Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After Strete's pastel-painted cottages, the 3-mile pebble ridge of Slapton Sands suddenly fills the windscreen; wa-
tery Slapton Ley is just behind. U-bends and a brake-burning descent lead to a glorious, flat, straight strip of land
between sea and ley called the Slapton Line; persistent erosion could see it washed away within decades. Pull into
the
Memorial Car Park
, then clatter down the pebbles to drink in long views at
Slapton Sands Beach
.
Next, stroll inland around reed-filled
Slapton Ley
(
Click here
). Back in the car, pause at the poignant WWII
Sherman Tank Memorial
(
Click here
). Curl around the head of the ley, passing cottages and fields, before
turning off towards
Beesands
. This ever-narrowing route through steep, twisting lanes spills you out at this
ancient fishing village, strung out on a pot-lined shore. For lunch, Britannia @ the Beach offers net-fresh seafood,
while the Cricket Inn has more restauranty surroundings. Next, it's back in the car and out of Beesands for
South Hallsands
. Stroll to the viewing platform to see more startling evidence of this deeply eroded shore. Then
drive south to
Start Point
's wind-swept lighthouse, clambering to the very top for extraordinary views.
Afterwards, narrow lanes lead through a string of villages, past chequerboard fields and stretches of creek to
Kingsbridge
. If it's fine the river-side terrace of the Crab Shell is a tempting option, while the Old Bakery deliv-
ers foodie delights galore.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Start Bay
Start Bay curves out in an elongated crescent just south of Dartmouth. This is one of
Devon's most spectacular sections of coast; the road climbs steeply in a series of hairpin
bends, fields roll up to precipitous cliffs and villages cluster beside the sea.
It's a landscape most people bypass, but it offers unforgettable places to stay and un-
usual sights to explore, from a ruined village and a lighthouse to a massive freshwater
lake.
Sights & Activities
Start Point Lighthouse
( 01803-771802;
www.trinityhouse.co.uk
; Start Point; adult/child £4/2.50; 11am-5pm Sun-Thu Jul & Aug,
noon-5pm Wed & Sun Apr & May, noon-5pm Wed, Thu & Sun Jun & Sep; )
Sitting on one of England's
most exposed peninsulas on the English coast, the 200,000 candela beam of this bright-
white lighthouse can be seen for 25 nautical miles. It was built in 1836, went electric in
1959 and was manned right up until 1993; it's now controlled automatically from Trinity
House's HQ in Essex.
LIGHTHOUSE
