(As with the other Devon pages, this one is very barely started).
Slapton Ley is a freshwater lake, yet lies only a few metres from the sea. It is separated from the strong winter tides which sweep the bay by a narrow strip of land, one and a half miles long, along which runs a road. The Ley itself is a haven for wildlife, a site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve.
 | On the other side, Slapton sands, a shingle beach about two miles long. This was the base for the US forces preparations for the Normandy Landings on D-Day, code named "Exercise Tiger". For Exercise Tiger to take place, it was necessary for 7 parishes to be evacuated comprising, in total of about seven thousand people. However, these exercises are most famous for the many American troops (639) killed when two Nazi submarines crept in amongst the preparations, sinking two ships and crippling others. In memory of this, a Sherman Tank was raised from the seabed in 1984 and now rests as a memorial near Torcross. |  |
The name "estuary" is in fact incorrect, as there is no fresh water flowing into the "estuary". It is in fact entirely dependent on the tide, so is really a ria. Whatever it is though, the Salcombe estuary is famous for its thousands of acres of clean water, housing a vast array of wildlife and a haven for small boats. A wide variety of fish live in the estuary, including common types such as mullet and bass, a wide variety of eels and rays, and a few less common, such as salmon. Other marine visitors can include dolphins and basking sharks - harmless to humans, as they feed solely on plankton and small fish. Many species of bird also inhabit or visit the estuary, withinthe Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering most of the South Hams.
Yet another of my favourite places, Salcombe is a very beautiful spot, but crowded in the summer months. There is a ferry which takes passengers over to a long beach on the other side of the estuary and the views from above the town are simply breathtaking. American troops left from Salcombe on D-Day and are commemorated by a plaque on Normandy Way . . . . . more to follow . . . .
To be continued . . . .