A CROSSBOW wielding man has died following a police stand-off after destroying a village pub.
Police were called to Chequers pub, in Wootton, Bedfordshire, at around 10.15am on Friday after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man inside.
Shortly after officers arrived, a blaze broke out and fire crews also responded at the scene.
Paramedics rushed the man to hospital but he died on Sunday after succumbing to self-inflicted injuries.
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police said: “Following information that the individual was in possession of a crossbow, specialist officers, including negotiators, were deployed and extensive efforts were made to ensure the safety of all at the scene.
“At around 12.45pm, the man exited the premises before sustaining self-inflicted injuries. He was taken to hospital, where he died yesterday (Sunday). His next of kin have been informed.”
An investigation is ongoing and the case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
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A crossbow wielding man has died following a police stand-off after destroying a village pub
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Bibury in the Cotswolds has been named the most beautiful village in the world – and it’s not difficult to see why with its thatched cottages, picturesque stream and lush green surroundings
Bilbury was voted the most beautiful village in the world (Image: joe daniel price via Getty Images)
The region, which primarily runs through Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, has claimed the crown as Britain’s most in-demand autumn destination, with 85% of October weekend stays already snapped up. According to new research from Ubuy UK, bookings in the region have surged 31% year-on-year — putting it ahead of the Lake District (78%) and Scottish Highlands (76%).
It is clear to see why people’s attention turns towards the Cotswolds when the leaves begin to fall. It is home to golden lanes lined with honey-stone cottages and fires that crackle in rural pubs. The Cotswolds is drawing travellers in record numbers. Nearly nine out of ten beds are already gone for October, confirming its place as this year’s top seasonal getaway.
If you are planning to visit this autumn, then there are plenty of pretty spots to check out, such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and Stow-on-the-Wold. However, the jewel in the hilly region’s crown is Bibury.
The village of 627 appears as though it’s stepped straight from a storybook, with its verdant countryside, thatched-roof homes, and charming waterways and bridges that dominate the locale. Add in the welcoming local pubs and breathtaking hiking routes throughout the region, and it’s easy to understand why it remains such a hit with visitors from across the globe.
A standout feature is Arlington Row, a lane adorned with 17th-century homes which residents describe as “the most photographed and beautiful cottages in the country” due to their riverside position alongside the River Coln. The area boasts numerous scenic attractions too, from England’s most ancient operational trout farm to the Church of St. Mary, all adding to the village’s distinctly British appeal.
It comes as little surprise that Bibury consistently appears on lists of the globe’s most attractive and enchanting villages. This year, it has claimed the title of ‘most beautiful village in the world’.
The experts at Forbes assessed the planet’s 50 most scenic villages, with Bibury securing first place owing to its delightful homes and waterside panoramas. The team wrote: “Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Bibury unfurls like a watercolor dream—where honey-slicked cottages line Arlington Row; their mossy roofs whispering tales of 14th-century weavers. The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow. Nearby, Bibury Trout Farm invites visitors to feed fish or enjoy a riverside picnic, and St. Mary’s Church offers a moment of stillness amid ancient stone—while the air carries the smell of blooming lavender, mingling with freshly baked scones.”
Given the high demand for places to stay in the Cotswolds this autumn, a day trip may be preferable. Parts of the region are easy to get to via direct trains from London Paddington that take around an hour. However, smaller villages such as Bibury are very hard to reach on public transport. Doing so requires taking a train and, often, multiple buses.
Bibury in the Cotswolds has been named the most beautiful village in the world by Forbes Magazine – but for those of us who live here, it’s not quite the fairytale it seems
Bibury has just been named the world’s most beautiful village(Image: Getty)
Being declared the world’s most stunning village might appear like a fantasy come true, but for residents of this picturesque settlement, the reality isn’t quite the fairy tale it appears to be.
Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Bibury has captivated visitors for years with its golden limestone cottages, the renowned Arlington Row featuring its 14th century dwellings, meandering pathways, and the tranquil waters of the River Coln. Now, this acclaim has achieved international recognition.
In Forbes Magazine‘s freshly published 2025 compilation of the world’s 50 most stunning villages, Bibury claimed the top spot – an accolade that, whilst complimentary, has delivered a series of difficulties for those who reside in this community.
The village is now grappling with the pressures of tourism [stock image](Image: Getty)
What was once a tranquil neighbourhood of approximately 600 to 700 inhabitants now regularly welcomes up to 20,000 visitors during a single weekend, reports the Express.
Craig Chapman, chairman of Bibury Parish Council, has voiced concerns about the obstacles accompanying the village’s growing fame, describing it as a “double-edged sword” and noting this recognition has “come at a cost” for residents.
Whilst tourism bolsters the local economy, it simultaneously creates three significant issues, according to Mr Chapman: tourist conduct, parking pandemonium and the narrow roadway.
Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he said: “I’m fairly flabbergasted, having travelled the world, to believe we’re the most attractive village in the world. It’s a great honour, but it’s a little bit of a surprise; there’s a lot of competition out there.”
Hallstatt in Austria took the runner-up spot in Forbes’ ranking, with Reine in Norway, Giethoorn in the Netherlands, and Gásadalur in the Faroe Islands trailing close behind.
Mr Chapman remarked: “It’s completely a double-edged sword. The issue is very much about the mechanisms whereby people come to the village and when they come here, how they behave, where they park.”
“The reality is we sit on a B-road. The road is narrow, there’s one bridge across the River Coln, which is only wide enough for one vehicle. We’ve suffered greatly from congestion, particularly from the larger coaches.”
He emphasised the need for “harmony” between tourists and locals but acknowledged that recent restrictions were making a difference. Gloucestershire County Council has implemented new measures, including a coach access limit introduced in May and a recommendation last month for tourists to visit in smaller vehicles.
Solva in Pembrokeshire is a small village in Wales that’s starting to make a name for itself as a great place for a quiet holiday – and it’s not hard to see why
Solva is known as one of the UK’s ‘prettiest villages’ for this reason(Image: Alamy)
A tiny Welsh village is starting to establish itself as the perfect destination for a peaceful getaway – and it’s not too far away from home.
Summertime is over, and the jacket season has already begun. However, there’s never an excuse not to go on a little holiday. If you’re looking to take a break from the loud streets of London, there’s a magical place just under six hours away from the city.
Solva sits in the southwestern tip of Wales, right beside Pembrokeshire National Park. The village has also earned recognition for its excellent cuisine, with local eateries serving up fresh seafood.
Mamgu Welsh Cakes, a Welsh-based confectionery company, recently sang Solva’s praises in a blog entry. They said: “Solva is without doubt Pembrokeshire’s most shining gem, arguably Wales’ too! Nestled between two high cliff sides in a valley, the idyllic harbour village boasts one of the most breathtaking coastal views in the country.”
“You can find local fishermen and women bring in its famous Solva crab and lobster, which can be purchased in the village and served fresh in the restaurants,” it continued. Additional draws in the village include art galleries, music festivals, and naturally, the tranquil shoreline.
Travel bloggers Emily and Krystina, who operate a travel blog called My UK Staycation on Instagram, were equally charmed by the village.
The village is located near spectacular cliffs and valleys(Image: Getty)
They said: “Pretty little Solva. The Welsh harbour village which stole my heart. With neighbouring St David’s and Tenby stealing most of the limelight of Pembrokeshire this is like a hidden little gem, but with a big history. Don’t miss it on your next trip to Pembrokeshire. It’s worth going out your way for and if you catch the sun like we did then it is the most gorgeous beach day.”
The vibrant cottages and picturesque hills make Solva a uniquely tranquil spot for a seaside getaway. The coastline also boasts fantastic walking trails for those in search of adrenaline, spectacular views or an Instagram picture-perfect spot. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path guides visitors past the breathtaking cliffs.
