Updated: 9th April 2019

24 FREE Things To Do in and around Dawlish Warren

Shown below are some of the many events you can expect to find taking place within 30 minutes drive of Leadstone Camping. Every care has been taken to ensure it’s accuracy so hopefully it is!  As new events become publicised we will try and keep this list up to date – if in doubt please contact the local Tourist Information Centres:

Dawlish (T) 01626 215665 Email: dawtic@teignbridge.gov.uk

Teignmouth (T) 01626 215666 Email: teigntic@teignbridge.gov.uk

VisitSouthDevon.co.uk also has a list of events you may wish to visit (Opens a new window)

Steam Train fans!! The "Torbay Express" and others will be running again this summer.

June - July - August - September

Nature Reserve ::  Powderham Castle

Newton Abbot Racecourse (home to many events):: UK Steam Trains

MAY 2019

  "NR" = Nature Reserve/Ranger Events

• 24 – 27 – Friday/Monday -Totnes – South Devon Railway Spring Beer Festival weekend
• 25 – Saturday - Newton Abbot – Boat Jumble at the Racecourse
• 29 - Wednesday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 29 – 31 – Powderham – Jousting!

JUNE 2019

  "NR" = Nature Reserve

• 1 – Saturday - Powderham – Craig David and guests
• 1 - Saturday - Newton Abbot - Wellbeing Show at the Racecourse
• 2 - Sunday - Newton Abbot - Car boot sale
• 5 - Wednesday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 5 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 6 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 8 - Saturday - Steam train passes through
• 12 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 13 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 14 - Friday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse.
• 16 – Sunday – Newton Abbot - Racecourse car boot sale
• 16 - Sunday - Steam train passes through
• 21 - 23 - Fri / Sun – Teignmouth folk festival
• 19 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 20 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 20 - 23 – Thurs / Sun – Shaldon festival
• 22 - 23 – Sat/Sun - Newton Abbot – Dartmoor Classic cycle race
• 25 – Tuesday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse (EVENING)
• 26 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 27 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 29 – Saturday – Powderham – Lets Rock Exeter concert (80s themed)
• 29 – Saturday - Newton Abbot – Antiques & Collectables at the Racecourse
• 30 – Sunday - Newton Abbot – Toy & Train fair at the Racecourse
• 30 - Sunday - Steam train passes through

JULY 2019

The Torbay Express - This is one of the most Extraordinary and Scenic Railway Journeys in Europe.  BBC Television hired helicopters to home-in on ‘The Torbay Express’ for its award-winning programme ‘Coast’, showing some wonderful aerial sequences of GWR ‘King’ No.6024 King Edward I ducking and diving around the red-sandstone inlets and coves, and bobbing between the tunnels along the sea wall near Teignmouth.  That really wasn’t a surprise, for the steam-hauled ‘Torbay Express’ and the old GWR ‘West of England Main Line’ together make one of the most enchanting railway journeys anywhere in the world, and after seven consecutive summers of operation, the train now enjoys full ‘celebrity’ status.

Passes Dawlish Warren at approximately: 11.15am and returns at 5.50pm - dates below

    "NR" = Nature Reserve

• 3 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 4 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 5 - Friday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 6 - Saturday - Teignmouth - Airshow weekend
• 6 - 7 –Sat/Sun - Totnes - South Devon Railway Military weekend
• 6 – Saturday – Steam train passes through
• 10 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til eveningl
• 11 - Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 13 - 14 – Sat/Sun – Powderham Castle – Historic Vehicle gathering
• 13 - Saturday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 13 - Saturday - SnookyFest live music festival at Warren Farm, 10am - 10pm
• 17 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 18 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 21 - Sunday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 21 – Sunday – steam train passes through
• 24 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 25 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 27 - 3 Aug.– Teignmouth Carnival Week
• 28 - Sunday - Steam train passes through
• 28 – Sunday – Totnes - a great 1 day country show
• 29 - Monday - Newton Abbot - National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 31 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening

