Before you set off
Today's snapshot
Slapton Sands runs for nearly three miles, so tide matters less here than at smaller coves. The steep shingle shoreline can still make entering and leaving the water harder.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Roadside car parks line the A379, with a larger car park at Torcross. Check the coast road before travelling because storms have damaged it in past years.
- Parking: Choose one of the coast-road car parks or Torcross at the southern end.
- Dog rules: Dogs welcome all year on the full 3-mile stretch from Strete Gate to Torcross - no current seasonal restrictions.
- Accessibility: Loose shingle is harder going than sand for buggies and limited mobility.
Beach fire rules
BBQs on the beach
BBQs are permitted on council-owned Slapton Sands. Choose a quiet spot away from vegetation and other visitors, use a reusable BBQ, fully extinguish it and take it home. Check signs and current fire guidance before lighting anything.
Check current South Hams BBQ guidance
Visit South Devon lists Slapton Sands among the council-owned South Hams beaches where BBQs are permitted.
A remarkable coastline
Nature & history
Slapton Ley is the South West's largest natural freshwater lake, separated from the sea by the beach. The coast was also used for live-ammunition D-Day rehearsals in 1944, commemorated by the memorial at Torcross.
Nearby
Stay, hire & eat
The Tower Inn
A historic Slapton village pub with rooms.
Waterborn SUP
Paddleboard hire, lessons and guided tours from nearby Kingsbridge.
The Start Bay Inn
The classic Torcross stop for fish and chips overlooking the sea.
The Billy Can
A small Torcross café serving homemade cakes.
Local perspective
Local notes
Slapton Sands feels different to most beaches around here - long, wild and shingle rather than soft sand, with the freshwater Ley running alongside it. The Start Bay Inn is the classic stop after a walk, especially when fish and chips looking straight out to sea sounds about right.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Slapton Sands dog friendly?
Dogs welcome all year on the full 3-mile stretch from Strete Gate to Torcross - no current seasonal restrictions.
Is Slapton Sands sand or shingle?
It is mostly shingle, with some sand exposed at lower tides.
What is the history of Slapton Sands?
It was used for D-Day invasion rehearsals in 1944, and a memorial at Torcross remembers the servicemen who died.
Where is the nearest parking?
There are roadside car parks along the A379 and a larger car park at Torcross.
Is Slapton Sands pram or buggy friendly?
Not on the beach itself. The car parks are right beside the road, but loose shingle is harder going than sand for buggies and limited mobility.
What facilities are available at Slapton Sands?
Slapton Sands has public toilets at Torcross, the Monument car park, and Strete Gate, with cafés, pubs, and restaurants at Torcross. RNLI lifeguards patrol only parts of the beach during a short summer season.
Are BBQs allowed at Slapton Sands?
Yes, BBQs are permitted on council-owned Slapton Sands. Use a reusable BBQ away from vegetation and other visitors, fully extinguish it, take it home and check current signs and fire guidance before lighting it.
Keep exploring
Nearby beaches
- Torcross
- Beesands
- Blackpool Sands