As per the latest reports from City Population, it has a total population of 653. So, it really is a hidden gem. Perfect for families, friends, couples or even for a solo trip, don’t look further and visit Solva.
As the Nepali night takes on the texture of velvet, the party naturally divides. The men sway in a circle, singing plaintively. The women surround an elderly lady who smokes tobacco rolled in writing paper. And I settle into swapping stories with the girls. Alina and her younger cousins Miching and Blinka may be draped in the silks and heavy jewellery of the Indigenous Aath Pahariya Rai community, but they’re as keen to talk love and travel as any young women. “I’m too independent to get married until I’m very old,” declares 21-year-old Alina. “When I graduate, I want to go to Paris – and then come home to Sipting. Life’s peaceful here and the air is clear.”
I’m in the little-visited Dhankuta region of eastern Nepal on a trip hosted by Community Homestay Network (CHN). This social enterprise is working with governmental organisations and non-profits such as Human and Social Development Centre (Husadec) to support women – including Alina’s mother, Prem Maya – to open their homes to travellers. Since launching with just one homestay in Panauti, south-east of Kathmandu, in 2012, CHN has grown to more than 362 families across 40 communities. This is the first in the country’s rural east.
The writer stayed with Prem and her daughter Alina
As rising temperatures, seasonal flooding and erratic monsoons force droves of Dhankuta’s subsistence farmers over the border into India, this remote region is turning to international tourism for the first time. Empowering women to earn without having to leave their villages, and working on sustainable rainwater-harvesting solutions, is central to this vision.
While tourism contributed about $2.2bn (£1.64bn) to Nepal’s GDP in 2024, it remains concentrated around Khatmandu, trekking routes such as Everest and the Annapurna Circuit, the second city Pokhara and Chitwan national park. The result is overloaded infrastructure, traffic jams at key viewpoints and the economic benefits of the industry concentrated into just a few hands. Schemes such as CHN hope to spread the tourist dollar and offer visitors a memorable experience away from the crowds.
The orange-painted buildings of Dhankuta
After a 40-minute flight from Kathmandu and a two-hour-plus bus journey along a road that winds upwards like a series of sickle moons, our first stop is the town of Dhankuta. It served as the region’s administrative hub until the 1960s, when it sank into a slumber. At first, it appears the government’s new tourism policy might not have registered with local residents. As I wander past the orange-painted buildings, the sewing machine in a tailor’s shop stills as its owner looks up at me in astonishment; a shopper wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words “Mama’s little man” drops his bags to stare; and a woman freezes in her doorway, oblivious to the dal dripping from the wooden spoon she’s holding.
“In the last few decades this neighbourhood was so empty that jackals roamed the streets,” explains our guide, Kalpana Bhattarai. “Locals painted it to celebrate their history as orange growers before climate change – and in the hope of appealing to visitors. It seems they’re a little surprised to see it actually working.” She flashes a winning smile, and they all beam back.
A view on the hike through the hill forest to Khambela
Bringing as many local people as possible into the tourism supply chain is central to CHN’s ethos, which is why it also runs programmes to train youngsters as guides. After a night in the comfortable Hotel Murchunga International in Dhankuta we meet one of the programme’s first two graduates, Nabin Rai of the Aath Pahariya Rai community. This morning, he’ll be leading the 7½-mile forest hike to his home village of Khambela for the first time and, given my incessant questions, I suspect this is a baptism of fire.
As we walk, he talks about his life as the only young man remaining in the village – staying behind partly to care for his disabled father and partly out of love for this place. “When I come to the forest, it feels like my own house,” he says, leading the way along a path studded with silver silica particles that gleam like the Tamor River below. “You can feel the gods here.”
As we enter Khambela through trees woven with jasmine, Nabin points out the rainwater storage tanks installed by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), which help to supplement the unreliable supply from the government pipeline two hours away by foot.
One of the village elders in Khambela
The hike ends with vegetable curry in a courtyard owned by a woman in her 60s who tells us to call her Didi (big sister), and observes our fascination with her home with quiet amusement. As we prepare to leave, she presses a veena into my hand: a hand-carved instrument that hums grudgingly when I blow through it and tug its string with clumsy enthusiasm.
After another night at our hotel, we wander round Dhankuta’s haat (bazaar), where Rais, Magars, Limbus and people from several Hindu castes haggle for everything from buffalo-skin stools to cucumbers as fat as a child’s leg. Then we take the bus to Sipting to meet the Aath Pahariya Rai family, our hosts for the next few days.
Prem leads the way up a dirt staircase hewn from the mountain to her home, the highest in the village. From its squat toilet to three bedrooms haunted by a kitten called Nimki, it’s impeccably clean and has arresting views over the valley’s forested floor.
She shyly points out the water and fresh soap by my bed. “I’m not sure where you’re from and haven’t seen many people who look like you, but I am very glad you’re here,” she says. A towel folded in the shape of a butterfly and the light left on – a gesture that always reminds me of my parents – suggest that this couldn’t be more true.
Over the next few days, I adjust to the rhythms of life in Prem’s house: the scent of cow dung and woodsmoke as I learn to fold large leaves that will be used as dishes; the way the valley appears almost flat beneath the midday heat, and becomes soft and deep in the afternoons; Alina recalling that when she was little and her father, Ram, carried her to bed, she fancied the stars were walking with them.
“I can’t read or write beyond my name and have never earned my own money before. Now I’m a businesswoman,” says Prem, watching with approval as I demolish a millet pancake bursting with potato curry.
By day, Kalpana leads us on intriguing outings. At Dhoje Dada, we climb through a mogul cemetery in a cloud that echoes with the calls of cuckoos, only for it to clear in rapid, smoke-like wisps to reveal the sunrise. As darkness swallows the mountains at Kachide, we harvest sour tree tomatoes and learn local recipes from a woman who is using the income to fund her daughters’ university educations.
The road winds through dripping rhododendron forests and mountain villages where I sense that we are the first westerners local people have ever seen.
At Cholung Park, most visitors seem more interested in watching me receive a blessing from a Mundhum samba (a figure in charge of rituals for the Limbu people, who flicks a leaf on to my throat that clings like a damp butterfly’s wing) than browsing the museum’s collection of sacred Limbu artefacts. Given the queues that now form at the peak of Everest and on Annapurna’s trails, getting such an unfiltered glimpse of Nepali life feels like an enormous privilege.
For my final breakfast in Sipting, Ram watches through the window while Alina and Prem fill my pockets with freshly picked passion fruit and tuck a sprig of mugwort behind my ear to ward off evil spirits on the road to Janakpur. Prem patiently attempts to braid a lacha dori (a colourful thread adorned with beads) of Alina’s into my slippery bob. “We’re so sad to see you leave,” she says. “Come back whenever you like – this is your home now.”
The trip was provided byCommunity Homestay Network;its eight-day Eastern Nepal: The Road Less Taken adventure blends nature, Indigenous culture, homestays and hikes and costs US$2,359 for a single traveller, $2,657 for two or $3,597 for a group of four, including a local guide, ground transport, accommodation and most meals. Many shorter personalised trips and packages are also available. Responsible tourism in Dhankuta is being implemented through the HI-GRID Project, supported by the Australian government and led by ICIMOD. For more information on travel to Nepal, visitntb.gov.np
COPS are desperately hunting a woman and an eight-year-old girl who vanished more than three weeks ago.
Sally-Jean, 37, was last seen with eight-year-old Ava in Tilehurst, Reading on August 25.
The pair were reported missing on Monday with a frantic search for them launched immediately.
Police said they are “extremely concerned” for the safety of the woman and the youngster and are appealing for the public’s help finding them.
Ava is described as black with an afro hairstyle while Sally-Jean is white, about 5ft 4in tall, with long brown hair, green eyes and tattoos.
