Burgh Island and Devon

One of the most famous connections to burgh island is Agatha Christie. Her holiday home, Greenway  is about a 40 minute drive from the island. It is truly in a glorious spot. The views from the garden are lovely.

It seems she didn't write at her home, but went to the island, particularly when the weather was bad. It seems she used the island as the inspiration for And Then There Were None.                                         

 The hotel has a sea pool called the mermaid pool, and to be honest, only a mermaid could enjoy it in May. However the British are nothing if not hardy, and i saw two brave souls take to the water.          

   

Just when I thought nothing else could surprise me, we had a fly over of five biplanes. We were standing on the terrace, and they flew low over our heads, appearing from above the hotel. It is  something I will always remember.                                                                                                       

We donned our glad rags for the final evening and said goodbye to this little gem of a place out of  time. There was one final treat though. On our last morning, the tide was in so we had to use the sea tractor to get back to the mainland. It was also very foggy. As we drove off, the Burgh Island     hotel disappeared into the mist. A perfect way to end a magical weekend.         

                             

                              

                                  

 

Our Room

The hotel was derelict for a number of years, and heartbreakingly, all the old fittings and furniture were burnt on the beach in the 80's. But it has been lovingly restored. I have no idea how they have sourced so much original 20s/30/s stuff.                                                                                              

Our room.

 On our first night we went for the curry evening at the local pub, The Pilchard Inn. It is the oldest building on the island dating from 1336. It was a smugglers inn and you can certainly imagine the locals having a mug of ale as they keep an eye out for the Excise man. As for being totally cut off at high tide, that is not strictly true. There is a custom designed "sea tractor " which ferries people over and back at high tide. It is a bit temperamental however, and had to have a winch welded back on during our stay.  

     

On the second night we really went for it. Guests dress for dinner. It says in the blurb, you can't be overdressed. Black tie for the men and evening dress for the ladies. There was a family with two teenage daughters, who looked amazing in their flapper dresses. Another couple, who I believe are regulars, looked as if they had just stepped out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. They continued this theme, as did others, for the whole weekend.       

Back to the 20s

I like Art Deco. I wouldn't say I'm crazy about it, but it is interesting and different.                         This month is our twenty fourth wedding anniversary. I knew hubby had planned a trip away but not the destination. I guessed Saville, so was somewhat surprised to be told we were going to an island off the Devon coast. I was even less impressed when I was told, it gets cut off by the tide twice a day and has no mobile reception or wifi! WHAT is the man mad? Oh well, I had better go along with it I suppose.

As we drove down the hill to Bigbury-on-Sea ( not Bigly as I told someone! ) we were treated to a stunning view of the hotel in all its glory.

It is there, honest, you just have to zoom in. 

We were met on the mainland and driven across the sand to the hotel. Walking though the doors, we realised we had stepped back in time. The place is perfect.