The centre of the coastal village of Boscastle in north Cornwall is up on a hill, but most visitors naturally head to the riverside and the harbour, which is sheltered by a large and dramatic headland. Alongside the River Valency are a number of attractive old buildings which include shops, cafes, homes and a youth hostel. I stayed here when I was aged 15 and spent three weeks cycling round the south-west with a school-friend. The National Trust cafe by the side of the river has a mark well above head height which indicates the level the water reached during the famous flash-flood of 2004. People were rescued from roof-tops by helicopter and dozens of cars were washed out to sea. Fortunately no lives were lost but it took the village a long time to recover.
Tags: Cornwall Boscastle Cornish villages River Valency riverside foot bridges
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Boscastle in the north of Cornwall, just a few miles from Tintagel, dates back to the 12th century when a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress, Botreaux Castle, was constructed for the de Botreaux family. The village takes its name from this, though few remains now survive.
Boscastle harbour is a natural inlet protected by two stone harbour walls built in 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville (of HMS Revenge). These replaced a much earlier harbour. It is the only significant harbour for 20 miles (32 km) along the coast. As well as being a fishing harbour, in the 19th century Boscastle was once a small port importing limestone and coal and exporting slate and other local produce. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, including both sides of the harbour, where the oldest buildings can be found.
Tags: Cornwall Boscastle harbours Cornish harbours villages
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Boscastle is on the North Cornwall coast about four miles north-east of Tintagel. It dates back to the 12th century when a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress, Botreaux Castle, was constructed for the de Botreaux family. The village, which sits in a steep valley either side of the River Valency, takes its name from this, though few remains now survive.
Boscastle is the only significant harbour for 20 miles along the coast. As well as being a fishing harbour, in the 19th century Boscastle was once a small port importing limestone and coal and exporting slate and other local produce. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, including both sides of the harbour, where the oldest buildings can be found.
The stone building on the extreme left is a YHA youth hostel. It is where I stayed with a school-friend in 1961 when we spent three weeks cycling round the south-west.
Tags: Cornwall Boscastle Cornish villages Cornish harbours River Valency
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Boscastle harbour is a natural inlet and is the only significant harbour for 20 miles along the north Cornwall coast. It is about four miles to the north-east of Tintagel. As well as being a fishing harbour, in the 19th century Boscastle was once a small port importing limestone and coal and exporting slate and other local produce. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the National Trust.
Tags: Cornwall Boscastle coast cliffs inlets Cornish harbours
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This little cobbled lane is known as Valency Row, presumably after the narrow river of the same name which runs into the ancient harbour just a short distance away in the delightful tiny village of Boscastle. The houses along here date back mainly to the Georgian era, although one or two are older.
Boscastle harbour is a natural inlet protected by two stone harbour walls built in 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville. It is the only significant harbour for 20 miles along the north Cornish coast. Boscastle was once a small port (similar to many others on the north coast of Cornwall), importing limestone and coal, and exporting slate and other local produce. But these days it is simply home to a handful of small inshore fishing boats and a couple of small pleasure craft. Tourism is the most important source of income.
Tags: Cornwall Boscastle cobbles Valency Row Georgian buildings cottages cobbled lanes villages
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