Start Bay facts for kids
Start Bay is a beautiful bay in Devon, England. It is part of the larger Lyme Bay in the English Channel. This bay is one of three big bays in Devon that face east.
Start Bay stretches between two important points. To the north is the Mew Stone, near the River Dart. To the south is Start Point, which is close to the very bottom of Devon.
Along the coast of Start Bay, you will find several towns and beaches. These include Hallsands, Beesands, Torcross, Slapton Sands, Strete, Blackpool Sands, and Stoke Fleming. The famous South West Coast Path runs along much of the bay. This path is great for walking and enjoying the views.
The northern end of Start Bay is about 1.5 miles south of Dartmouth. The middle of the bay is about 4 miles east of Kingsbridge.
History of Start Bay
From 1763 to 1771, a special ship called Friendship was stationed here. It was a small, fast ship with four guns. Its job was to patrol the waters of Start Bay.
World War II Training
Start Bay played an important role during World War II. In 1944, the U.S. Army used Slapton Sands for a very important practice. They were getting ready for the Normandy landings. These landings were a huge invasion of Europe.
During one of these practice runs, German ships attacked the American forces. This event showed how dangerous the real invasion would be. It also highlighted the bravery of the soldiers.
