Photo 5 (Return)

Torcross and Slapton Ley at the southern end of Slapton Beach, 2001. The fine gravel barrier beach has migrated slowly landward enclosing a valley within which the freshwater lagoon of Slapton Ley has formed. The A 379 and the village of Torcross (to the left) occupy the backshore of the beach. Natural mobility of the beach is important for its survival under future sea-level rise, but overwashing and beach migration are problematic for the village and the maintenance of the road.