Dawlish

Bright red cliffs and a railway line that hugs the coastline like nowhere else in Britain define this South Devon resort. Dawlish sits where the Exe Estuary meets the sea, famous for its dramatic clifftop railway that carries the London to Penzance mainline right along the seafront. Those trains threading between red sandstone cliffs and crashing waves create one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the country.

The town itself keeps a proper seaside charm without the kiss-me-quick tackiness of bigger resorts. Victorian terraces climb back from the beach, and there's still a working harbour where fishing boats bob alongside pleasure craft. Black swans paddle about in the town brook - an unexpected sight that's been a local tradition for over 150 years.

Exmouth lies just three miles up the coast, accessible by the scenic railway line via Starcross. It's a bigger town with more amenities, though Dawlish has its own quiet appeal for those who prefer something more low-key. The stretch of coast here forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, with those distinctive red cliffs telling geological stories spanning millions of years.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. The mainline railway connects directly to London Paddington, and the A379 coastal road winds down from Exeter. During rough weather, keep an eye on travel updates - this stretch of railway occasionally closes when Atlantic storms batter the seawall.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks gives you the best of both worlds: easy access to Dawlish's gentle seaside pleasures and day trip options to Torbay, Dartmoor, or historic Exeter.