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