Boscastle and Tintagel
The aftermath.
Two years ago, we were suffering a holiday in the Lake District. We were camping, and for two weeks, it rained, and it rained heavily. But while we were complaining about being stuck in a tent, a small village fought against a massive flood. Filled with tourists and homes, hit by a flood pulse upto 4 metres high, submerged under a river, three buildings were washed away - one while there were people inside. And yet incredibly, nobody died.
That little village was Boscastle, in the north of Cornwall, and two years on, they are still trying to rebuild. Being in the area, we could not pass up the chance to see it.
The valley where Boscastle is nestled. The valley itself is part of the cause of the problem, since it funnels down to the town, without sufficient vegitation to slow the rise in water. The morning of the flood, the sun had been shining, and it took only a few heavy downpours to produce the flood pulse.
Boscastle tourist car park. During our visit, it had been so full that even the overflow car park had run out of space. On the day of the flood, the main carpark (shown here) was 60% full, and the cars had to be abandoned. The river (also shown) burst its banks and swept several cars and trees through the village. 79 cars crashed through the streets, and caused a large part of the damage.
A damaged roof, showing how high the water must have reached.
The high street - the flood water here was generally flowing at the height of the first floor (using British floor numbering). Most of the buildings show restoration upto that level.
The book of the flood. Buying this helps contribute money towards rebuilding, something which I am very happy to do. The pictures and stories are quite stunning, including the front cover, which shows the receding flood. The car park is directly under the helicopter, the river channel is to the right, and the high street is to the left.
Clovelly clothing company. This is one of the buildings that was washed away, and has since been rebuilt. The water had reached up to the height of the edge of the roof, and several cars had been smashed into the walls before the building finally collapsed.
Looking downstream. The water was up to the roofs of the single storey buildings.
Looking back upstream. The building in the distance is on the right side of the high street.
The harbour, where most of the cars ended up.
The water mark recorded in the museum of Witchcraft. Right, enough flood pictures. Boscastle is actually in a very beautiful area, so it's time to see it as such.
Boscastle harbour.
Boscastle harbour, with the double stepped sea wall.
Boscastle lies on a bizzare S-bent estuary, that protects it from the punishment of the sea.
Slabs on the coast path.
The jagged edge has exposed quartz.
The rock on the edge is twisted and folded. How many times can you fold a piece of rock?
A small peak with a deep cove in the background.
On the peak.
On the peak. Just a little higher - and no, I will not stand up with that much wind trying to blow me over.
Potholes in the estuary.
The coast. Sadly, without any scale, you cannot see how big the waves are. Not excellent for surfing, but about right for slamming yourself into the rocks.
And a nearby stack. Now it is time to head over to the nearby Tintagel
Looking back to the small castle at Boscastle (the "Bos", perhaps).
Cliffs by Bossiney.
A disturbed roof in Tintagel.
Tintagel Castle. About the only thing Tintagel is good for. So important, that Tintagel actually has more car parks than houses, so you will be competing with a lot of tourists.
Walking to the castle. Unfortunately, almost nothing remains of the castle; two rooms, and a fragment of a tower - yet English Heritage charges an extortionate price to see it (we can go on guided tours in much better preserved castles for much less). No thanks.
Everyone else tries to lay claim to being the resting place of King Arthur (ask the north Wales show-mines). Tintagel decides not to be left out, but decides to claim to be the birthplace instead.
Unfortunately, the way into the second room of the castle is also the only way onto Tintagel Head, so we will not go there.
The pictures are easier to take from over here anyway.
The second part of the castle. There, now you have seen it too. No need to pay.
Rocks on Tintagel Head.
Sunset behind the castle.
A spur in the bay under the castle.
And a small waterfall.
Waves crashing into the coast at Tintagel.
We may not be going onto Tintagel Head, but we can certainly go under it. An impressive set of sea caves pass under the peninsula.
Josie squeezes past other tourists to enter Merlin's Cave.
The passage itself is big - even for limestone caves, and Josie makes quick work of running through it.
Half way through the cave, with daylight from both ends (aided by a flashgun).
