Home
Blogs
Slapton Sands: on the front line of climate change

Slapton Sands: on the front line of climate change

16 February 2026

Read time: 5mins

‘Students at our field centre, located just inland from Slapton Sands, have been able to see first hand the destructive power of the sea and the impacts of climate change on our coastal communities.’

Em Kendall

The loss of the A379

Back-to-back storms, rising sea levels and a history of sediment dredging have led to the collapse of the A379, outside the village of Torcross. The A379 is a vital road connecting coastal communities in South Devon. It is famous for traversing the dynamic shingle ridge that separates the sea from Slapton Ley. It is a location that has drawn millions of tourists but is certainly exposed to the elements.

In 2001 a section of road was eroded away and subsequently rebuilt. Then again in 2018 further managed retreat took place, following damage from Storm Emma. Costing £2.5 million, the road was closed for 12 months.

Comparison of the A379 before and after it was re-built inland in 2018, using Esri World Imagery Wayback. You can see in 2014 (left) the road veered off to the right, along the top of the beach. The yellow road line now tracks the location of the A379, with the old section of road covered by shingle. https://livingatlas.arcgis.com/wayback/#mapCenter=-3.64497%2C50.28850%2C17&mode=swipe&active=15212&swipeWidget=15212%2C48376.

Since then, it has been a question of when, not if, the road will be damaged once again. Just eight years later we again witness the might of the sea as another larger section of the road collapsed, left unprotected as existing sea defences, both sea wall and rock armour, were damaged or washed away entirely by successive storms.

As a result, the A379 between Torcross and the Slapton junction has been, and will likely for some time remain, closed. The storms have also led to the evacuation of homes along Torcross and the closure of businesses, the tank car park and the South West coast path. Large machinery has been working around the clock removing damaged defences and loading the holes in the road with rock armour.

The A379, South West coast path and sea defences pre (left) and post storm damage (right).

Taking coastal theory into the field

One of the advantages of educating in the outdoors is the chance for young people to experience what they learn in the classroom for themselves. To cement their understanding by observing geography ‘happening’ in front of their very eyes.

Students at our field centre, located just inland from Slapton Sands, have been able to see first hand the destructive power of the sea and the impacts of climate change on our coastal communities. As Caroline Voaden, South Devon MP, stated ‘we are at the frontline of the impacts of climate change’. How we embark on the journey from the frontline, into the future, is a discussion of great importance.

The stakeholder question

Slapton Sands is many things to many different people. A significant historical locale, a beach with memories of summer holidays, a place of work, a draw to those seeking nature and for many it is home. As such, there are varying views of what should be done next. What are the priorities? Who makes these decisions?

These challenges are often discussed in the world of geography. As geographical educators, we often get students to role play with different stakeholder ‘hats’ on, putting themselves in the shoes of others. This allows them to consider alternative, and often conflicting, opinions and ideas. This ongoing situation presents a very real example of this.

Over the coming weeks and months thousands of people will be waiting to hear how the government will respond to this crisis. Will the road be rebuilt, and if not, what alternative provisions will be put in place? What does the future hold for the A379 and the communities it supports?

Written by Em Kendall, Senior Tutor at Field Studies Council