Sally-Jean has links to Reading, Caversham and Tilehurst and has one large and distinctive tattoo on her right lower arm, cops said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of either Sally-Jean or Ava is asked to contact Thames Valley Police as a matter of urgency.
Inspector Iain Watkinson said: “We are extremely concerned for the welfare of Sally-Jean and Ava and we have been working hard to find them since they were reported missing on Monday.
“We are now appealing for the public’s help.
“Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call 101 or make a report on our website.”
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Sally-Jean, 37, was last seen with eight-year-old Ava in Tilehurst, Reading on August 25
Wondering where to take your next staycation? This charming little village nestled in the south of England has been officially named the world’s most beautiful
England is home to the world’s most beautiful village(Image: Getty)
England already has a name for its quaint villages, but now a global ranking has officially confirmed the prettiest one of all.
With the help of the Unforgettable Travel Company, Forbes compiled a list of the world’s 50 most beautiful villages, featuring gorgeous townlets from Norway to Mali to Morocco. However, despite the spellbinding selection around the globe, this little British village still managed to come out on top.
Located in the Cotswolds, Bibury was deemed the world’s most beautiful village by the ranking. Forbes described it as a “watercolour dream”, lined with honey-hued cottages and surrounded by willow trees.
Arlington Row is famous for its honey-coloured cottages(Image: Getty)
Indeed, its iconic street Arlington Row is considered one of England’s most photographed sites and is even featured in the UK passport. It was built in 1380 as what was originally a monastic wool store, before being converted into cottages in the 17th century.
The collection of cottages is now under the custody of the National Trust, though it is worth noting that Arlington Row is currently housed by tenants and isn’t open to the public.
Of course, Forbes also highlights the village’s proximity to the River Coln, which weaves “through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots”. For those in the area, strolling along the River Coln trail is an absolute must, as it takes you through the surrounding countryside.
Birbury has been described as a “watercolour dream”(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Fishing enthusiasts also have something to look forward to, as Bibury is also home to a well-known trout farm. Highlighted in the ranking, the 15-acre farm is among the oldest in the country and allows visitors to catch their own dinner.
One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote: “Fantastic way to spend an afternoon. [Bibury Trout Farm] is so beautiful and well run. We had a brilliant time feeding the fish and the ducks. The planting around the site and the sculptures dotted around are so well thought out and add so much to the experience. This was our second visit and we loved it.”
Another stunning attraction is St Mary’s Church, a limestone building dating back to the 12th century – however, the Saxon tombstone embedded into the church wall hints at an even older heritage.
Bibury Trout Farm is among the oldest in England (Image: Getty)
Of course, it wouldn’t be a quintessential British village without a smattering of cosy pubs. The Catherine Wheel and The Keeper’s Arms are two charming venues which offer an attractive place to sit while supping on a drink.
If you’re looking for somewhere dog-friendly, the Swan Hotel also offers a stunning place to sit, with views overlooking the Coln river.
If you’ve travelled to Bibury by car, you should note that there is a limited amount of free roadside parking available on the main street and a small free car park opposite Bibury Trout Farm. If travelling during peak times – summer, weekends and bank holidays – it can get busy.
JERUSALEM — Palestinian Oscar-winning director Basel Adra said Israeli soldiers conducted a raid at his home in the occupied West Bank over the weekend, searching for him and going through his wife’s phone.
Israeli settlers attacked his village Saturday, injuring two of his brothers and one cousin, Adra told the Associated Press. He accompanied them to the hospital. While there, he said that he heard from family in the village that nine Israeli soldiers had stormed his home.
The soldiers asked his wife, Suha, of his whereabouts and went through her phone while his 9-month-old daughter was home. They also briefly detained one of his uncles, he said.
Adra spent the night outside the village, unable to get home and check on his family because soldiers were blocking the village entrance and he was scared of being detained, he said.
Israel’s military said soldiers were in the village after Palestinians had thrown rocks, injuring two Israeli civilians. It said its forces were still in the village, searching the area and questioning people.
Adra said settlers attacked the Palestinians on their land, and denied throwing rocks or seeing anyone from the village do so.
Videos recorded by Adra’s cousin and viewed by the AP showed settlers attacking a man Adra identified as his brother, Adam, who was hospitalized with bruising to his left hand, elbow and chest, according to hospital records shared with the AP.
In another video, a settler chases a solidarity activist through an olive grove, tackling her to the ground.
Adra has spent his career as a journalist and filmmaker chronicling settler violence in Masafer Yatta, the southern reaches of the West Bank where he was born. After settlers attacked his co-director, Hamdan Ballal, in March, he told the AP that he felt they were being targeted more intensely since winning the Oscar.
He described Saturday’s events as “horrific.”
“Even if you are just filming the settlers, the army comes and chases you, searches your house,” he said. “The whole system is built to attack us, to terrify us, to make us very scared.”
Another co-director, Yuval Abraham, said he was “terrified for Basel.”
“What happened today in his village, we’ve seen this dynamic again and again, where the Israeli settlers brutally attack a Palestinian village and later on the army comes, and attacks the Palestinians,” Abraham said.
“No Other Land,” which won an Oscar this year for best documentary, depicts the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages. Ballal and Adra made the joint Palestinian-Israeli production with Israeli directors Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The film has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad, such as when Miami Beach proposed ending the lease of a movie theater that screened the documentary.
Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East War, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for a future state and view Jewish settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution.
Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to more than 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers.
The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents, mostly Arab Bedouins, to be expelled. Around 1,000 residents have largely remained, but soldiers regularly move in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards, and Palestinians fear outright expulsion could come at any time.
During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank during wide-scale military operations. There has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians, as well as a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Khas Kunar, Afghanistan – Stoori was pulled out from under the rubble of his house in Kunar province after it was destroyed by the magnitude 6 earthquake which struck on the night of August 31. But the guilt of not being able to save his wife haunts him.
“I barely had enough time to pull out the body of my dead wife and place her on the rubble of our collapsed home before my children and I were evacuated,” the grief-stricken 40-year-old farmer says.
Authorities say about 2,200 people have been killed and more than 5,000 homes destroyed in eastern Afghanistan, most of them in Kunar province, where houses mostly built from wood and mud bricks crumbled in the shocks of the quake.
Stoori, who only gave one name, is now staying with his children in a sprawling evacuation camp 60km (37 miles) from his village – in Khas Kunar.
“My village has become a graveyard. All 40 families lost their homes. The earthquake killed 12 people in my community and left 22 others badly injured,” he says.
Stoori, a 40-year-old farmer, lost his wife in the earthquake. He has had to move to a displacement camp with his children [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Winter is coming
In all, the UN says half a million people have been affected by the quake.
In this camp, which is lined with tents provided by international NGOs, nearly 5,000 people are sheltering, each with stories of loss and pain.
Thankfully, the camp has access to water and sanitation, and there are two small clinics ready to receive injured newcomers, as well as an ambulance which can be dispatched to collect people.
Right now, workers are digging a trench to install another water pipe, which will divert water to areas in need around the camp.
Just a few hundred metres away, what were once United States military warehouses have been transformed into government offices coordinating the emergency response.
Inside the displacement camp in eastern Afghanistan [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
The Taliban, which returned to power after US-led forces withdrew in 2021 after 20 years of occupation, has been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
Tens of thousands of people are without any shelter at all just weeks before the onset of winter, and the mountainous terrain makes relief and rescue efforts difficult.
Najibullah Haqqani, Kunar’s provincial director for the Ministry of Information and Culture, says the authorities are working through a three-step emergency plan: Evacuate those at risk, provide shelter, food, and medical care in camps, and, eventually, rebuild homes or find permanent housing.
But the situation is becoming more challenging by the day. “Fortunately, we have received support from the government, local businesses, volunteers and international NGOs. They all came and helped with food and money for the displaced people,” he tells Al Jazeera.
