Devon’s three mile beach with a surprising history
At Slapton Sands, history and nature merge. On the sand, enjoy sweeping vistas over the three mile sandy stretch. Head inland to see the diverse Slapton Ley. Visit Torcross an learn about Exercise Tiger, or use the beach as a base for South West Coast Path hikes.
Here’s everything you should know about this Devon beach!
Where is Slapton Sands?
Slapton Sands stretches along the South Devon coast – it’s a three mile long, shingle beach between the villages of Torcross and Strete.
Within Start Bay, it’s about seven miles southwest of Dartmouth.
Unlike the smaller, more sheltered coves found along this coastline, Slapton Sands is an open, exposed beach.
It’s backed by Slapton Ley – the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West.
How to Get to Slapton Sands
The easiest way to reach Slapton Sands is by car.
From Dartmouth, follow the A379 coastal road towards Strete and Torcross.
The journey takes about 20 minutes. Parking is available at both ends of the beach, and there’s a larger car park at Torcross.
Public transport is limited but available.
The Stagecoach 93 bus runs between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, stopping in Torcross which is a short walk from the beach.
It’s also on the South West Coast Path – Torcross is around 10 miles from Dartmouth.
What to do at Slapton Sands
Long coastal walks, swimming and wildlife spotting – Slapton’s idyllic!
The beach stretches for three miles and the water is usually calm.
However, the beach shelves steeply and it gets deep quickly, so swimmers should take care. It’s not lifeguarded, so swim at your own risk.
Fancy a hike? There are spectacular hikes along the South West Coast Path.
Heading north, the path leads towards Strete and Dartmouth, passing through rolling countryside with views over Start Bay.
To the south, a shorter walk follows the coastline to Beesands and Start Point.
Slapton Ley is just behind the beach and is a freshwater nature reserve separated from the sea by the narrow strip of shingle.
The reserve is home to rare birds – including Cetti’s warblers and great crested grebes – along with otters and dragonflies.
A network of footpaths weaves through the reed beds and woodland, with information boards along the way explaining the area’s ecology.
The Wartime History of Slapton Sands
One of the most fascinating aspects of Slapton Sands is its role in World War II.
In 1943, the area was evacuated as the beach was selected for Exercise Tiger, a full-scale rehearsal for the D-Day landings in Normandy.
The US military took over the village of Slapton and the surrounding area – displacing over 3,000 local residents who were forced to leave their homes with little warning.
On 28 April 1944 – during a night-time training exercise – the convoy of American troops was attacked by German E-boats in Lyme Bay.
The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 749 US servicemen – this loss was initially kept secret to maintain morale ahead of D-Day.
Survivors described scenes of chaos, with soldiers drowning under the weight of their gear and medics struggling to rescue the wounded.
For decades, the tragedy remained largely unknown, but in the 1980s, a memorial tank was recovered from the sea and placed near Torcross to honour those who lost their lives.
Today, you can see the Sherman tank memorial and learn more about the events of Exercise Tiger from nearby information boards.
Facilities and Parking
Slapton Sands has good facilities – particularly at the Torcross end of the beach.
There’s a small café overlooking the sea along with a pub and a village shop.
Toilets and parking are available at several points along the beach, with the largest car park at Torcross.
The beach is dog-friendly year-round.
Few beaches in Devon offer such a mix of history, nature, and wide-open space. Whether you come for a peaceful walk, a swim in the sea, or to uncover its wartime past, Slapton Sands is a fascinating place to visit.
