Slapton Ley and Slapton Sands
Slapton Kingsbridge TQ7 2QP
Slapton Ley Nature Reserve is a wetland area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Made up of the largest natural lake in south-west England, marshes, reed-beds and woodland, it supports an amazing array of birds and wildlife. Explore at your leisure, take a guided walk or join one of the frequent activities organised by the Field Centre, including mammal and badger watching and bushcraft skills. The reserve sits just behind the famous Slapton Sands (rather a misnomer, as the beach is all shingle), so you can enjoy a dip in the sea after exploring the reserve. The beach was the site of a series of ill-fated D-Day practice landings, Exercise Tiger, which ended in tragedy as hundreds of US servicemen were killed when German U-boats attacked during the night. A Sherman Tank, salvaged from the sea in 1984, stands as a memorial.
