by Elizabeth Ducie

Created on: June 23, 2009

Burgh Island is a tiny tidal island sitting just off the south coast of Devon, opposite the village of Bigburyon-Sea. At low tide, the island can be reached on foot and at just 250 metres, it is a gentle enjoyable stroll, especially when the sun is shining and the golden sands stretch as far as the eye can see on either side. At high tide, the island is accessible via a sea-tractor.

The main building on the island is the Burgh Island Hotel, a quirky art deco building built in 1929 and extended in 1932. In recent years it has been restored to something of its former glory. Staying at the hotel is a great experience, with 'dressing for dinner' more or less a requirement. Waiting to be called in for dinner, you can sip a cocktail in the bar, while taking in the view, both inside and out. The peacock stained glass dome in the bar is a sight that justifies a visit on its own. Dinner is taken to a background of live music from the twenties and thirties. There is a small dance floor for those overcome by the mood of the occasion.

The hotel has just 25 rooms and suites, each decorated in a different style and named either with reference to the location (Eddystone, Mermaid) or to previous occupants (Mountbatten, Gertie Lawrence). One of the most famous guests was Agatha Christie who used it as the setting for some of her stories. The location has been used as the backdrop for a number of films and TV programmes over the years.

The other building still in use on the island is the Pilchard Inn, built in the 14th Century. Complete with inglenook fireplaces and oak beams, it is a great place to roast chestnuts and drink beer on a winter's evening.

The island has a network of footpaths permitting visitors to take in views in all directions. The walk to the top of the hill is a little steep, but rewarding. There is a tiny ruined chapel which was later used by fishermen to alert their colleagues to the arrival of shoals of pilchards. The smuggler's pool is an atmospheric natural pool which only fills when the tide is in.

The island has seen many sights over the past 700 or so years monks, fishermen, smugglers, artists and politicians. During the Second World War it was used as a recovery centre for wounded RAF personnel. Wandering around this beautiful little space on a bright sunny day or on a winter's evening, if you listen carefully, you can just hear the echoes of its past.

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