H Home ☰ MENU
Picture of Bigbury-on-Sea

Bigbury-on-Sea

Return to towns and villages page

Distance from Cottage Hotel: 12 miles / 19 kilometres (30 minutes by car)

The village of Bigbury-on-Sea is 12 miles by road from Hope Cove. If you, your family or friends are visiting Bigbury-on-Sea in the near future for occasions such as weddings, viewing properties or a business trip we would like to offer you accommodation at the Cottage Hotel or Tanfield bed and breakfast in Hope Cove.

The village of Bigbury-on-Sea is located on the South Coast of Devon (not be confused with the inland village of Bigbury). The tidal island of Burgh Island is approximately 250 yards/metres away.

History of Bigbury-on-Sea

At the start of the 20th Century Bigbury-on-Sea was just a mere few fishermen's cottages. With the increase in the holidaymaking trade the village has grown since those humble beginnings and now has the Burgh Island Causeway Resort which was built in 1998. The resort is made up of privately owned and holiday let apartments and has a private leisure club with indoor pool and gym.

Places to Visit

Running behind the resort is the Devon Coastal Path and the large sandy beach is ideal for wave and wind based water sports.

For Golfers Bigbury Golf Club is an ideal venue for a round or two of Golf. 

BURGH ISLAND

Burgh Island is a small tidal island, located on the English Channel, near to Bigbury-on-Sea. The largest building on the island is the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. There are three private houses and the Pilchard Inn public house which is run by the hotel.

History of Burgh Island

The island is mentioned in early records and on maps as St. Michael's Island. Later the name changed to Borough Island eventually being corrupted to Burgh.

It is believed a monastery was established on the island and the remains may lie beneath the current hotel.

The ancient Pilchard Inn may have started life as guest lodgings for the monastery.

A transient population later occupied the island after the dissolution of the monastery was dissolved.

Fears of a German landing force using the island as a beachhead during World War II resulted in the area's fortification with anti-tank defences as well as two pill boxes, positioned either side of the causeway. On the summit an observation post was also established.

Burgh Island is today well-known for its restored 1920s Art Deco hotel.

Agatha Christie is closely linked to the island and it has served as a setting for two novels: And Then There were None and Evil Under the Sun.

To get to the island from Bigbury-on-Sea you can approach it at low tide by foot or at high tide take the sea tractor. The tractor drives across the beach with its wheels under water on the sandy bottom whilst the driver and passengers sit on a high platform above.

Check the tides on our weather and tides page

Links

Bigbury-on-Sea website RAC Route Planner Route from Hotel

Location

^