Discover Slapton: Nature, Coastal Paths and Village History

A stay in Slapton can focus on nature and walking, medieval traces in the village, or the D-Day memorial sites in Torcross. Slapton Ley and Slapton Sands represent the landscape; the village’s history is reflected, among other places, at Chantry College and the Church of St James. The memorial sites to Exercise Tiger are in Torcross, not in Slapton village itself.

Nature and Walking Routes in Slapton

Slapton Sands is a shingle ridge consisting mainly of flint washed ashore from the seabed 25 miles away. Rare plants grow on the ridge, including Viper’s Bugloss and Yellow Horned Poppy. Slapton Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in the southwest; in 1993, Slapton Ley was declared a National Nature Reserve. For a nature-focused visit, the shingle ridge with its plants and the large natural lake with its protected status offer different points of interest.

The Slapton Sands path runs between the sea and Slapton Ley along the South West Coast Path; temporary diversions are possible. Visitors can also take circular walks around Slapton Ley and as far as Slapton village. You can therefore choose between the path between the sea and the Ley and circular walks that reach the village.

Autumn is a specific nature-related consideration when planning your visit: up to 20,000 swallows gather at Slapton Ley to roost then. Numbers can vary by season. If this aspect of nature is of particular interest to you, you can use autumn as a seasonal reference point when planning your trip.

Nature education is also among the activities available locally. Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre welcomes school, university and adult groups for courses in environmental studies and biology. For travellers interested in these subjects, it offers a distinct option alongside the walking routes.

History in Slapton Village

Slapton Chantry College was founded in 1373 by Sir Guy de Briene and is one of only four chantry colleges listed in the southwest. The visible remains include a ruined tower that formed the western end of the college’s chantry church. The founding year and the tower offer different historical points of reference: the date places the foundation in context, while the tower identifies a surviving part of the former church. The Church of St James stands in the centre of the village. Its tower dates from the 13th or early 14th century, making it older than the college’s foundation in 1373. There is no parking at the Church of St James; take this into account when planning your visit.

Exercise Tiger in Torcross

A memorial in Torcross commemorates the men who lost their lives during the D-Day landing exercises known as “Exercise Tiger”. A swimming Sherman tank and several memorial plaques stand in the car park in Torcross, between Slapton Ley and the beach. The location distinguishes these memorial sites from the medieval buildings in Slapton village.

Discover more destinations: Uplyme, Combe Martin, East Putford, Pennymoor, Upton Pyne, North Molton, Bradworthy, Manaton

For the wider travel overview: Devon.