Last Updated on 12th October 2026
Set on the south Devon coast, just out of Slapton Village and a 10-minute walk down to the north end of Slapton Sands, is the gorgeous Slapton Sands Camping & Caravanning Club site.
C&CC members get a discount, with even more reductions for over-60s. However, non-members can camp here too.
About the Site
The route to the site has been badly affected by the storm-damaged road from Torcross. The advice from the site managers for larger vehicles and caravans is to come in via Totnes, Dartmouth and Blackpool Sands. Not so bad if coming from further north, but not so good for those further west of Ivybridge.
As C&CC sites go, Slapton Sands is relatively small. It has a single bathroom block, but it has all the amenities, including cassette discharge and a motorhome service point. Motorhome and larger campervan arrivals would likely drive around to these facilities to top up with water, checking out the pitches along the way.
On arrival, I was welcomed by the site managers, who explained how things work and provided me with a pamphlet and the barrier code should I need to venture out with the van. After waiting and chatting with me while topping up with water, I was guided into my chosen pitch and shown the essentials. A nice, helpful welcome.
The site is fairly level, comprising slightly sloping grass and near-level hardstanding pitches. There is an abundance of electric hook-ups, but the advice is to bring a 25m lead due to the spacing. There is a small children’s play park. Dogs are welcome too, although I didn’t spot a dog-walk area.
The bathroom block is clean and well organised. The ladies have quite a few private sink cubicles, where the men have just one, along with two rows of communal sinks. Each has 3 showers, plus ample toilet cubicles. I’m not sure if there is heating. The site closes for the winter, so maybe not.
Upon arriving, the views over the coast take your breath away. To the NE are Inner and Outer Froward Points and the Mews Stone just off the headland. To the SE is the coast around to Start Point and the lighthouse, which comes into view as you head down the road from the campsite.
Things to Do
I prefer to explore an area on foot, sometimes by public transport. I tend to choose sites that have a few interesting things to see and do nearby. Local eateries are top of my agenda. The closer, the better, just in case the weather turns nasty. There’s nothing worse than arriving at the pub soaked through.
Slapton Village
The village is just a stone’s throw up the hill from the site. There are two pubs: The Queen’s Arms and the Tower Inn. According to the reviews, they both do great food. There is also a community village shop, but opening times may be limited.
Sladone was the given name in the Domesday Book of 1086. Slapton Chantry College remains as a tower today. The original Collegiate Chantry of St. Mary was built in 1372. King Henry VIII had it dissolved in the 1500s. Its west tower remains as a Grade I listed structure. Perhaps older, from the 1200s, is St Jame’ Church. The aforementioned Tower Inn might have housed the Chantry College stonemasons.
Slapton Sands
A 10-minute walk down the hill from the site is Slapton Sands. It emerges at the northern end. This is a heritage-protected area of outstanding natural beauty. There is a long straight road, the Slapton Line, from the north end to Torcross. It has the beach and coast to the east and a lagoon to the west. Near the junction is a pay & display car park, but it has a restricted height barrier of 1.9m. There are no other car parks in the area.
The lagoon is home to an array of birds and wildlife and is known as Slapton Ley. It started its life 900 years BC! The sands of the beach rose up, cutting off the estuary into which many small streams flow, creating a natural freshwater lake – the largest in the west of England.
The beach is of golden shingle. It extends from Strete (perhaps further to Blackpool Sands on very low tides) to Beesands beyond Torcross.
Infamously, the area suffered a tragic past during World War II. The beach resembled the beaches of Normandy, and so was used to rehearse the D-Day landings. Although 3000 local villagers were evacuated during this time, a surprise German attack killed an estimated 700 to over 900 American servicemen. This tragedy was kept secret for decades, but is now commemorated by a recovered Sherman Tank memorial at Torcross.
At the time of writing, the Slapton Line was closed to vehicular traffic. It is open to pedestrians and cyclists, who can enjoy nearly 2 miles of straight and level road with fantastic views. Here and there, the sands have created naturally higher banks along the road. Hop up to grab that vista.
From the site, the walk to Torcross and back was just over 5 miles.
Torcross
At the southern end of the Slapton Line is Torcross, with its origins dating back to around 1600. It was a fishing village until the 1800s, when the road was built and brought in many visitors, who enjoyed the clean air and bathed in the sea. Prosperity increased with paddle steamers and motorised road transport, which serviced the village.
For food and beverages, there is the Start Bay Inn, which I sampled and am delighted to report that the food was delicious. The staff are very welcoming, and the service was spot on. The walk worked up an appetite. I’m glad I was hungry.
There is also the Billy Can cafe, which gets great reviews. Walking through the village and following the road as it turns back north along the lagoon for about a mile, there is a Farm Shop and the South Hams Brewery Tap House. Again, they get good reviews.
Stormy Village
Torcross has been battered by harsh storms over the years. Notable storms include those of 1951, 1979 and, most recently, Storm Ingrid in 2026. The storm damage was extensive, causing structural damage to seafront homes and businesses. Although the sea defences were significantly improved in recent years, the 2026 storm wreaked havoc on the village, once again causing much structural damage to buildings. What I found interesting is that the Start Bay Inn and another building both on the seafront have thatched roofs. Buildings with tiles and slates sustained quite a lot of damage, while the thatches appear to be untouched.
Indeed, Storm Ingrid destroyed the road just out of Torcross, washing away some 200m of it. The Environment Agency put up nearly £ 20 million to increase the sea defences, but the road repair is expected to cost tens of millions beyond the budget of the local Council. This has become a political debate, with villagers and local businesses protesting that they now have to travel a 40-minute detour.
Local spirit runs high in this area, and this will shine through in repairing and rebuilding the damage. Just as has been achieved over hundreds of years.
Slapton Sands C&CC Site and its beautiful surroundings are well worth visiting. I will certainly be going again. This was a lovely autumn weekend. I would love to see it in springtime.