The tents provided by international NGOs are sheltering 5,000 people in this camp [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
‘The smell of dead animals fills the air’
More than 10 days after the tremor, new arrivals join the camp daily, inside the fortified walls of the former US base on the banks of the Kabul River.
Among them is Nurghal, a 52-year-old farmer from Shalatak village who was able to reunite with the surviving members of his family only on Wednesday morning. “From my large extended family, 52 people were killed and almost 70 were left badly injured,” he says. The devastation is “unimaginable”, he adds.
“The weather is cold in our area, and we don’t sleep outside this time of the year. That is why many people were trapped in their houses when the earthquake hit, and they were killed. Everything is destroyed back home, and all our animals are buried in debris. The smell of dead animals fills the air in my village.”
Life before the quake, he says, was stable. “Before the earthquake, we had everything we wanted: A home, livestock, our crops, and land. Now life is in the hospital and tents.”
Nurghal, a 52-year-old farmer from Shalatak village, has lost 52 relatives to the earthquake [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Women face particular challenges in the aftermath of this disaster, as Taliban laws prevent them from travelling without male guardians – meaning it is hard for them to either get medical assistance or, in the case of female medical workers, to provide it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) asked Taliban authorities last week to lift travel restrictions for Afghan female aid workers, at least, to allow them to travel to help women in difficulties following the earthquake.
“A very big issue now is the increasing paucity of female staff in these places,” Dr Mukta Sharma, the deputy representative of WHO’s Afghanistan office, told the Reuters news agency.
Furthermore, since women have been banned from higher education by the Taliban, the number of qualified female medical staff is dwindling.
Despite these difficulties, the Taliban leadership says it is committed to ensuring that women will be properly treated, by male health workers if necessary.
Haqqani, Kunar’s provincial director for the Ministry of Information and Culture, tells Al Jazeera: “During the emergency situation, the military and volunteers evacuated and cared for everyone. On the second day, UNICEF set up a medical clinic in Nurghal district and they had female doctors as well. We took as many injured people as the clinic could handle there and they were treating everyone, male and female. In any emergency situation, there is no gender-based discrimination; any doctor available will treat any patients coming in. The priority is life saving.”
At a field hospital which has been set up inside the old US barracks by the displacement camp at Khas Kunar, six male doctors and one female doctor, 16 male nurses and 12 female nurses are tending to the injured. Currently, there are 34 patients here, 24 of whom are women and children – most of them were taken to Gamberi from their remote villages by Taliban military helicopters and then transferred the last 50km (30 miles) to the hospital by car.
The hospital’s director, Dr Shahid, who only gave one name, says male doctors and nurses are permitted to treat women and have been doing so without any issue.
The building housing the field hospital near the displacement camp, where the wounded are being brought [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
‘A curse from the sky’
From his bed in the field hospital, Azim, a farmer in his mid-40s from Sohail Tangy village, 60km (37 miles) away, is recovering from fractures to his spine and right shoulder.
He fears returning to the devastation at home.
“The earthquake was like a curse from the sky. I don’t want to move back to that hell,” he tells Al Jazeera. “The government should give us land to rebuild our lives. My village has become the centre of destruction. My only request is to give us land somewhere else.”
Azim is still coming to terms with the loss of his loved ones. “Yesterday, my son told me that three of my brothers are dead. Some of my family members are in the Kabul and Jalalabad hospitals. And my wife is in Kabul military hospital,” he says.
Azim, a farmer from Sohail Tangy village, whose three brothers were killed in the earthquake, is recovering from fractures to his spine and right shoulder [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Back in the evacuation camp, Stoori says he is holding onto hope, but only just.
“If God blesses us, maybe we can go back to our village before the winter comes,” he says.
“We have nothing left except our trust in God, and we ask the international community and authorities for help.”
The quintessential English village is renowned for its idyllic stone cottages along the River Coln, which captivated Victorian poet William Morris
The Cotswold village of Bibury(Image: Getty)
For those seeking a peaceful and enchanting UK getaway, the quintessentially English village of Bibury should be at the top of your list. It has named as the world’s most beautiful village by Forbes magazine, beating other stunning locations across the globe.
Found in the heart of Gloucestershire, Bibury is renowned for its picturesque stone cottages that line the River Coln. It was this very charm that led Victorian poet William Morris to proclaim it the “most beautiful place in England”, enchanted by its honey-coloured houses and tranquil rural backdrop.
Working with experts the Unforgettable Travel Company, Forbes said: “Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Bibury unfurls like a watercolor dream—where honey-slicked cottages line Arlington Row; their mossy roofs whispering tales of 14th-century weavers.”
The stunning Arlington Row in Bibury, Gloucestershire(Image: Getty)
“The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow. Nearby, Bibury Trout Farm invites visitors to feed fish or enjoy a riverside picnic, and St. Mary’s Church offers a moment of stillness amid ancient stone—while the air carries the smell of blooming lavender, mingling with freshly-baked scones.”
Visitors can bask in the village’s tranquil vibe and discover its array of attractions, making it a perfect spot for a delightful winter retreat.
Attractions include the oldest trout farm in Britain, where guests can feed the fish and buy fresh goods from the local farm shop, cosy tearooms, and classic pubs like the historic The Swan situated by the river, which stands out as the most notable, reports the Express.
The village can be much quieter in the colder months(Image: Getty)
This cosy pub doesn’t just serve up hearty meals and pints, but also offers a place to lay your head after a day exploring. Tucked away in the countryside, Bibury is an idyllic location for scenic strolls through the Cotswolds and has become a favourite among snap-happy photographers.
Over on Tripadvisor, one tourist recounted their visit to Arlington Row with friends, saying: “Visiting Arlington Row with friends was like stepping into a peaceful, timeless postcard. The enchanting cottages charmed us with their historic allure.”
“We wandered the serene surroundings, snapping photos and soaking in the tranquil vibes. A perfect spot for a chill day out together!”
Bibury residents have complained of overtourism(Image: Raylipscombe via Getty Images)
Despite the beauty, Bibury is struggling with the throngs of tourists. Residents have shared their frustration about visitors being brought in by the coach-load.
One local told the Guardian earlier this year: “We have such a beautiful place that we want to share, but the level of tourism and the hordes of people that come has just made it entirely unpleasant, and the infrastructure doesn’t really cope with it.
“All they want to do is come and take a photograph. They don’t stay in the village. They don’t linger enough to really ingest the beauty and historic value of the place. It’s literally, I think, to take a selfie.”
As the most westerly village in the UK, this Cornish village has a claim to fame that is enough in and of itself to have visitors flocking to its doors
Sunset on the beach at Kenidjack Valley(Image: Getty)
As Britain’s most westerly village, this Cornish settlement boasts a unique distinction that alone draws countless visitors to its shores.
Blessed with a temperate climate, exotic gardens, and miles of stunning coastline dotted with independent retailers, St Just offers a full day of exploration and attractions.
Situated close to Land’s End and merely eight miles from Penzance, this picturesque spot is also rich in heritage, having once served as the heart of the tin mining trade.
At St Just’s core stands Plain-an-Gwarry, a theatre that staged performances during medieval times.
Today it plays host to the Lafrowda Festival, according to Cornwall Guide, reports the Express.
Free-roaming ponies in Nanjizal Bay(Image: Getty)
Within the grounds of St Just Church, visitors will discover magnificent exotic gardens that have thrived in the Roseland peninsula’s gentle climate.
Hailed as one of Britain’s most stunning churchyards by poet John Betjeman, it descends towards an enchanting creek.
The location also sits alongside Cape Cornwall, which seafaring navigators of yesteryear mistook for ‘Land’s End’, marking where the English Channel and St Georges Channel converge.
Heinz Ltd purchased the cape for the nation in 1987 before gifting it to the National Trust to commemorate the firm’s centenary, according to Visit Cornwall.
