When I was child, if you lived in Exeter, to the east of the river Exe, your beach was Exmouth, to the west and it was Dawlish Warren. Both beaches are around 10 miles from the city. Back then, in the dawn of time, most people didn’t have cars, but there was always the regular train or bus service, and there still is.
Summers were longer and warmer then, and the sunshine was, well, sunnier somehow. Families would pack up their bags with sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls and cake, kids would take their buckets and spades. Sun lotion didn’t exist, so many would burn and peel a few days later, the lucky ones would just tan. No-one thought anything of it, other than a touch of calamine lotion if it was sore.
Nowadays the Warren is a National nature Reserve and protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and along with the rest of the Exe estuary, a Wetland of International Importance. Last weekend I took advantage of a few dry hours and took my camera for a walk.
In winter Dartmoor ponies are kept on the Warren to help maintain the grassland, I’ve seen some in the past but not on this visit sadly. The wetlands are teeming with wildlife, mostly elusive except to the ears.
I walked on past and got a glimpse of the beach.
Before striding on eastwards towards the golf course and a view across the estuary to Exmouth.
So, I’m on the crest of the dunes surrounded by beauty
Maybe this will help explain where I was
The wide area at the top is the sand spit right opposite Exmouth, but I pretty much stayed on the red path.
There are thousand of wildfowl and wading birds, I saw Oyster catchers, Wigeon, Brent Geese, and others that I don’t know the names of. The visitor centre had recorded far more that week than I was able to see because the tide was low, even though I walked around the curve of the sand spit to the bird hide.
The wind was getting up and the light was changing, so I headed back before the rain came in. So walking west, the beach was on my left. The big old terrace houses at Exmouth were clearly visible behind me
and my path back to the car park
Looking inwards I could see the grassland again.
The Warren got its name because centuries ago, probably back to the middle ages, rabbits were raised there on a commercial scale, for both food and skin.
This is part of the holiday makers area, with amusements, cafes, a pub and several caravan parks nearby.The tide was right in, but there is sand under there! The bright beach huts are a fairly recent addition. In the 1970’s there were hundreds of traditional beach huts down here behind the beach.
I can’t remember them though, I was an east of the Exe girl and still am, you know how much I love Exmouth!
I hope you enjoyed my walk. It’s either one day late or six days early for Jo’s Monday Walk but I’m never on time!
Lucid Gypsy 
Wow, Gilly.I can’t believe all the wonderful walking tours you have. Your photographs are out of this world spectacular. Thanks so much for this stroll with your. ❤ ❤ ❤
Ahh Tess thanks, I’m very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. 🙂
I’m green with envy. I’m not saying Canada is awesome but you know how the saying goes: The grass is always greener… 😀
That’s a problem I have too, Gilly- being on time 🙂 But there’s no such thing as late for my Mondays. Like buses, there’s always another one 🙂
Thank you so much for this. The Warren shots have so much life in them despite the dull colours of Winter and i love your boat shots in the estuary. I’m a happy bunny 🙂
You’re such a sweetie, thank you. I actually have photos taken with you in mind, from several walks in recent months, but I never manage to keep up 🙂 🙂 🙂
I know that feeling! 🙂 🙂
Fantastic Gypsy, looks like a great spot for photos.
Thanks Leanne, a it more sun would have been nice 🙂
On time or not I enjoyed my walk with you along this route. A sort of subdued Dee Why lagoon stroll, without the heat 🙂
Lovely photos Gilly.
It can be blue and warm but 38 degrees would be a rare thing!
Too hot to walk then anyway. I prefer it around 23 degrees!! I’m not so good in the heat 🙂
So beautiful. Really hope I get the chance to visit someday. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
I hope you do too Jenny, there is much to see in little England 🙂
We’re back in the summer and yours is an area I’ve yet to explore, so fingers crossed! 🙂
Such a lovely walk, Gilly. Your photos are all great, but my favourite is the glimpse of the beach through the tussock covered dunes. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia, Dawlish Warren has a certain charm!
Oh, those childhood summers – somebody I know once described them as “twenty year summers”, and that’s how long they felt! There was so much time to do anything you could think of….
I guess its because we’re older that time rushes so quickly!
A lovely – and loving – walk, with photos that take us with you beautifully. Thanks for easing me back into beachside, as I leave Warsaw.
Ahh farewell again Warsaw, I hope it isn’t too sad leaving your family Meg. Safe journey and see you on the warm side ❤
Oh wow Gilly! It’s so beautiful there! I love the colourful houses and boats and these shots are totally amazing! Thanks for the lovely walk. 😀 ♥
It’s very peaceful and relaxing on a late winter day 🙂
Hey, you’re allowed to not be on time: you live in the West country and the pace of life is much slower! Oh, how I miss it.
It brought back memories of my childhood seaside visits Gilly. So they still have the amusement parlours. Do they have donkey rides on your beach?
Seaside walks are my favourite Gilly, and Dawlish Warren looks particularly appealing. Love your photos.
I always enjoy these posts about areas I’d never get to do. A wonderful way for me to experience them. A pleasant your of special memories.