Getting There

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From Dartmouth take the A379 south. Beyond Stoke Fleming the road offers fantastic views across Start Bay as it skirts the coast. About 1 mile after passing Strete, the road descends steeply to sea level at Strete Gate. Here there is a car park on the left and access to the beach. Once on the beach walk northeast (left) for about a third of a mile to reach the nude section.

"If going to the nude beach by foot from Strete you need to walk out of Strete towards Slapton on the main road until you reach a footpath going down to the beach. About half a mile. The path is at the end of a small layby on the left hand side of the road which can take, maybe, four cars. Walk down the footpath until you get to the Strete Gate car park/toilets, then down the steps to a path running along the back of the beach. Walk back (North) along this path until you reach some winding gear used for dragging boats up the beach. From this point onwards the beach is CO, although there is coexistence at this point."

Description
The name Slapton 'Sands' is a little misleading, since the beach is a mix of shingle and tiny red pebbles, backed by red sandstone cliffs - beware falling rocks! Excellent views to the south-east over Start Bay. Depending upon the tide, the beach shelves steeply below the water's edge with a strong undertow when sea conditions are rough - swim with caution. The further end of the beach is said to be where gay men choose to congregate.

During World War Two, Slapton and the surrounding area was emptied of its population and the beach used by American troops rehearsing for the D-Day landings. Hundreds of G.I.'s died during these exercises and at Torcross (at the south end of the beach) a Sherman tank, recovered a few years ago from just offshore, stands as a memorial. This episode in local history was written about by author Leslie Thomas in his book 'The Magic Army"

Facilities
None on the beach itself. WC's located at the Strete car park. "One thing to watch is that there's only one cash machine in a nearby pub in Slapton, so make sure you have enough once in Strete."

Water Quality
Unknown

Camping
Naturist-friendly camping is available at Manor Farm, Strete. Tents and tourers welcome.
For details tel: 01548 511441.

"...a really good site, with what must be unique co-existence in this country. Large field with views to the sea - top two thirds of site textile, bottom third naturist, with just an open post and rail fence to mark an informal division. No gates, and the fence is open to drive / walk round at both ends. Very easygoing and relaxed. All facilities, apart from a fresh water tap, are on the textile side, so need to dress to access them."

Selected Visitor Comments

Selected Visitor Comments

1998 - "We were warned by some of the regulars against walking right to the very far (Pilchard Cove) end of the beach as it can be inhabited by undersirables (male, but exact nature of undersirability was unspecified). We never felt the need to go that far - 100 m after the winding gear were couples, families (like us) and even the occasional unaccompanied female. If you're going to be walking there from Strete village be warned that the first part of the walk is along a narrow coastal road with passing places for cars but no pedestrian footway... we really enjoyed it and will go back again."

2001 - "We easily found the car park and the walk to the beach was not too far or difficult to work out. I was pleased to see that it was fairly mixed, older couples, some other younger couples, some lone males, even a few younger lone females ...the atmosphere was very relaxed and welcoming, nobody stared but we did get eye contact and a smile, mostly from other couples. We both enjoyed a great day on the beach and much prefer the all over tan look anyway, Rachel noted that the attention is less than going topless on a 'textile' beach. We are both now looking forward to our next trip to a nudist beach. All in all, we had a wonderful day and really got to know the pleasures of being able sunbathe, swim and to wander freely in the sea breaze with nothing on but sun tan lotion and a smile."

2002 - "... a nice relaxed naturist beach, used from the Strete gate carpark (textile overlap at this point) to the rockfall at the Pilchards cove end. The shingle is fine so you can walk on it, although it's no good for sand castles. Bathing is good on a calm day - we prefer the top of the shingle bank from which there is a short walk into the sea. The beach shelves away rapidly - you are out of your depth in a few yards and the nudist end is not protected by lifeguards. It can be difficult ot get out of the water if there is a sea running because of the undertow, so that you would have to take care with children. The flat area behind the bank is used for ball games and, especially in June when the approach is studded red , white and pink valerian the beach is a beautiful sight. There is little scope for covert viewing of naturists - people do walk along fully clothed or in swimming costumes but there is no scope for them to lurk and peer... as a practical note, pitch away from the far end, take a wind break, (the beach is wide and exposed), look after the children in the sea, take a bat and ball, kite. Leave bucket and spade at home."

2003 - "Slapton is a nice beach but the car park on a hot day gets full very quickly... onced parked it can be a hard walk on the shingle. But on a nice day I wouldn't be anywhere else."

August 2004 - "The beach is easy to find and so is Strete Gate carpark. It was, however, £5.00 for the day. There are free parking spaces as you turn into the car park's road, but you have to be bright and early... The beach itself is made up of a beach front which is on a slope, a wide flat area which is dotted with large green plants... It's also backed by high cliffs and these are topped with a thick and beautiful woodland. Overall it all adds up to a soothing environment, especially with the added factor of a generally laid-back beach population. The villagers were unfailingly friendly as was everyone I met. It was a real stress reliever... I highly recommend it."