Local residents have nicknamed the coastal rocks “General De Gaul in the bath” due to their distinctive silhouette when seen from the mainland. Every year, a swim event takes place covering the mile between the rocks and the cove.
If you’re up for a dip in the sea, you might spot some grey seals frolicking in the waters.
The South West Coast Path is a treasure trove of hidden beaches waiting to be discovered. Many of these picturesque spots were featured in the BBC’s hit series Poldark, which delves into the area’s smuggling history.
The cliffshide ruins of the engine house of Botallack tin mine(Image: Getty)
Locations include Botallack, Levant and Geevor.
According to Tripadvisor, you can embark on a tour of these filming locations.
One visitor shared their five-star experience: “We had such a lovely day with Becky. She was so knowledgeable not just about Poldark but about the history and culture of Cornwall. We also had a stop at the Minack Theater which was fantastic and although not related to Poldark was a unique piece of Cornish history that was so fun to explore. 10/10 would highly recommend.”
Botallack mine is another must-visit site, earning high praise on Tripadvisor. The stunning views offer a glimpse of a jagged and dramatic coastline.
Another visitor gave the experience five stars, saying: “Incredible views of the remains of the Crowns, Cornish engine houses perched on the cliff edge. Right on the SWCP coast path, a path leads down to the engine house or there are benches at the top of the path where you can have a picnic and enjoy the view.”
They added: “Nearby Botallack Counthouse (National Trust) is a café which serves home made pasties and cakes and has games to entertain children. Large car park (pay and display, National Trust members free). A fabulous place to visit in any weather, in hazy summer sun or in passionate winter storms.”
The picture-perfect village of Beddgelert in the heart of Eryri/Snowdonia National Park is a hidden gem that’s well worth a visit – and it’s even home to some Welsh myths and legends
Beddgelert is steeped in mythical history which is no surprise given it’s landscape(Image: Getty)
Whilst countless tourists speed past en route to conquer Mount Snowdon, this postcard-perfect settlement deserves a proper visit.
Embraced by sweeping emerald valleys, meandering waterways and framed by towering peaks, Beddgelert conceals centuries of fascinating heritage and serves as home to captivating Welsh folklore.
The stone-constructed village spans a gurgling brook and serves as an ideal base for discovering the area’s walking routes and pathways, from the Aberglaslyn Pass southward, Nant Gwyan eastward, or tackling Snowdon northward.
The Beddgelert website emphasises the local landscape shouldn’t be overlooked, saying: “Wooded vales, rocky slopes and mountain lakes fill the surrounding countryside.”, reports the Express.
Beddgelert puts you on the doorstep of some of the best scenery in Wales(Image: Getty)
“And what a countryside it is, with scenery, activities, attractions, history and culture for all.”
Welsh tourism specialists confirm “everyone loves Beddgelert”, with its mythical roots enhancing its appeal further.
Beddgelert’s name translates to “Gelert’s grave”, linking the settlement to the medieval tale of Llywelyn the Great and his loyal dog Gelert.
Legend tells how Llywelyn came home to discover his infant gone and Gelert bloodied around the muzzle.
Believing Gelert had harmed his child, Llywelyn slayed his faithful companion. Only moments later, he heard his child’s cry and found them safe and sound, next to a slain wolf that Gelert had bravely defended the child from.
Overcome with grief and regret for killing his faithful dog, Llywelyn held a grand funeral for Gelert in the village.
A tomb was built for the heroic dog by a local landlord in the 18th century, with a walk and trail offering a splendid way to discover the village and its surrounding hills.
The village is the perfect place to cosy up after a long hike(Image: Getty)
Once you’ve returned, the quaint yet welcoming village offers plenty of activities to keep you entertained, whether it’s snuggling up in one of the hotels, B&Bs, or guesthouses or spending the afternoon by a fire at a local pub.
Despite its legendary status, Beddgelert remains a small hamlet, home to fewer than 500 residents, but it is brimming with warmth and charm.
Its cobbled streets, medieval stone cottages, and pubs transport you back to a storybook setting, making it an ideal autumn destination, with Fine Country event naming it as one of the UK’s “prettiest autumn villages”.
For a unique perspective on the village’s history, the nearby Sygun Copper Mine is worth a visit. Copper has been mined in the Snowdon valleys for centuries, with some sources even dating it back to Roman times.
But for a glimpse into its more recent past, Beddgelert is also situated on the historic Welsh Highland Railway, which runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.
It’s the seaside village that is home to the oldest population in Britain, with the mean age of residents being 65
Adam Toms paid a visit to the Hampshire village of Barton-on-Sea(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Many of us fantasise about retiring to the sun-soaked beaches of Europe or Asia, basking in pristine sands, palm trees and breathtaking sunsets. But you don’t need to look too far afield for somewhere you can enjoy a tranquil retirement, with serene towns boasting gentle waves and walkable cliffs for a slower, more peaceful life.
This is particularly true in the south of England, where Barton-on-Sea, a charming seaside village, holds the record for the highest average age population in Britain. The average age of residents in this Hampshire village is 65, a fact that became immediately evident upon my arrival to chat with locals about why the area attracts such an elderly demographic.
The pace of life is unhurried, with many using mobility scooters for transportation. One gentleman accidentally sped up and collided with a bicycle while trying to park.
The average age of Barton’s population is 65 (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Overlooking the sea towards the Isle of Wight are blocks of flats, including Westminster Court and Crescent Court. Residents can often be seen tending to flower beds outside their apartments, reports the Express.
A line of pensioners boarded a bus, presenting their freedom passes to the driver. The nearby streets are lined with rather impressive looking homes.
Indeed, according to Rightmove, the average house price in Barton-On-Sea over the past year was £554,156. Most of the properties sold in the village last year were detached houses, fetching an average price of £678,287. Flats were sold for an average price of £325,523.
Adam Toms spoke to residents in Barton(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Having a bit of wealth tucked away would certainly come in handy if you’re looking to buy property in this area.
One local described Barton as “affluent”, noting that the village isn’t teeming with young families. However, they pointed out that there are plenty of young families in nearby areas like New Milton and Milford-on-Sea, and that people often relocate to Barton from other parts of the UK, including London.
In the heart of Barton, there’s a war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers who served in the First World War, which I found particularly interesting given my university studies on how Commonwealth troops were perceived post-war. The village centre also boasts a few cafes, a convenience store (where I had to explain why I was buying several newspapers – I always make a point of picking up a local paper wherever I go), a restaurant, another eatery down the road, a takeaway pizza joint, and a bathroom shop.
The village has cafes and a convenience store (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Standing in the middle of it all, it felt very much like being in a large retirement complex where everyone is taking their time and all immediate needs are catered for by the local businesses. As one resident put it, people have clearly chosen to settle in Barton for “a slower form of life in an area of great beauty”.
There aren’t any major employers offering jobs in the immediate vicinity, making it an ideal spot for those who’ve hung up their work boots. During the summer months, Barton is quite the charming place.
During my visit, locals and tourists alike savoured ice creams, enjoyed a spot of lunch, and took leisurely strolls along the cliffs, soaking up the calm and sunny conditions before the onset of the colder, windier winter months. It’s undeniably an idyllic location to spend your retirement years.
Such places are becoming increasingly sought-after as more Brits are fortunate enough to enjoy longer lifespans. However, as a relatively energetic 27-year-old, I suspect I might find village life a touch monotonous.
The village is known as ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ and it is extraordinarily beautiful, with its waterways and stone buildings making it so special.
Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director
05:14, 12 Sep 2025
I’ll never return to prettiest Cotswolds village — 1 thing ruins it(Image: Steffan Rhys )
It’s known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of its beautiful waterways spanned by pretty stone bridges. And on a hot and sunny day, there can be few more charming and picturesque places to be.
