Shopping in Dawlish
A guide to shopping in Dawlish. Visit the old town, pass all the shops, enjoy the gardens and river, and enjoy the sea front promenade.
Dawlish is unique! Shops line The Strand, which runs alongside the lawns bordering The Brook, home to a colony of black swans. It is a beautiful place to shop, especially on a sunny day. And Dawlish has an amazing variety of shops!
Parking
Entering Dawlish from either Exeter or Teignmouth, turn up the one way road with The Brook on your right hand side and either park on the road, or turn left at the T junction, then right into the large Barton Hill car park. Both are pay and display. There are toilets just outside the carpark.
As you turn into the car park, look out for Dawlish Museum on the left hand side. It is open through the summer months and well worth a visit, having many local items of interest.
Park Road and Queen Street
Leave the car park via the main entrance, turn left and walk past the Bonne Bouche Delicatessen. Their cold cooked beef and ham, and quiches, freshly made on the premises, are the best I've ever had. Put a slab of their beef in a bun from the Wee Shoppe Bakery and you have a picnic! The bakery windows are full of tempting cakes and I can recommend their fresh, French bread.
Turn left up Queen Street, past a treasure trove, the Snooky Trust charity shop, which is packed floor to ceiling with books, jigsaw puzzles, toys, clothes, and you are always welcomed with a big smile! You will also find Holman Computers, offering a variety of computer services, and Proudly Pressed, with a range of cleaning and ironing services.
Look ahead and you'll see Braking Wind Cycles, the place for cycling enthusiasts - where you can get expert advice from Bob the Bike, or hire a bike for the day.
Keep going along Park Road and you'll find Castles Office Services, where you find not only stationery, but also computer services and musical insturments. Park Road Pets, has everything you need to keep your pet happy, and also sells gardening supplies. While we're on the subject of pets, Dinkum Dogs, the grooming parler is just across the street. Fishermen will find all they need at Take The Bait. Get your shoes repaired at Grahams, who also cut keys and do engraving. Visit Jen's Traditional Sweet Shop with its jars of traditional loose sweets and stacks of chocolates. DIY enthusiasts will be happy to look in at Morris and Mcginns, and if they don't have what you need, they'll order it in for you to collect next day. Sampsons Domestic Appliances offers a wide choice of cookers, fridges and electrical goods of all types with a personal, friendly service you won't find in the out of town superstores.
Return and take a look in Home and Garden which stocks all sorts of useful kitchen ware and houseware items. Helping Hands is next door, they offer an excellent service to those who need practical assistance in coping with everyday life.
Now walk back down Queen Street to find Dawlish News which offers same day film developing as well as newspapers and magazines, and Vivian Gallery where you will find beautiful dichroic glass jewellery, hand made at the gallery. then Sacred Spirit for dreamcatcher feathered necklaces.
The Strand Shops
Now you are at the top of the main shopping street, The Strand. There is a friendly branch of Bath Travel, and then the health food store, Poppadums, which also sells organic vegetables and has a huge range of herbs and spices. Presents of Dawlish has lots of gifts, ornaments and cards to choose from. The British Red Cross shop has books as well as clothes. Bill and Taylor Optometrist will look after your eyes, and Body Beautiful your body! More mobile phones are on offer from Intek Communications. If you need a Post Office you will find it at the back of the One Stop convenience store. Next you'll find another branch of Jen's Traditional Sweets, and a lovely gift and card shop, Emotions. Boots and Lloyds pharmacies are separated by Deli Delicious. This delicatessen has a lovely selection of meats, cheeses and deli goodies, and they provide fresh local fish to order. Griffin Jewellers has gold and silver in abundance, and Davidson's Toys is packed with toys for all ages and a large selection of jigsaw puzzles. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary charity shop comes next. Fresh flowers are in abundance at the Flower Shop, which has local grown tomatoes and vegetables stacked outside in the summer. Ryders Home Made Bakery offers pizza slices and pies as well as bread and cakes. The Shoe Centre is well worth a look in as there is a large selection of good quality and fashion shoes inside. Fresh fruit and vegetables are on offer at Stokes and you can buy fresh and cooked meat next door from Lloyd Maunders butchers. Bastins has gifts, cards, stationery and beach goods. Finally, on this side of the Strand is the small Co-operative Supermarket with a branch of Threshers off licence on the opposite side.
To the Promenade
A little way up the hill to your left is the Animals in Distress charity shop. To continue the walk, bear right to the crossing lights and make your way to Pink, which has accessories and cosmetics, you can't miss it, its pink! A short detour here down the narrow Beach Street with its two pubs will take you to a secondhand and antiquarian bookshop specialising in travel and transport, Dawlish Books, with its floor to ceiling books on all subjects. Turning back and heading towards the sea front you'll find Coast to Coast full of beach goods and gifts. Keep going towards the sea front and just round the corner to the left is Richleys Stewarts clothes shop, and Geronimos Gifts tucked into the Station building.
Brunswick Terrace
Linger on the seafront or lawns, then return past the shops on Brunswick Terrace. On the corner by the bridge is J&L News, newsagents plus beach goods. You're spoilt for choice of flavours at Sticky Fingers ice cream and sweet shop. Moose has a good selection of surfware and clothes for the fashion concious. If you need a cuddle, then Dawlish Teddy Bears is the place to go! A huge array of teddy bears, including collectible bears awaits inside. Willows Flowers has flowers for you, then you'll see the largest shop on this side of the river, Gaye's Creamery with its takeaway cream teas, baked goods, sweets and gifts. And yummy ice cream cornets with clotted cream.
To return to the car park, keep walking along Brunswick Terrace with the river on your right, past the The Shaftesbury Theatre and you will see the car park just to the left of the T junction at the end.
Manor Gardens
To visit the peaceful Manor Gardens, find the footpath that runs alongside the river and follow it upstream (with the river on your right) until you come to the Manor House park, with its gardens, benches and children's play area. To visit the older part of Dawlish, cross over one of the footbridges and wander through the gardens, up past the Manor House (home of the Town Council), until you arrive at Park Road in the older part of town.
I hope you've enjoyed your trip. Come again!