South Devon
Wide shingle beaches, quiet villages, a freshwater nature reserve and some of the best walking on the South West Coast Path, with Dartmouth and Salcombe an easy drive away.
Photo: Philip Halling / CC BY-SA 2.0
Explore the area
Start Bay curves from Start Point in the south to Dartmouth in the north. At The Beach sits in the middle of it, at Torcross.
Torcross has the beach on one side and Slapton Ley on the other, so it's easy to wander out for sea air, coffee or supper. The Start Bay Inn is the classic seafront stop, well known locally for fresh fish and a front-row view of the bay.
Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve protects the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West. It's a peaceful place for birdwatching and gentle walks, where reeds, open water, woodland and beach all meet.
Three miles of shingle and big skies, with a powerful wartime story. The Sherman tank memorial at Torcross remembers Exercise Tiger and the troops who trained here before D-Day.
Beesands keeps its fishing-village feel, and The Cricket Inn is a favourite for seafood. A little further on, the ruins of Hallsands tell the dramatic story of a village lost to the sea in 1917.
The coast path runs south from Torcross through Beesands and Hallsands to the lighthouse at Start Point, one of the most dramatic headlands in Devon. Walk it one way and get picked up, or just do a short out-and-back.
Slapton, at the far end of the Ley, has the tall ruined tower of a medieval chantry and two village pubs. Stokenham, just inland from Torcross, has a fine parish church, two pubs and a farm shop.
A sheltered, crescent-shaped cove backed by pine woods at the northern end of Start Bay, with a café and watersports in season. With the coast road closed, allow extra time to get there.
Dartmouth has river views, independent shops, boat trips and the Dartmouth Steam Railway across the water at Kingswear. The coast road over Slapton Sands (A379) is closed after storm damage, so go inland via Kingsbridge and allow extra time.
Kingsbridge, at the head of its estuary, is the nearest town for supermarkets and everyday shopping. Salcombe, at the mouth, is a lively sailing town with sandy beaches, ferries and plenty of places to eat.