Even in a place as beautiful as the Cotswolds, the village of Bourton-on-the-Water stands out. The River Windrush runs through its heart, lined on both sides by trees providing shade and a rainbow’s worth of different colours, and crossed at regular intervals by several pretty stone bridges. Ducks and swans float lazily on the slow-flowing water, which is overlooked by 16th and 17th century Cotswold stone cottages.
In short, with apologies for the cliché, it could not look more like it is straight from a postcard or the pages of a fairytale.
I visited on a sunny Saturday in June and strolled lazily along the water, crossing back and forth over the bridges as and when I felt like it and listening to an ice cream seller shouting the praises of the homemade ice cream he was selling from his little trailer.
The Windrush river runs through Bourton – in the summer a football match takes place in the water!(Image: Getty)
Even in an area as beautiful as the Cotswolds, the village of Bourton-on-the-Water stands out(Image: Getty)
I stopped at the shops, restaurants, pubs and tearooms made from the Cotswold stone that make this area famous to take in the atmosphere of each one, and people-watched the visitors sitting outside enjoying coffees, cakes, cups of tea and ice cream.
I tried not to linger outside people’s homes too long but I did have to resist the temptation to tell one elderly gentleman enjoying a cup of tea in his front garden overlooking the water how much I loved his home – someone clearly spent a lot of time looking after it.
It’s clear people in Bourton-on-the-Water take a huge amount of pride in their homes and village(Image: Steffan Rhys)
Everything in Bourton-on-the-Water is beautiful, including the homes(Image: Steffan Rhys)
One of the most standout features of Bourton-on-the-Water – in fact, one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen anywhere – is the Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica of the village as it was in 1930.
The Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water is a remarkable piece of work and display of skill(Image: Steffan Rhys)
It’s a stunning piece of work, created from local stone by highly-skilled craftsmen. I loved walking around it, marvelling at the care and skill that has gone into creating each and every building. It costs £4.75 for adults and £3.75 for children and is well worth it.
You’ll find it around the back of the beautiful Old New Inn, a historic hotel and restaurant that’s one of the village’s largest and most impressive buildings, run by a husband and wife who took over in 2018 with a view to restoring it.
There are several other options for food and drink along the water. There’s the Box Bush, serving everything from home-smoked trout and homemade sausage rolls to luxurious profiteroles and gelato with flavours like Sicilian pistachio.
There’s the Rose Tree Restaurant, set in a listed cottage with a river-facing garden serving traditional pub meals like Gloucestershire Old Spot sausage and mash and, of course, fish and chips.
Or there’s Smiths and Bourtons, a burger restaurant run by two brothers.
So what’s the problem?
“So what’s the problem?” I hear you ask. “This place sounds amazing.”
Well, Bourton-on-the-Water is so beautiful, so picturesque, so quintessentially British, that it has become a victim of itself. The place is packed with tourists from all over the world and people who live there are dealing with the problems that over-tourism brings, much like the stunning village of Bibury a few miles away.
I was one of the many tourists descending on the beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water(Image: Steffan Rhys)
During my visit, the first hint that this is not your average British village came almost immediately after entering by car, when a large sign directed visitors to an all-day car park with £5 parking.
Bourton-on-the-Water’s bridges are full of people taking pictures of the river and its surroundings(Image: Steffan Rhys)
Tourists flock to Bourton-on-the-Water to enjoy its beauty, but this can cause problems for villager(Image: Steffan Rhys)
In the car park, set on a school playing field a short walk from the village centre, stewards took payment and directed us to our space, all done with a smile and without any hint of dismay that we were yet more tourists coming in to choke up their village (the parking fees go at least partly to charity too).
Villagers say over-tourism is causing “huge problems” for them, with the size of the village out of proportion to the number of visitors it receives.
They are currently waiting for plans to tackle coach traffic to be implemented, which would see coaches largely kept out of the village centre.
In particular, “the inconsiderate behaviour of coach drivers” and “free-for-all chaos” were flagged as particular problems, according to a BBC report, though a motion to get the council to accept that tourism is a problem in the village was rejected by elected officials.
However that has not stopped officials from pledging to tackle the “overtourism nightmare” and Cotswold District Council actively avoids promoting the village, according to local reports.
Asked whether he agreed that Bourton was dealing with over-tourism, council leader Joe Harris said: “While we lack specific survey data on perceptions of over-tourism, we acknowledge the strong sentiments of residents regarding the negative impacts on their quality of life due to excessive visitor numbers.
“Balancing the needs of local businesses benefiting from tourism with the quality of life of residents is crucial.”
Bourton-on-the-Water looks like a real-life postcard(Image: Getty)
Many people would assume that such high numbers of visitors would bring significant economic benefits.
But people living in nearby Bibury have said they don’t believe that is the case, saying visitors are only there “for a selfie”. It was very clear to see the scale of the tourism on my visit, to which I was of course contributing.
Villagers in nearby Bibury also say they have a huge problem with over-tourism(Image: Getty)
The stone bridges were closer to photoshoot locations and props than walkways, though I did not see anything akin to what one recent visitor claimed was an embarrassing scene in which he watched tourists “eating from saucepans”.
I’m glad I got to see Bourton-on-the-Water in person. It’s as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures.
I just hope it can find a way to balance the benefits that tourism brings with the quality of life of the people who live there.
St Just in Roseland is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, located just north of St Mawes and six miles south of Truro
The church dates back to the 13th century(Image: John Husband)
This secluded Cornish retreat boasts stunning natural beauty and one remarkable historic structure just six miles south of the bustling tourist destination, Truro.
St Just in Roseland stands out as a charming village and civil parish renowned for its breathtaking church and surprising tropical surroundings. Positioned just north of St Mawes, this hidden gem is perfectly nestled along the Cornwall coastline, providing peaceful views far from the usual Cornish attractions.
What sets this location apart is its 13th-century Church of England parish church, referred to by locals as St Just’s Church. This ancient structure is positioned amongst waterside gardens that house some of Britain’s most unusual species.
St Just’s Church rests peacefully at the water’s edge of a tidal creek, resembling something from a storybook, sitting quietly alongside the Carrick Roads, away from the main village centre. The approach features a delightful pathway constructed from granite stones that bear inscribed Biblical passages and meaningful quotes.
The surrounding gardens burst with verdant palm trees, blooms, vegetation and more, forming an enchanting miniature wilderness around the ancient building. One TripAdvisor reviewer describes St Just in Roseland as having “tranquil” gardens that are “the most beautiful” they’ve encountered at any church, reports the Express.
The church dates back to the 13th century(Image: Western Morning News)
Another delighted visitor said: “I have been to many wonderful churches, but this one is very special. For almost 1,500 years there has been a church on this site; even today there is a sense of peace and solitude.
“The graveyard is really a semi-tropical garden and compares well with some of the famous gardens in Cornwall.The church is relatively plain inside but provides a magic space to leave behind the modern world and all its troubles.”
Another visitor added: “This church and area are just so beautiful. The church and grounds are just so serene and peaceful and pretty. The views over the water from the church are beautiful.
“Lovely old graves and a well-kept graveyard. Definitely worth a visit if you love churches.”
The church interior welcomes respectful guests, serving as both a sanctuary for prayer and worship, plus a “place of respite” for the entire community.
According to its website, St Just in Roseland Church promises an experience “you will never forget you have visited”.
The site adds: “St Just church is open daily from 9am to 6pm in the summer and 9am to 4pm during the winter months.Please note there may be times when the church is closed – such as for a funeral or reflective service.”
The grounds also house charming Renwicks Café, which caters to both residents and holidaymakers within the subtropical gardens.
To find it, guests must venture beyond the main village along a narrow lane leading to the hillside church entrance.
While on-site parking is limited, roadside spaces offer an alternative for those travelling through.
