West Country - How far down is the bit of railway that goes by the sea?

[FurtherSupport]

I'm doing Paddington to Totnes. Am I going far enough to see the bit that goes right by the sea?

[Catswiththumbs]

It's at dawlish.
I can't answer the rest of the question because I am a northerner on holiday in this part of the world

[ChippyMinton]

yes, it's between Exeter and Teignmouth. Lovely.

[fuzzpig]

Ooh, thanks for this thread, I didn't know where that was. I remember on my first trip away with now-DH we went past that and I thought it was brilliant. The sea was pretty choppy so it was really like we were on a boat.

[Kez100]

It's a lovely piece of railway

[SisterNancySinatra]

Dawlish is lovely and quaint , we booked a cottage their years ago although we had fabulous weather , but I would say a week is enough with young children , beach is nice and sandy .

[timeforacheckup]

Yes, you'll go past Dawlish. It's lovely but a bit hairy on stormy days when the spray hits the train windows!!

[FurtherSupport]

Excellent! This might be the bit I'm looking forward to most in the whole week - especially if the weather forecast doesn't improve

[Ferguson]

From Exeter onwards, you are on the estuary, then coast, as others said Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, then Teignmouth; and it's river side again to Newton Abbot.

If you are 'into' I K Brunel (who built the railway) you also go past the Pumping Stations of his 'failed' atmospheric railway. Newton Abbot's little museum has a feature on it.

[We used to go to Cornwall and Penzance by train. You feel like you are getting near, when you see the sea at Dawlish, but there is still four or more hours to go!]

Do you know much about Totnes? River Dart boat trips, steam trains, and lovely Dartington Hall and gardens, amongst other things.

[FurtherSupport]

Thanks Ferguson. We're actually staying at Slapton. I've done quite a bit of research on Dartmouth, as we'll be on public transport and that seems the easiest place to get to - we can do the river trip from the other end and get the steam train to Paignton. Any other tips gratefully received!

[scribblegirl]

Ooh I'm so jealous. My dad's family are all Torquay/NA based and until I could drive I used to travel along Dawlish all the time! Sadly now I have the car I don't have an excuse to take the train!

[saintlyjimjams]

How are you getting from Totnes to Slapton?
How old are kids? Surfing with Discovery at Bigbury always good.

Blackpool sands is next beach along from Slapton & sandy. And has a large Venus cafe (Bigbury has a smaller outdoor one).If you like your history there's the ruined village of Hallsands.

Totnes best place to browse the shops. Eg my son needed a ridiculously obscure ingredient for cookery. It wasn't in our large morissons, nor the sainsbury's superstore. While standing in Sainsbury's I remembered my mother had gone to Totnes for the day so phoned her & she found it easily!

Outdoor sea water lidos at shoalstone or plymouth (may be easier by public transport).

If your kids are younger there are for eg steam railways etc

[FurtherSupport]

We're staying at the Field Centre, so they're picking us up from Totnes (hopefully, I never feel completely confident in those kinds of arrangements until it happens!)

It's just me and DS2, 11yo, but we have quite a lot of activities laid on for us.

[FurtherSupport]

I actually went there on a school trip about 30 years ago. Hallsands is on my list (I plan to make DS walk!) but was wondering if there's much left?!

[saintlyjimjams]

Not sure - I have only been to the top of the hill since the recent big storms. Keep meaning to go & have a look!

[Bunbaker]

Paignton Zoo is worth a visit.