September 2004 - "Recommend this to everyone, and fantastic for couples / all female groups as it is so laid back."

June 2005 - "...the beach is as wonderful as ever. It was a glorious day and the views across the beach when descending the road from Strete rivalled anything you could find in the Med. The clear blue sea was crashing onto the beach under a cloudless sky...there were plenty of spaces in the pay-and-display car park and a short stroll along the beach path soon brought me to the naturist area. The beach was by no means empty, but there is so much space that it was easy to find a pleasant spot in which to sit and read or just lie in the sun. The beach itself was very clean and the wild flowers at the back of the beach were in full bloom. The time passed far too quickly and it was soon time to dress-up and head back to the car. This is the worst part, to give-up the naked freedom and climb back into a hot car for the drive home. Never mind, perhaps I won't leave it so long before my next visit. This is just such a great beach and thoroughly recommended if you're in the area."

May 2006 - "The words about the winding gear proved great and not far after that I spied a nude couple. Walking past them I found a spot close to the water, and stripped off. It was great. The beach was clean, and quiet. I saw a number of men heading for the far end of the beach, but where I was, I had no problems. There were a number of other couples and a group some clothed, and some nude. I spent just an hour under a cloudless sky, and was treated to a display of Dolphins playing in the bay, just offshore. I would thoroughly recommend the beach. I will use it again and I expect that my wife would also be comfortable there."

August 2005 - "This was the first time that my wife and myself have tried nudism. The beach was clean and there were plenty of couples and families using the nude beach area. It felt totally natural to be nude amongst friendly company. The sea was clear and the water perfect for swimming, though the sand and shingle shelved fast. We so much enjoyed our day, that we repeated the experience later in the week. Certainly a good place to first enjoy the pleasures of nudism There are toilets near to the car park, where we found that there was ample parking. I'd certainly have no hesitation in recommending this beach."

July 14, 2008 - "Beautiful setting with a very clear sea. Easily found and located the winding gear easily. Some textile users in first 100 metres and occasional walkers past there but no hassle from them, however single males - meerkats - noted popping up and down when anyone walked past the shrubbed area at the base of the cliff and 1 individual came within 10 yards despite having the whole of the beach and needed to be told!"

July 21, 2008 - "What a truly special beach. Yes its easy to find and is well worth a visit. We've been to a couple of beaches in the area but this knocks the spots off the others; Gorgeous setting and very peaceful. A hot weekday today and although busy plenty of room for all and a more healthy mix of users than other beaches. Single males were outnumbered significantly by couples and family groups. All in all a very nice atmosphere with many people going into the sea."

April 17, 2009 - "We chose Slapton for our first ever visit to a nudist beach ( the beaches we have Oop North are a bit breezy! ) and had a couple of fantastic afternoons. The beach is beautiful, with a stunning view out over the 3 miles or so of the bay, and perfect blue seas that were flat calm on the days we went. On the saturday there were probably a dozen or so little camps set up with windbreaks etc, which was kinda reassuring, as we were in some doubt whether we were in the right place until we took a cheeky peak into the first we came across. All ages, mostly couples, or in groups of 2 or 3, including families with kids / teens, so nothing untoward going on that we saw apart from the one quite brazen voyeur with the binoculars. The following monday, somewhat fewer, mostly single guys and the odd couple, and there was some quite obvious dogging going on in the sheltered bits at the far end, which may be a concern for those with kids, but can't say as it bothered us. All in all a fantastic place for a bit of sun-worshipping. We'll go back."

August 11, 2009 - "my wife and i visited in july and were delighted to find it friendly and full of couples of all ages and a few families. by far the best place we have been in the uk and very easy access even for the less able."

August 18, 2009 - "I visited this beach the other day and there were few other people about - I think because of the weather. But disturbingly I saw evidence of what appeared to be dogging going on with a couple behind a windbreak performing acts for voyeurs. I hope this is not typical and wont put me off a visit in the future. I'm led to understand this is one of the better UK clothes-free beaches, so I hope others will be aware and perhaps if this continues to shock the offenders from their activities."

August 24, 2009 - "I used to go to this beach, but I no longer go there due to men I had witnessed masturbating at other men. Also I had witnessed a lewd act as I walked past a couple in full view of any passing persons, I was utterly disgusted and shocked by their behaviour and I had once reported someone for fondling himself openly. This beach is a definite no no for families with kids. It has gone downhill and it was a very nice place to visit and sunbathe, but unfortunately, it is riddled with perverts these days. I think that these people are going the right way to getting this beach shut down. All it takes is one pervert and more perverts to gain access to their criminal activities and that is that."

August 29, 2009 - "I had also noticed that certain individuals are seen to use binoculars on this beach. Any other beach I have visited (textile beaches that is) nobody appears to have binoculars on their person. I am suspicious of only those people who bring and use binoculars to naturist beaches."