Slapton Sands
Copyright © J Williams
Slapton Sands lies on the South coast of Devon, roughly halfway between Dartmouth and Salcombe.
Looking out into Start Bay, Slapton Sands proper stretches from Strete in the north for three miles towards Torcross Point in the south.
The beach consists of pebbles and shingle with very little sand. Southeast facing, the beach can be accessed from three locations: In the south from Torcross village; in the centre from the memorial car park; and in the north from the car park at Strete Gate.
Facilities are located nearby in Slapton village as well as at Torcross. Lifeguards patrol the beach in high season only so please take heed of any local beach signage.
The beach is backed by the 520 acres of Slapton Ley, the largest natural lake in South-West England. Slapton Sands is recognised for its nature conservation and landscape importance. The shingle ridge and Slapton Ley is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and is also a Geological Conservation Review site.
Geographically, the beach at Slapton Sands is termed a 'Barrier Beach' - a sand or shingle ridge that rises slightly above the surface of the sea and runs roughly parallel to the shore, from which it is separated by a lagoon. It is thought to have formed at the end of the last Ice Age.
Facilities
✔ Flora and Fauna
✔ Parking
✔ Toilets
✔ Lifeguard in summer
✔ Dogs permitted
✔ Cafe, shop or pub
✔ Sandy beach
OS Explorer Map OL20: South Devon
This map is part of the Ordnance Survey's Explorer series designed to replace the old Pathfinder map series. At 1:25,000 scale this detailed map shows a host of attractions including gardens which are open to the public, nature reserves and country parks as well as all official footpaths, bridleways, roads and lanes. Other facilities covered include: camping and caravan sites, picnic areas and viewpoints, selected places of interest, rights of way information for England and Wales, National Trail and Recreational Path routes, and selected tourist information. The series is aimed mainly at the experienced map user but can be used by tourists and locals alike.
Local area
Holiday Parks
Stay at a nearby Holiday Park and keep the kids amused all day! Parks in the vicinity include those at:
Hotels
Plenty of hotels are available locally. Consider those in the local towns:
Kingsbridge
Salcombe
Caravans
In the vicinity is a choice of camping and caravan sites offering high quality, affordable holiday accommodation. Consider camps in Brixham, Kingsbridge, Paignton and Newton Abbot.