A beautiful natural light photograph of the cave. Even if I say so myself.
Looking out the end of the cave into the Severn estuary.
As a caver, I find running across the rocks fairly easy, even if the sea is washing around them, but it seems others are not so keen.
From cave to cove to cave. Returning to daylight.
The valley where Boscastle is nestled. The valley itself is part of the cause of the problem, since it funnels down to the town, without sufficient vegitation to slow the rise in water. The morning of the flood, the sun had been shining, and it took only a few heavy downpours to produce the flood pulse.
Boscastle tourist car park. During our visit, it had been so full that even the overflow car park had run out of space. On the day of the flood, the main carpark (shown here) was 60% full, and the cars had to be abandoned. The river (also shown) burst its banks and swept several cars and trees through the village. 79 cars crashed through the streets, and caused a large part of the damage.
A damaged roof, showing how high the water must have reached.
The high street - the flood water here was generally flowing at the height of the first floor (using British floor numbering). Most of the buildings show restoration upto that level.
The book of the flood. Buying this helps contribute money towards rebuilding, something which I am very happy to do. The pictures and stories are quite stunning, including the front cover, which shows the receding flood. The car park is directly under the helicopter, the river channel is to the right, and the high street is to the left.
Clovelly clothing company. This is one of the buildings that was washed away, and has since been rebuilt. The water had reached up to the height of the edge of the roof, and several cars had been smashed into the walls before the building finally collapsed.
Looking downstream. The water was up to the roofs of the single storey buildings.
Looking back upstream. The building in the distance is on the right side of the high street.
The harbour, where most of the cars ended up.
The water mark recorded in the museum of Witchcraft. Right, enough flood pictures. Boscastle is actually in a very beautiful area, so it's time to see it as such.
Boscastle harbour.
Boscastle harbour, with the double stepped sea wall.
Boscastle lies on a bizzare S-bent estuary, that protects it from the punishment of the sea.
Slabs on the coast path.
The jagged edge has exposed quartz.
The rock on the edge is twisted and folded. How many times can you fold a piece of rock?
A small peak with a deep cove in the background.
On the peak.
On the peak. Just a little higher - and no, I will not stand up with that much wind trying to blow me over.
Potholes in the estuary.
The coast. Sadly, without any scale, you cannot see how big the waves are. Not excellent for surfing, but about right for slamming yourself into the rocks.
And a nearby stack. Now it is time to head over to the nearby Tintagel
Looking back to the small castle at Boscastle (the "Bos", perhaps).
Cliffs by Bossiney.
A disturbed roof in Tintagel.
Tintagel Castle. About the only thing Tintagel is good for. So important, that Tintagel actually has more car parks than houses, so you will be competing with a lot of tourists.
Walking to the castle. Unfortunately, almost nothing remains of the castle; two rooms, and a fragment of a tower - yet English Heritage charges an extortionate price to see it (we can go on guided tours in much better preserved castles for much less). No thanks.
Everyone else tries to lay claim to being the resting place of King Arthur (ask the north Wales show-mines). Tintagel decides not to be left out, but decides to claim to be the birthplace instead.
Unfortunately, the way into the second room of the castle is also the only way onto Tintagel Head, so we will not go there.
The pictures are easier to take from over here anyway.
The second part of the castle. There, now you have seen it too. No need to pay.
Rocks on Tintagel Head.
Sunset behind the castle.
A spur in the bay under the castle.
And a small waterfall.
Waves crashing into the coast at Tintagel.
We may not be going onto Tintagel Head, but we can certainly go under it. An impressive set of sea caves pass under the peninsula.
Josie squeezes past other tourists to enter Merlin's Cave.
The passage itself is big - even for limestone caves, and Josie makes quick work of running through it.
Half way through the cave, with daylight from both ends (aided by a flashgun).
A beautiful natural light photograph of the cave. Even if I say so myself.
Looking out the end of the cave into the Severn estuary.
As a caver, I find running across the rocks fairly easy, even if the sea is washing around them, but it seems others are not so keen.
From cave to cove to cave. Returning to daylight.