Thurl, or Thirl being an Anglo-Saxon word meaning hole.

[2] The village's All Saints church is built of the dark grey local slate.

It is formed where a small unnamed stream flows through low-lying flat farmland just inland from Leas Foot Sand, a small beach just to the southwest of the village.

In 2002, a 30-year-old female pygmy sperm whale was washed up on Thurlestone Beach.

2005 saw two significant ornithological events (Devon Bird Report 2005): There is a walk from the main village to Bantham and another walk to Salcombe going through Hope Cove and Bolberry .