Slapton Village

Once a thriving farming village, it is now an excellent holiday destination for families and guests with dogs. Dittiscombe Estate & Cottages is about a 10 minute drive from the village where there are two great pubs serving local food and drink: The Tower Inn and Queens Arms, both dog friendly.

There is an ancient past here, with a medieval tower standing next to the Tower Inn. You can see what remains of the tower at the former St Mary’s Chantry College from nearly every part of the village. 

The village is quaint, with narrow roads and no street lighting, and you’ll find a cheery wave from local people, local fruit and vegetables for sale by the side of the road, and some quintessentially English cottage gardens to admire in the centre of the village.

It sits within gentle hillside, protected from the brunt of stormy seas, part of the South Devon National Landscapes. Surrounded by farmland and close to a freshwater lagoon, the village is located about half a mile inland from Start Bay and many unspoilt beaches.

For a car free day out guests can take a walk of approximately 60 minutes along leafy lanes and farmyard trails from Dittiscombe to the village. A walking route and map is provided in guest cottages.

Slapton Ley, National Nature Reserve

Close to the village there is the freshwater lagoon at Slapton Ley where there are plentiful birdwatching opportunities. 

Slapton Ley is a National Nature Reserve, home to Cetti’s warbler, bitterns, otters, kingfishers, and due to careful conservation efforts the rare Cirl Bunting. During the main holiday season Rangers at the Centre offer family wildlife safaris, wild food forage and bat identification evenings. Find out more below.

Start Bay

Start Bay is a huge sweeping and distinctive curve of wide shingle beach stretching between Blackpool Sands and  the iconic Start Point Lighthouse. The beach of Slapton Sands sits pretty much in the middle of the bay with a large car park and unspoilt views out to sea. There are several beaches to visit, villages to wander around such as Beesands and Torcross, and some history to explore too at Hallsands. Explore Start Bay on the South Devon National Landscapes website, or read Ruth’s blog Start Bay Stories Old & New.

South West Coast Path

The SWCP runs alongside Slapton Ley and the beach at Slapton Sands. Walkers can take off in either direction, heading for Dartmouth via Blackpool Sands to the East, or Start Point Lighthouse via Torcross, Beesands and Hallsands to the West.

Slapton Sands

The beach at Slapton Sands came into the history books because of the catastrophic rehearsal of the D-Day landings, when 946 servicemen were killed during Operation Tiger in 1944. Most residents of the village and surroundings, including Dittiscombe, had been evacuated from the area before the rehearsals started, but the few who remained suspected that there had been a momentous event here.

The true story of that tragic episode was to remain a secret for decades, covered up by both the UK and US Governments, and later uncovered by Ken Small and published in his book The Forgotten Dead. During his enquiries he learned about a sunken Sherman Tank and, after a long battle with the authorities, managed to raise it from the seabed in 1984. It now sits in the car park at Torcross, just 2 miles along the coast from Slapton, and acts as a reminder of the lives lost by many young men.

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated children’s author and well known for his tremendous book and musical play War Horse, also took an interest in the D-Day landing practices and has woven a marvellous story of the soldiers and local families of Slapton in The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips.

Here are just some favourite things to do in and around Slapton village and Start Bay:

• Pop into either of the pubs in Slapton: The Tower Inn or The Queens Arms (both dog and child friendly) for great menus serving locally sourced food and drink
• Take a wild swim in the sea anywhere along Start Bay – beaches include Slapton Sands, Strete Gate, Torcross, Beesands, Hallsands and Blackpool Sands
• Spot wetland and migrating birds on Slapton Ley using the many hides and identification boards around the lake
• Chat to the friendly volunteers in the Slapton Community Shop which sells local produce, arts and crafts and all the essentials for a self-catering holiday
• Visit the Tank at Torcross and read up on the military history of the D-Day landing practices in Start Bay
• Slapton Ley and surroundings are great places to experience walking and wildlife events, and throughout the year there are guided tours are led by Rangers at the Field Study Centre in Slapton
• Take a yoga class or relaxation event at Start Bay Studios in Torcross.

Read more about Slapton, Start Bay and the surroundings in Start Bay: Stories Old & New. and the Sea Dogs of Start Bay.