The walk begins at the north end of Slapton Sands at Strete Gate, before the road takes a north-wards detour inland. Before the coast road was built in 1855, the path to Strete was nearer the sea, following the route of the present South West Coast Path. Just north of Strete Gate was once the site of a fishing village called Strete Undercliff.

The shingle ridge (pictured below) was formed after the last ice age, about 7-10,000 years ago. At this time polar ice melted, causing sea levels to rise. The rising sea levels pushed shingle in from the English Channel, forming the ridge. A close look at the pebbles making up the shingle suggests they come from a wide variety of rock types, which can be seen from their different colours and textures.

Before the coast road was built in 1856, the shingle ridge was much less permanent than it is today. Maps drawn before this time show the ridge breached at various places by the sea. Building of the road consolidated the shingle.

In January 2001 a storm severely damaged the ridge and undermined the road. The damaged section of road was rebuilt further inland in 2002. For the time being the ridge may be safe, but in the long-term it is generally agreed that nature, aided by global warming and rising sea levels, will one day destroy the ridge.