Locals have been pushed out of one of England's most picturesque villages where tourists have taken over.
During the summer months, Blakeney in North Norfolk becomes extraordinarily busy. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty draws significant crowds, who flock to see its charming stone cottages, a hotel crowned the nation's finest, and substantial seal populations. However, winter tells an entirely different story. Tourist numbers drop dramatically and numerous former fishing cottages lie vacant.
The village's appeal was immediately apparent to me when I visited at the end of November. Mere metres from the acclaimed Manor Coastal Hotel and Inn sits the River Glaven, meandering through the National Nature Reserve. Blakeney Point has gained recognition for its seal colonies, with Beans Boat providing guided excursions year-round. During the 1800s, this coastal settlement sat considerably closer to the seafront than its current position. Over the last century, the estuary has gradually silted up, corresponding with the area's fishing industry decline, now permitting only the tiniest vessels to access the quay.