Councillor Jon Wareing has slammed tourists for abusing locals and leaving rubbish in the village he claims is being “exploited” by a certain type of tourist
This pretty village is being ruined by this type of tourist(Image: John Keeble, Getty Images)
A councillor from a picturesque village has accused a particular type of visitors of exploiting the stunning location. Bourton-on-the-Water, nestled in the Cotswolds, is home to roughly 4,000 people. The village features golden stone buildings and breathtaking views that attract countless visitors.
It’s also a bustling destination packed with activities and an abundance of shops, eateries, cafés, and tea rooms, creating an ideal location for a day out or brief holiday. Yet locals and councillors argue that the village is being damaged by “TikTok tourists”.
This category of visitor journeys to Bourton-on-the-Water to exploit the charming landscape as a setting for their selfies, Instagram reels, or TikTok content instead of genuinely experiencing what the settlement has to offer.
Jon Wareing, Cotswold district councillor, said: “This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks. They are the ultimate hit-and-run tourist.”
According to Mr Wareing, the settlement, dubbed the Venice of the Cotswolds, has encountered numerous problems in recent times. The councillor revealed he had witnessed accounts of residents suffering verbal and physical harassment, alongside increasing traffic jams.
He also highlighted that litter is accumulating throughout the village “especially on the green”, according to the BBC. However, tourism alone isn’t the sole problem. He continued: “It’s a combination of over-tourism and fast tourism, which refers to people flocking to honeypot locations for the sole purpose of content creation.”
Despite Bourton’s tiny population, the village attracts around 30,000 tourists a year, which is 7.5 times the number of locals, reports the Express.
In May 2024, Mr Wareing put forward a motion to get the council to acknowledge that tourism was creating issues for Bourton, but it was defeated by six votes to four.
He said: “The recent Bank Holiday weekend provided an illustration of a volatile public sentiment on this topic on social media. This is so destructive for our community and is deeply worrying.”
People online have taken to social media to share their complaints, with one user sharing: “Couldn’t pay me to go there in the summer, it’s bad enough the rest of the year but in the summer madness”. Another said: “I will never go back, used to be quiet, but horrible parking issues, expensive, overrated.”
A third urged: “Don’t go there in Summer…tourism has killed it…locals hate it & can’t blame them. Another said how unfortunate it has turned into: “sadly tiktok bloggers have shown these places now England peaceful secrets ruined”.
TikTok said it did not wish to comment.
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Many visitors are left thinking nobody really lives in the village – but locals insist it’s got a strong community spirit
The village has sits struggles(Image: SolStock via Getty Images)
Locals in a picturesque UK village, which sees many businesses shut and homes left vacant during the harsh winter months, have praised its “amazing” and vibrant community.
Polperro, nestled in South East Cornwall, is like something out of a grim fairy tale. With its charming yet not overly twee appearance, it was once a haven for smugglers keen to evade the taxman.
Nowadays, many tourists mistake Polperro for some sort of pirate-themed amusement park. They assume that no one resides in its labyrinth of narrow streets – most of which are too slim for cars – that cascade down a lush valley into the historic harbour.
In the summer, these visitors swarm Polperro like the pilchards that were once landed here, along with other contraband goods.
However, come winter, this influx of tourists dwindles to a mere trickle, leaving the streets deserted and many of Polperro’s galleries, restaurants and gift shops closed.
Yet, the locals who do reside here maintain that there is still a robust sense of community spirit, even if most now live up on the hillsides rather than in the heart of the old village itself.
They insist it’s a fantastic place to live – despite the issues that over-tourism and second homes can bring, reports the Express.
Fran Martin, an employee at the 18th-century Blue Peter Inn overlooking the harbour, has called Polperro home for over two decades. She reveals that the village’s population has decreased by a third during her time there.
Fran Martin says the full-time population of Polperro has fallen by a third(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
She said: “There were 300 people living down here in the village when I came here – there’s just 200 now. Nobody can afford to live here.
“I feel very sorry for the youngsters – it’s ridiculous,” she laments, expressing worries that local youth are being priced out. This is a worry mirrored in communities across Cornwall and other areas popularised by mass tourism.
When questioned about the winter season, Fran said: “It’s dead. Some places do try to stay open, but there just aren’t that many people here.”
Kim Thompson, of Ocean’s Studio – specialising in Moorcross pottery and Anita Harris ceramics – for the past four years, after relocating to Polperro from Stoke-on-Trent.
She said that the winters here are “deadly”. “It goes very quiet – and very wet,” she adds.
“It changes dramatically. But that suits certain people, who are looking for a quieter holiday,” Kim continues.
She keeps her pottery studio open until the end of December, then closes from January until the end of March. Kim often retreats to Stoke-on-Trent during these winter months, but she maintains that Polperro still boasts a “great” community.
“It’s a real community – and that surprises people,” she shares. “Living here, you really do get to know everyone in the village.
“Everybody gets along and we all look out for one another. It’s a great community”.
Artist Gina Farrell runs a gallery and painting studio just across the road from Kim’s ceramics workshop.
She has called Polperro home for around 40 years and is adamant the village retains its tight-knit community spirit.
“It is very quiet in the winter,” she acknowledges, revealing she closes shop in January before reopening for February half term and weekends.
Artist Gina Farrell loves living in Polperro(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
But Gina says she’d be in her studio creating artwork regardless – so she might as well welcome visitors to her gallery whilst she’s there.
Gina considers herself “very lucky” to have nabbed a housing association property “up on the hill”.
She’s witnessed firsthand the chaos caused by excessive tourism and second-home buyers.
She told the Express: “When my kids were little, we moved from place to place – and they would all be sold by their owners. I think I was a lucky charm for anybody who wanted to sell their house.”
Yet she reveals that second homes are now being offloaded and permanent residents are returning – a shift also seen in nearby Looe, where BBC One’s Beyond Paradise films.
Gina reckons spiralling energy bills – combined with a dramatic drop in holiday rental bookings – are behind (or responsible for) this dramatic turnaround.
“Lots of people do move here,” says Gina.
“I love living here. It’s a real community. We all know each other and help each other.”
Lee Gregory says Polperro is a “great community”(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
Lee Gregory, whose family has owned Polperro’s Model Village for nearly four decades, lived above the business in the heart of the old village but now resides on a small holding on the outskirts.
He insists that Polperro “is a great community”.
While he acknowledges that most residents now live up on the hill rather than nearer the harbour, he maintains that it’s “still a good community down here”.
He also notes that the sense of community continues into the winter months. “It still has a community feel – it’s just a lot quieter,” Lee remarks.
“You do see a few more people around at weekends – and you still see people in the pubs!”Some of the holiday cottages have been sold, and that’s been a real boost to the community. “However, Lee still shuts the model village for much of the winter, only opening for the busier Christmas period. Artist Jasmine Rebecca Cave doesn’t even bother with Christmas.
Jasmine only opens her tiny kiosk gallery – which is so small she sits outside of it in the street – for the summer season. Despite living a 40-minute drive away in Carlyon Bay near St Austell, she says that Polperro has an “amazing” community – even during the winter.
Jasmine said: “It’s an amazing community here. I probably know more people here than I do where I live – you just can’t avoid people here, so you get to know everyone.
“The community stays really vibrant, even in the winter. It’s lovely atmosphere – very quirky. I think the locals quite like the winter – they get their village back.”
It has been named one of the ‘best places to live in the UK’ but locals say the village is ‘impossible’ to live in due to the lack of amenities and high house prices
Some residents face a struggle in the village(Image: GordonBellPhotography via Getty Images)
Residents fortunate enough to call “the UK’s most beautiful village” home have revealed their genuine thoughts about the coveted accolade. Inhabitants from one of Britain’s premier seaside destinations, Runswick Bay, in Yorkshire, assert that the arrival of second homeowners is driving property values through the roof.