AUGUST 2019

The Torbay Express - This is one of the most Extraordinary and Scenic Railway Journeys in Europe.  BBC Television hired helicopters to home-in on ‘The Torbay Express’ for its award-winning programme ‘Coast’, showing some wonderful aerial sequences of GWR ‘King’ No.6024 King Edward I ducking and diving around the red-sandstone inlets and coves, and bobbing between the tunnels along the sea wall near Teignmouth.  That really wasn’t a surprise, for the steam-hauled ‘Torbay Express’ and the old GWR ‘West of England Main Line’ together make one of the most enchanting railway journeys anywhere in the world, and after seven consecutive summers of operation, the train now enjoys full ‘celebrity’ status.

Passes Dawlish Warren at approximately: 11.15am and returns at 5.50pm - Dates below.

    "NR" = Nature Reserve

• 1 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 1 - 2 - Thurs/Fri - Newton Abbot - Inflatable theme park at the Racecourse
• 3 – Saturday – Shaldon – Water Carnival
• 3 - Saturday - Newton Abbot - Antiques and Collectables at the Racecourse
• 3 - 4 - Sat/Sun - Powderham - Tunes in the Castle Festival
• 4 - Sunday- Newton Abbot - Devon General Centenary bus rally at the Racecourse
• 4 - 11 – Teignmouth regatta, events based on the Beach and Water (TBC)
• 4 – Sunday – steam train passes through
• 7 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 8 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 10 – 16 - DAWLISH CELEBRATES CARNIVAL WEEK - Facebook HERE
• 11 – Sunday - Newton Abbot – Car boot sale at the Racecourse
• 11 – Sunday – steam train passes through
• 14 – Wednesday - Newton Abbot – National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 14 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 15 - Thursday - Fireworks spectacular - free to attend on the Green
• 15 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 16 – Friday – Dawlish Carnival Procession
• 17 – Saturday - Newton Abbot - Country Show at the Racecourse
• 18 – Sunday – steam train passes through
• 18 – 26 – Shaldon Regatta – fun on the beach and water
• 20 – Tuesday - Newton Abbot – National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse
• 21 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 22 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 23 - 26 – Fri/Mon- Totnes - South Devon Railway "Rails and Ales" weekend
• 26 – Monday – Lustleigh – excellent traditional 1 day village show
• 28 – Wednesday - Shaldon "1785" themed craft day from 10am til evening
• 29 – Thursday – Car boot sale at Warren Farm, Warren Road. 3-6pm
• 31 - Saturday - Newton Abbot – National Hunt Racing at the Racecourse

SEPTEMBER 2019

• 1 – Sunday – Steam train passes through

Additional Events

Charity Fetes/Displays

In addition to the above list of events there is usually a charity Fete or display on the "Lawn" in Dawlish, or on "The Den" in Teignmouth every Saturday or Sunday during July and August.

Car Boot Sales

In addition to the "Big One" at the Racecourse in Newton Abbot there is a "local "Boot":

Every Thursday at 3pm-6pm or thereabouts, just around the corner from us - 5 minutes walk towards Dawlish!

Dawlish Airshow 2008 - video highlights

Guided Walks on the Warren Nature Reserve

Phone  01626 863980 or see the Ranger Events page, for further details (Look for Dawlish Warren events)

Enjoy a walk along this beautiful coastal Nature Reserve. All walks are led by Reserve Wardens who will tell you about the Warren’s wildlife and history, and help you to see the estuary’s famous bird life.

2019 DATES

Listed above as "NR" - when published

More info:

Teignbridge District Council website - look for Dawlish warren events

Dawlish Warren Tourism website

Call 01626 863980 or call in at he Nature Reserve Visitor centre for details.

Essential Information!
No need to book – just turn up on the day
Fees: Some are FREE, some are a small charge up to £4
Walks last up to 2h 30minutes
Sorry, no dogs
Some binoculars are available to borrow
Wear stout footwear and suitable clothing for the weather – some walking on soft sand.

Event Venue