Where did we go?

Slapton, Devon

In 1943, Slapton Sands was the site of Operation Tiger. A rehearsal of the D-day invasion of Normandy.

The convoy was attacked by the Nazi navy and many US Servicemen were killed. This was covered up and kept secret until after D-day was reported.

Time to get there?

5 hrs 45 minutes... in the car

Antonia and I got stuck in services on the M5. We walked around for 10mins and then spent 50 minutes waiting to get back onto the motorway! 

Where did we stay?

Rosehill Cottage is at the top of the village on a hill. From the top of the garden we could see the sea, which was a 10 min walk from the house. Slapton village is a maze of tiny single lanes bordered with high hedges and stone houses. We saw a camper van try to drive through and get wedged and stuck on a wall.

Antonia and I drove up in our little ford fiesta 'Simon' who was packed full of luggage and struggled a bit with the Somerset hills. We reached Slapton, and with some much needed encouragement and a bit of tyre burn we found the cottage on top of the hill.

Favourite places we visited?

Salcombe, Start Point, Totnes & Dartmouth (where you can buy the best chocolate orange ice cream ever made)

- The view of Salcombe from Portlemouth. A quick ferry ride away -

- Pub lunch in Salcombe -

Best part of the holiday?

Watching Oscar swimming in the sea, being a happy dog.

- Swimming off Slapton Sands -

- Rock pooling in Salcombe -

What did we do?

- Antonia & Dad on the ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth -

- We took the Dartmouth Steam Train to Paignton -

- Dartmouth from the train window -

- Oscar chilling in the carriage -

- We took the coastal walk from Start Point -

- Mum, Antonia & Elisabeth -

- Bananagrams, best game ever -

Movies we watched?

Dad's Army & Keeping Mum

- Last swim on Slapton Sands before we left -

We had beautiful weather and Slapton is a wonderful place. Slapton Sands beach is unforgettable.

- I’d definitely go back -