Is Slapton Sands Sandy or Pebbly?

Short answer: Pebbly, despite the name. Slapton Sands is a long bank of coarse shingle, not sand. Bring beach shoes, and do not plan on pushing a buggy across it. The freshwater lake behind it is the real attraction.

The short answer

Pebbly. Slapton Sands is a misleading name — it is a long bank of coarse shingle rather than sand, and it catches people out who arrive expecting the flat sands of north Devon.

What that means in practice

• Beach shoes rather than bare feet — the shingle is hard going.
• No buggy is crossing it comfortably.
• The beach shelves steeply in places, so it is less suited to small children paddling.
• It stays clean and drains well, which shingle does better than sand.

The real attraction is behind it

Slapton Ley, immediately inland, is the largest freshwater lake in the south west — a nature reserve with bird hides and waterside paths, separated from the sea by the shingle bar. It is free, there is parking at the memorial car park, and the birdwatching is genuinely good.

Hides are shelters, which also makes this one of the few places on this coast that works in poor weather.

The history

This stretch was used for D-Day rehearsals, and the memorial by the road commemorates the American servicemen who died during them. It is worth stopping for.

Practical

Check for road closures before setting off. Storm damage has closed the through road at Torcross in the past, and it is a long way round when it happens.

If you want sand instead

Blackpool Sands, up towards Dartmouth, is the nearest proper beach — though the approach road is steep and narrow. Bigbury, west, has wide flat sand with lifeguards and an accessible ramp.