WALKING

The South West Coast Path runs straight through Torcross, which makes this one of the easiest places in the South Hams to walk without ever getting in the car. Everything below starts at the seafront.

South to Beesands, Hallsands and Start Point

The path climbs out of the southern end of the village, a steep ten minutes, then levels into open cliff with Start Bay below you. Beesands is a mile and a half on, a single row of houses, a cricket pitch and two places to eat. Another mile brings you to Hallsands, where the old village was destroyed by storms in 1917 after offshore dredging stripped away the shingle that protected it. Carry on and you reach Start Point lighthouse, working since 1836, on a long finger of rock reaching into the Channel. Six miles or so out and back, or about three and a half if someone collects you from the Start Point car park.

North along the shingle ridge to Slapton Sands

Flat, about a mile and a half each way, with Slapton Ley on one side and the sea on the other. Two bird hides give you a reason to stop. It works in almost any weather and with almost any level of fitness, and on a still morning it is as good as walking gets on this coast.

Inland lanes and villages

Behind the coast, the lanes around Stokenham, Slapton and Chillington give you hours of quiet walking, a ruined chantry tower, and pubs that have been feeding walkers for a very long time.

A note on access this winter

The Environment Agency sea defence scheme is under way at Torcross and the Tank Memorial car park is closed to the public until the work finishes in spring 2027. The public footpath along the front is being kept open behind the compound, so the walks themselves are unaffected. Day visitors should park at Slapton Sands.

Staying here

No. 2 at the Beach is a hundred yards from where the coast path climbs out of the village. Sleeps four, dog friendly, private parking, and a terrace to put your feet up on afterwards.

Check availability and book No. 2 at the Beach: https://www.holidaycottages.co.uk/cottage/oc-22881-2-at-the-beach