Renowned for its stunning vistas and serene atmosphere, the area has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. It earned recognition as one of the ‘finest places to reside in the UK’, owing to its golden shores, playful dolphins and remarkable fossil discoveries.
Nevertheless, residents reveal that this acclaim has brought consequences, reports the Express.
Runswick Bay has seen a spike in fame over recent years.(Image: Jasmine Norden)
They believe that the calm setting appeals more to holidaymakers and absentee property owners than it does to young, working households. Throughout Britain, numerous communities, including Runswick Bay, are confronting this challenge as second homeowners drive property costs skyward.
Multiple seaside towns are now witnessing homes changing hands for more than £1million and Runswick Bay is no different. Holiday visitors shared their opinions on the village’s designation with YorkshireLive.
Tourists, Graham and Lane, remarked: “It’s a lovely place, but I’m not sure these ‘best places to live’ rankings often consider a lot of the actual practicalities. It’s beautiful, but I can’t imagine raising teenagers or anything here or trying to find a job.”
They added: “You’d have to work remotely or commute somewhere else. There aren’t any shops in the village either and there isn’t a train station close either.”
Runswick Bay has been hailed by Time Out for boasting the finest hidden beach in the UK. The guide said: “Despite its glorious sweep, Runswick Bay is invisible until the last minute when you crest an unassuming hill that leads down to it.
“From this point, surprises and hidden treasures unfold before you; the impossibly sweet village, comprising of 90 cute honey-coloured cottages capped with red tiles.” It continued: “Closer inspection of the beach and bay reveals wooden huts, rock pools, picturesque staircases carved out of the cliffs and at Kettleness impressive fossils dating back 180 million years.”
Yet locals say they’re grappling with the same issues plaguing numerous other beloved coastal destinations. These include absentee cottage owners who capitalise on the tourist trade during peak season.
The village has a beautiful beach(Image: Philip Silverman via Getty Images)
Runswick boasts merely three pubs, alongside a cafe and tearoom. The nearest shops are either a modest village store in Hinderwell (roughly 25 minutes on foot), or a medium-sized Co-op in Staithes (a seven-minute drive away).
Rhianna from Redcar and Kate from Hinderwell are both employed at the Cliffemount, a hotel situated at top of the village. Rhianna said: “It’s quite nice here,” though noted it’s predominantly tourists rather than residents who frequent the area.
Meanwhile, Kate observed: “We’re always fully booked for rooms – there’s someone in all 18 at the moment. Runswick has always been a popular place – it’s a lovely place to come into, though since I grew up just down the road it doesn’t feel very special to me.”
Tom Rose, the manager of the Royal Hotel in the village, said: “Runswick definitely has a certain charm to it that people fall in love with. Most of the cottage owners don’t live in them but they’re often here throughout the year.
“As soon as a holiday starts we become extremely busy.”
The beautiful village that has been frozen in time, with tourists saying it’s like stepping into another era
The village is full of charm(Image: Steve Swis via Getty Images)
Haworth has remained untouched by time as visitors claim it’s “like stepping into another era”. This charming village sits tucked away in the stunning Yorkshire countryside, formerly the residence of the renowned Brontë sisters, with the nearby moor inspiring Wuthering Heights.
The siblings’ old family residence has been transformed into a museum, drawing literary enthusiasts from far and wide. The village has certainly earned its reputation, with independent bookstore Wave of Nostalgia being crowned the finest in all of northern England by The Bookseller.
Boasting its cobbled Main Street, famous parsonage and sweeping moorland, this Airedale settlement retains numerous historical features that remain completely preserved, reports the Express.
Haworth is full of gorgeous cobbled streets(Image: Getty)
Positioned adjacent to the Yorkshire Dales, it enjoys spectacular rural landscapes and undulating hillsides.
Visitors to the museum can glimpse a precious miniature manuscript penned by Charlotte Brontë, which dates back to December 1829.
Leeds lies just a brief journey away, providing a completely contrasting atmosphere to the tranquil village whilst delivering abundant retail and dining opportunities.
The ancient city of York also sits nearby, displaying its famous cobblestone lanes and classic English design.
Haworth is home to one of the best bookshops in the whole of the UK(Image: Getty)
Though Haworth itself remains compact, the settlement boasts a legendary Main Street lined with numerous independent retailers and coffee houses.
Mrs Beighton’s Sweet Shop is reportedly essential viewing, stocking more than 500 classic British confections to sample.
Haworth Wholefoods provides an unusual grocery experience for weekly shopping, featuring regional produce and organic fare. H and L Fashions, a quaint boutique specialising in French and Italian designs, caters to both men and women, keeping the vintage theme alive.
The Cabinet of Curiosities offers a museum-like shopping experience, with its rich mahogany interior and glass globes transporting customers back in time.
For those keen on exploring Yorkshire, Haworth provides self-catering accommodation options, as well as cosy B&Bs.
You might not have heard of the idyllic lake surrounded by a forest, but it has been named the best walk in the country
This hidden gem is a special spot to relax after a hike(Image: Liam Ryder)
North Wales is a hotspot for stunning walks and breathtaking vistas – and there’s one hidden haven that offers a tranquil atmosphere in a place you might not expect.
Located in the Snowdonia National Park, Llyn Elsi is an incredible, peaceful spot perfect for a walk. You’ll have to earn the views though, as it’s located amidst the mountains that this area is famed for.
The reward is without a doubt worth the effort, as the Llyn Elsi circular route has been deemed the best walk in the country according to online fashion retailer Damart. The “easy” two-hour stroll around the picturesque mountain reservoir within woodland provides vistas across to Snowdonia.
Situated above the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed, Llyn Elsi is a lesser-known reservoir within Gwydyr Forest that emerged from two smaller bodies of water, Llyn Rhisgog and Llyn Enoc. In 1914, with consent from Lord Ancaster, a 20ft dam was constructed to supply water for Betws-y-Coed in Eryri National Park.
Despite this, the lake only has a maximum depth of nine metres. A path round the lake provides excellent views towards the mountain ranges of the Carneddau and the Glyderau, reports North Wales Live.
Boots are advised for the lakeside path at Llyn Elsi as it can get muddy after rain(Image: Peter S/Wiki)
On the lake itself, a small island provides a breeding ground for its most notorious residents, black headed gulls, once blamed for polluting the local water supply. The spot is so secluded, journalist Liam Ryder came across it by accident during a holiday in the area.
He said: “Llyn Elsi is an incredible spot that my partner and I actually found by complete accident. When in holiday in North Wales, we set out with the aim of climbing Yr Wyddfa itself.
“But of course, a lack of planning on my behalf meant I’d overlooked the need to book the Snowdon train up the mountain. I’d also managed to get us in the complete wrong place thanks to a mixture of ignorance and naivety, so we settled with a shorter hike and make the most of an entirely avoidable situation.
“In some ways, it worked out for the best. While Snowdon remains on our bucket list as adults, we’ll never forget climbing and walking through the clearing to see Llyn Elsi and the surrounding peaks in all their glory.
Llyn Elsi offers a tranquil spot that rewards walkers for their efforts(Image: Liam Ryder)
“Despite visiting Eryri in the peak of the school summer holidays – which meant the weather while climbing was absolutely punishing – the place was deserted. It made for the most tranquil, peaceful experience of my life to date.”
Hikes typically starts from behind the Grade II-listed St Mary’s Church in the village, with a dog-friendly path that features benches and woodland streams. It’s a bridleway, so it’s suitable for cycling, although some parts can be steep.
The 6.5km (4 miles) circular walk to and from Betws y Coed has racked up 1.7 million Google searches and 63,073 Instagram hashtags. With a 4.4 rating on AllTrails, the route is considered “easy”, making it “ideal” for hiking and mountain biking.
