you
- Clean up after your pet
- No riding or exercising a horse
- No cycling or use of any form of mechanically propelled vehicle