Burgh Island Hotel

Burgh Island is a tidal island on the coast of South Devon in England near the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea. There are several buildings on the island, the largest being the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. The other buildings are three private houses, and a pub, the Pilchard Inn, which dates to the 14th century. The island is strongly associated with writer Agatha Christie, who often visited and used the island and its hotel as a setting and inspiration for two famous novels: And Then There Were None (1939) and Evil Under the Sun (1941).

Bigbury-on-Sea is a village in the South Hams district on the south coast of Devon, England. It is part of the civil parish of Bigbury which is centred on a small village of that name about a mile inland. Bigbury-on-Sea village is on the coast above the largest sandy beach in South Devon facing south to Bigbury Bay. The tidal island of Burgh Island lies about 270 yards (250 metres) offshore. At the start of the 20th century Bigbury-on-Sea consisted of a few fishermen's cottages with fish cellars. The village grew with the growth in holidaymaking and now has a beach cafe, and by the mainland side of causeway is the Burgh Island Causeway resort built in 1998 replacing the burnt out fishermen's cottages after a controversial planning application. The resort is made up of privately owned and holiday let flats and a private leisure club with indoor pool and gym. The Devon Coastal Path runs behind the resort. The large sandy beach is very popular for wave and wind based water sports, but it lost its Blue Flag beach status in 2012 due to water quality issues.There are two large car parks with easy access to the beaches and the walk across the sand bar to Burgh Island with its Art Deco Hotel and Pilchard Inn. When the tide covers the sand bar access is by the sea tractor. As of March 2020, 63% of properties in the village were holiday-lets or second homes.

The River Avon, also known as the River Aune, is a river in the county of Devon in the southwest of England. It rises in the southern half of Dartmoor National Park in an area of bog to the west of Ryder's Hill. Close to where the river leaves Dartmoor a dam was built in 1957 to form the Avon reservoir (see Dartmoor reservoirs). After leaving the moor it passes through South Brent and then Avonwick and Aveton Gifford and flows into the sea at Bigbury-on-Sea. Near Loddiswell the valley flows through Fosse Copse a 1.88 hectares (4.65 acres) woodland owned and managed by the Woodland Trust.The estuary lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of the South Devon Heritage Coast.From 1893 until its closure in 1963, the Kingsbridge branch line railway line ran along the valley of the Avon between Kingsbridge and South Brent.

Challaborough is a village and popular surfing beach in the District of South Hams on the south coast of Devon, England. The village is in the parish of Ringmore, though the eastern part of the small bay and beach lies in Bigbury parish. The beach is popular with surfers from Plymouth and the surrounding area because of its powerful waves. Challaborough village consists of two small static caravan sites (one of which is owned by Parkdean Resorts) and a few private houses. Most properties have views of Burgh Island and Bigbury Bay. The beach is popular with surfers and holidaymakers. It is a horseshoe shaped bay with a sand bar protecting the entrance. The beach is divided by a small stream that runs from the valley down into the sea that forms the boundary between the parishes of Ringmore and Bigbury. For boats there are two slipways. One is privately owned by one of the caravan sites and is better maintained, although rather steep. Members of the public have to pay to use the private slipway, but the public slipway, which is only suitable for smaller boats, is free for all to use. Challaborough is popular with the diving community as there are several wrecks along the nearby coastline. Fishing is also good in the area as well as sailing and cruising. Although Challaborough is part of two civil parishes, Bigbury and Ringmore, and therefore does not have its own council, there is a local action group that aims to protect community interests. There are many footpaths as well as the coastal footpath. To the east is the more developed resort of Bigbury-on-Sea and Burgh Island. In the other direction along the coast are a number of coves, Ayrmer Cove and Westcombe (pronounced Wis-com); although more challenging to walk to are far quieter and picturesque. A little further west is the mouth and estuary of the River Erme. The static caravans at Challaborough are mostly privately owned, but there are some hire fleet caravans. Facilities on the lower site include a nightclub, arcade, swimming pool, bar, shop, launderette and child's play facilities. The upper site generally enjoys better views but has fewer facilities and is situated on a steep hill. Disabled access around the lower site and the beach is usually very good; in the winter the sand sometimes shifts below the level of the disabled beach access. Dogs are banned from the beach during the summer months. RNLI lifeguards patrol most of the year. The surf at Challaborough can be excellent, powerful and well formed, hence the popularity of this venue with surfers from all over South Devon.

Ringmore is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district, on the coast of Devon, England. The population taken at the 2011 census was 208.

Bantham is a coastal village in south Devon, England. It is in the South Hams district and lies on the estuary of the River Avon a quarter of a mile from the sea at Bigbury Bay.

Bigbury is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 582, compared to 260 in 1901, and decreasing to 500 in 2011. The southern side of the parish lies on the coast, and it is surrounded clockwise from the west by the parishes of Ringmore, Modbury, Aveton Gifford, and on the opposite bank of the estuary of the River Avon, Thurlestone. Road access to the parish is via the A379 and the B3392. The parish council meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in Bigbury Memorial Hall (excluding August & January). The village of Bigbury (grid reference SX667464) has a pub called the Royal Oak (now closed), and a hair and beauty salon called Unwind. Bigbury Golf Club is an 18-hole course situated off the B3392 midway between Bigbury and the coastal village of Bigbury-on-Sea, just offshore of which is Burgh Island. The parish also includes the eastern part of the small bay and beach at Challaborough.

SS Louis Sheid was a 6,057 ton Belgian steamer that ran aground off Devon after escaping U-47 following the rescue of the captain and crew of the freighter MV Tajandoen on 7 December 1939.Louis Shied measured 420 feet (130 m) long with a beam of 55 feet (17 m). She was built by Nord Werft of Bremerhaven under the name Ultor and renamed Kendal Castle prior to being badged Louis Sheid for the Belgian National Shipping Line. Louis Sheid sits in 8 metres (26 ft) of water off Leas Foot beach at Thurlestone at 50°15.658′N 3°51.831′W. Two Thirds Blue Sub-Aqua Club (SAA 912) adopted the wreck under the scheme run by the Nautical Archaeology Society.

Thurlestone is a village located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Kingsbridge in the South Hams district in south Devon, England. There is an electoral ward in the same name. The population at the 2011 census was 1,886.The village takes its name from Thurlestone Rock, the so-called "thirled stone", an arch-shaped rock formation just offshore in Thurlestone Bay. Thurl, or Thirl being an Anglo-Saxon word meaning hole. The village's All Saints church is built of the dark grey local slate. The chancel is early 13th century; the remainder of the church 15th and 16th century.

Kingston is civil parish and small scattered village in the South Hams, Devon, England. It is three miles south west of Modbury and about a mile from the mouth of the River Erme at Wonwell. In 2001, the population of the parish was 399, reducing to 387 at the 2011 census. It has a small village hall – the Reading Room – that is used regularly for village events. There are several old houses, including a number of thatched cottages. Nearby is a beach called Westcombe (wis-com).

Hope Cove is a small seaside village within the civil parish of South Huish in South Hams District, Devon, England. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Salcombe and 5 miles (8.0 km) south west of Kingsbridge. It has two beaches, and is sheltered by the headland of Bolt Tail.

Hope Cove Life Boat (based in Hope Cove, Devon) was formed in 1878 and is a voluntary search and rescue service that operates an inshore rescue boat in the Bigbury Bay area.