Torcross

South Devon

The peaceful scene of the area was shattered during the last war when the US forces used the area to train for the D-Day landings. For security and safety, over 3000 local people had to leave their homes and farms at short notice. The grateful American forces erected a monument on the Sands to thank them for their sacrifice. By the Torcross car park is a Sherman Tank recovered from the sea in 1984 and now a memorial to the 800 American servicemen who lost their lives when their landing craft sank. Torcross is at the southern end of Slapton Sands and from here it is a great walk south along the coast to Beesands with its row of fishermen's cottages and a pub on the beach, and then on to Hallsands. At the beginning of the last century South Hallsands was abandoned in a severe storm and the remains of the cottages can still be seen. Continuing along the coastal path takes you over the cliff tops to Start Point, the lighthouse and a fabulous vantage point from which to view the whole of Start Bay and its spectacular coastline.