22 September 2012

Exploring a new part of the Devon coast, Slapton Sands and the coast path towards Start Point.

Slapton beach near the start of our walk at Strete Gate.

Slapton Beach and Start Bay.

Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).

The memorial presented to the local people who left their homes as part of the war effort. Plaque below.

A mini Stonehenge on the beach.

The Sherman tank which was recovered from Start Bay. In 1984 a plaque was unveiled which said that this American Sherman tank stood as a memorial to those American servicemen who lost their lives during the D-Day practice landings at Slapton Sands in 1944

Torcross sea front and coastal defences.

Continuing on towards Start Point. A glimpse back across Torcross and Slapton Ley.

The descent down to Beesands. This football pitch is not a perfect rectangle and one corner runs up quite a slope.

Yellow horned poppies.

Approaching Beesands.

St Andrews chapel.

Beesands promenade.

Climbing out of Beesands towards Hallsands. Our starting point looks a long way off now and we still have to walk back!

The approach to Hallsands with Start Point lighthouse in sight.

Hallsands.

A derelict property still hanging in on the edge.

All that now remains of South Hallsands. There were once 37 houses here and a Public House and beach. A series of gales and hurricanes in 1917 took away most of the beach and destroyed many of the houses. The dredging of the bay to gather sand and gravel for the construction of the dockyard in Plymouth is thought to be the root cause of the loss of the beach. Follow this link for more information.

It is hard to imagine that this was once a fishing village.

Prospect House.
The Trout sisters were inhabitants of Hallsands until it succumbed to the storms, but undaunted they decided to rebuild their lives, and their house, on the clifftop above the village. Persuading an elightened bank manager to extend them a loan, the two sisters built the house themselves, then extended it a couple of times before turning it into a hotel.
The property has now been converted into luxury flats.

The foundation stone for Prospect House.

Dropping back down into Torcross on our way back to the car at Strete.
A nine mile round trip and a very enjoyable walk.
If you want to do the walk there is good podcast at this link.