Things to do in Slapton
Though it is a small village, Slapton has a big personality and those that visit return year on year. The entire village is part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the beach is one of the most picturesque in the county. The beach and the surrounding lands are dog friendly and offer plenty of activities from walking to swimming, building sandcastles and wild swimming. The beach is known for being safe, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular with families.
The beach is regularly patrolled by lifeguards which makes it perfect for swimming, as well as watersports, with kayaking and paddle boarding being two of the most popular. In the summer months, when the beach is most used, you’ll find pop ups offering equipment hire, training sessions and more so everyone can have a go!
Fascinating past
One of the reasons people flock to Slapton is because of the village’s connection to WWII. In 1943, the beach was used by allied forces to rehearse the D-Day Landings, but unfortunately, the exercise resulted in the death of over 700 servicemen. History fans will want to visit the monument on the main stretch of Slapton Sands which commemorates the operation and the Sherman Tank which can be found at the Torcross end of the beach.
Aside from having an interesting history, Slapton is also an ecologically important part of the region. Visitors love Slapton Ley Nature Reserve which features the biggest freshwater lake in the South West. The reserve is surrounded by reeds, marshes, trees and is mostly silent and tranquil, despite being so close to the main road and civilisation. The reserve has a host of walking and cycling routes as well as hides for spying on the bird life and the chance to learn more about the wildlife that you can find there.
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