Short answer: Coryton Cove, the town beach and Dawlish Warren all show as dog friendly, and the sea wall promenade is a superb dog walk with trains passing alongside. The Smugglers Inn, Sola Bar & Kitchen and the Boathouse all take dogs.
The Dawlish sea wall is one of the best dog walks in south Devon — level, running right beside Brunel's railway, with trains passing a few feet away and the sea on the other side. It heads north towards the Warren and south towards Coryton Cove and Teignmouth.
Worth knowing if your dog is nervous: express trains are loud at that distance.
Coryton Cove, half a mile south along the sea wall, is the best beach in Dawlish — sandy and sheltered. The town beach is down steep steps. Dawlish Warren, two miles north, is a long sandy spit, and the quieter stretch towards the reserve is good for early-morning dog walks.
Beach dog rules in Devon change with the season — many ban dogs from May to September and lift the ban from October. Read the signs on arrival rather than assuming, because they vary beach by beach.
Dawlish Warren's nature reserve is a sensitive site for birds. Keep dogs on leads where signed, especially in nesting season.
Teignmouth is five minutes south — the Back Beach is sheltered and dog friendly, and Ness Cove across the ferry at Shaldon takes dogs all year round.
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