General Discussion
Positive things about Dawlish
I am absolutely fed up with the continual negative comments about Dawlish on this forum.
As has been said on another thread, anyone thinking of starting up a business or thinking of moving here would be put off for ever if they took to reading the vast majority of the postings on Backyard.
I LOVE Dawlish.
Positive postings only please on this thread.
I was in the town the other evening when it was dark and the lights that are strung across the Brook were all lit up.
It looked lovely.
What a beautiful day, can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.
Went for my usual walk and spent the afternoon in my garden, (working , well that's my storey!)
Chatted to my neighbour and made some tea.
It's amazing what a sunny day can do.
Have you noticed that new frontage to Bailey's chip shop? Isn't it an improvement? Owned by the same people who run No 1 Cafe I believe. That's the way for Dawlish to go.
Very impressed. Well done.
Bird watching colonels on the old sea wall
Down here at Dawlish, where the slow trains crawl
Low tide lifting, on a shingle shore
Long-sunk islands from the sea once more
Red cliffs rising where the wet sands run
Gulls reflecting in the sharp spring sun
Pink washed plaster by a sheltered patch
Ilex shadows upon velvet thatch
What interiors these names suggest
Queen of lodgings in the warm south-west.
Generally nice friendly people, lovely setting, plenty of places to walk, traffic not busy all the time, schools pretty good. Crime rates aren't that bad.
Dawlish is by far the nicest place I've lived.
Nice to see two new shops opened up in town
1. Moose - next door to Dawlish Trader in Brunswick Place. Sells 'young surfer' type gear.
2. DawlishBlue - 4 Park Road (between Gazette offices and Bob's Bike shop). Photo gallery. www.anthonytsteel.co.uk
Go and take a look.
Take a look at The Strand Mill in Brunswick Place next time you're in the town. There is a plaque telling you all about its history on the wall just to the back a bit of the Old Mill Tea Room. Very interesting. The wheel still turns - it started to do so yesterday when I was reading the plaque! Made me jump!
Those picnic tables with their sun shades are a lovely addition to the Brunswick side of the Brook as well.
The Ugly Duckling are trying to get permission for their outdoor tables on the Lawn again this summer. They were really attractive last year and added to the Lawns. If anyone wants to add their approval email TDC Planning.
Yes I thought the Ugly Duckling outside eating area last year was great. Very continental. Hope they get permission to do it again.
And some more nice things about Brunswick Place?
As well as The Old Mill Tea Shop and Moose? Try these........
Sticky Fingers - lots of different flavoured ice-creams.
Dawlish Teddy Bears - specialist Teddy Bear shop.
Gaye's Creamery - renowned for its pastries and ice-crams
The Brunswick Arms - Real Ale. Can drink outside when nice weather.
Inspirations - lovely gift shop.
The Shaftesbury Theatre - Home of Dawlish AmDram.
and
The Wild Fowl pen - which right now has two very proud Black Swan parents and 6 cygnets.
And that lovely green lung called Sandy Lane Playing Fields. The views from the top, up on the golf course, are spectacular - eastwards to the Exe Estuary and beyond, west as far as Berry Head. Breath taking.
The view from Lea Mount is pretty good 'n all. On a clear day you can just make out Portland Bill shimmering in the distance.
Yes - fantastic views are what you also get when you travel on my railway between Exminster and Newton Abbot.
I see Dawlish still has the mainline station I built for it and that it is still open.
Dawlish needs to 'sell' that rail track I built. After all, how many other places have a a rail track that gives fanstastic views whether you travel to Dawlish from Newton Abbot or from Exeter?
It's not only the mainline railway that gives Dawlish good communication (and scenic!)transport links. It's also near to, but just nicely far enough away from, the M5
Went to Exeter this morning £2 return on the train with a Devon card, just 14 minutes to St Thomas..great trip, cars in a traffic jam when I got there, guess they don't mind!
I bet the view of the Exe estuary was fanstastic on a clear day like today.
Yes, the Devon & Cornwall Railcard really is good value. £10.00 per 12 months for the card and you get a third off rail fares (off peak only unfortunately) within Devon & Cornwall. I believe children under 16 travelling with the card holder go for £1.00. Open to all Devon & Cornwall residents. You can even use it to get discounted Rover and Ranger tickets.
Application forms at the railway station.
Best wishes
Isambard
And then there's the Nature Reserve at Dawlish Warren. Ever walked along the beach there at low tide towards Exmouth? Fantastic. Hardly anyone else about. Get up to the furthest reaches when it's a very low tide and you feel you could almost reach out and touch Exmouth. So near and yet so far!
Not a popular place with some of the publicans who operate close by. It seems the twitchers come in droves, yet spend very little hard earned dosh here. That is probably because twitchers always go well prepared and don't mind having their lunch on the stump of a tree.
I am also aware of the fact that the new apartments at the warren have placed their charges on the internet, £245 to £875 per week. Who do they wish to attract--Rockafella?