This photograph, taken many years ago, shows the road running alone the shingle bank between Strete Gate (bottom left) and the village of Torcross in the distance. To the right of the road is the fresh water lagoon known as Slapton Ley. Sometimes when the tide is very high and there is an onshore gales blowing, sea water crosses the bank and turns the water in the Ley brackish - but not for long. The Ley is fed by a stream that rises near Coles Cross on the Kingsbridge/Totnes road which - with its tributaries - produces a constant stream of fresh water. Does that stream have a name? If anyone knows of one please let me know.
Marcia and I decided to take the dogs for a walk behind the Ley one day as we hadn’t been there for a while and we hoped to see some wild fowl. It was a grey day and this end of the Ley was deserted - although there was the usual cluster of ducks and a couple of swans by the village in the distance being fed by visitors.
SLAPTON LEY
