Beesands

The Beesands walk

with

DEVONSHIRE

magazine

Slapt on Sa nds

park

in g

Slapton Ley

footpath green lane lane/road

Torcross

Start

Widdicombe House

Torcross Point

Limpet Rocks Beesands Quarry

Walk information 1. Parking - the walk can be started from where ‘Start’ is shown on the map above.

2. Footwear - assuming dry conditions, trainers or boots advised.

3. Dogs - lead necessary as livestock may be present although there are plenty of places to let the dog/s off the lead.

4. Distance - a gentle walk with one steep incline, it’s two and a half miles in total (circular).

Dun Point

(disused)

Lower Widdincombe Farm

Sunnydale

Bee San

ds

Widdicombe Ley

Beeson

Beesands

The Beesands walk

with

DEVONSHIRE

magazine

Having stunning coastal

bit of coastline a distinctly

scenery on your doorstep is

continental flavour.

a great luxury, particularly

The winter months seem

because living in South

remote when you’ve just

Devon means you’re just

enjoyed a blissful sunny day,

minutes from reaching it

but this part of Devon often

whilst the sun’s out!

bears the brunt of extreme weather. The winter of 2013

Driving down along the cliff

was particularly tough, with

-top roads from Dartmouth, you must surely know this coastal drive is one of the

high tides and big winds

Dogs will be dogs, particularly when it comes to Jack Russells

most picturesque in Britain.

Elevation, combined with wind shaped trees,

Wild Iris can also be seen along the path

causing extensive damage along this coastline - it was particularly noticeable how

many properties were undergoing repair work at the

characterful scots pines, greeny-blue waters and

time of my visit (2014). What you can’t see when the

warm, honey coloured shingle beaches give this

road at Torcross veers suddenly around the lake and

Slapton Ley, looking across to the village at Torcross behind which lies the seafront directly inland, is the beautiful and

back over the hill).

unspoilt countryside just over the hill. That’s where this walk takes you,

Don’t miss lunch or morning coffee

up into the next valley to Beesands

at Seabreeze, Torcross. I cannot

and Widdicombe Ley. It’s a truly

recommend them highly enough,

lovely walk, returning back along

particularly their scones!

the shingle beach (tide allowing otherwise the path can be taken

Regards - Nigel Jones (Editor)

Widdicombe Ley and Beesands in the distance

Take the walk in April and May and you’ll see beautiful spotted orchids along the pathside

The start of your walk, you can either lunch here, enjoy a picnic along the way, or eat on your return.

It’s a lovely piece of coastline, pretty much unspoilt by development., with the distinctive curve of Slapton Sands guiding your eye round the bay

Widdicombe Ley looking East up the coast

Digging for gold

Gladiators pausing for a rest

An apple tree in blossom in mid April - that’s early when you consider the cherry trees were also in blossom at the same time.

Looking west along Beesands

Storm devastation of the land bridge under repair It’s my sort of walk, totally charming pathways opening out to spectacular and expansive panoramas

Route notes The route takes you up over the headland, just negotiate the lefthand side of the building at the end. Be careful not to take the first left higher up, as this will only lead you down to Beesands beach.

Turn left at the end and walk uphill along the road. You need to look out for a right hand turn, which is up a path leading you alongside a house (on the right).

You’ve reached Lower Widdicombe Farm. Just follow the path downhill, through the gate and on to the road at the end.

Below - at the top of Drunkards Hill - looking north. The path you need to follow turns off behind you.

Slapton was the site for the rehearsed D-Day landings in World War II. A major incident, occurred where Nazi E-boats attacked an Allied convoy resulted in 946 American servicemen deaths. The incident was under the strictest secrecy at the time and only reported afterwards, due to the impending D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Slapton Sands - Lovely views along the route, big expanses of blue and the warm coloured pebble beach. The walk takes you over the headland where you are then afforded views of Beesands on the other side.

Room to breathe, lots of space and totally unspoilt