Villagers say only 14 left due to ‘selfish second home owners’

A small community in one of the UK’s most beautiful villages is at risk of being crowded out by tourists buying second homes.

Runswick Bay is considered one of the best places to live in the UK, but life in Runswick Bay isn’t as great as its scenic beauty might suggest.

There’s no denying that the red-tiled houses and narrow alleys carved into the cliff provide a perfect backdrop to the glistening waters of the North Sea.

It is known as one of North Yorkshire’s most scenic destinations, with a white sandy beach once voted the best in Britain. It is all a sight to behold.

But it is precisely the village’s incredible beauty and picturesque location that spells its downfall for some residents.

It has become so popular that residents feed on the leftovers left by selfish tourists buying up houses, meaning that ‘only one house is on the market at a time’.

The demand for houses in the village is huge, but they are rarely available. In addition, prices have been driven up by people from outside the village who are able to get hold of a holiday home.

The pub owner, who was born and raised in Runswick, told YorkshireLive: ‘On days like this it’s lovely and quiet here with no traffic.

‘It used to never be this busy here, but after the first lockdown a lot of people came.

“I think there are 14 permanent residents here. In my life, however, it has always been a vacation home in the majority.”

The cafe owner believes the reputation Runswick Bay gained as a beautiful spot during lockdown, after the Sunday Times named it the UK’s best beach, has only made matters worse.

He said, “If it’s too hard, everyone’s experience deteriorates.”

Another woman who lived in the village as a child said: ‘Runswick has changed a lot over the years. I remember there were a lot more permanent residents then.

‘I also remember there used to be a busy bar for locals and it’s a shame that it’s gone. Like everywhere else, the locals are priced out.

“Houses don’t come on the market very often and when they do, they are very expensive.”

Richard and Helen Foster, who were first visitors, immediately felt that it was a place geared towards tourists.

They said, ‘We love this area, even though it’s quite touristy.’

‘Even though it’s gray today, we had a lovely walk along the beach.’

Another visitor was 85-year-old Colin Elliott, who has been coming to the area for 20 years to reminisce.

He said: ‘It’s such a lovely place and brings back such fond memories for my partner and I.

“It’s very peaceful. I would live here if I had the money.”

Despite its popularity among second home buyers, the village is not the most practical place to live on a day-to-day basis, according to a couple who visited the village.

Graham and Lane said: ‘It’s a beautiful place, but I’m not sure these ‘best places to live’ rankings often take into account the actual practicalities.

‘It’s beautiful, but I can’t imagine raising teenagers here or getting a job.

‘You would have to work remotely or commute somewhere else. There are also no shops in the village and there is no train station nearby.’

The cafe owner added: ‘I wish the village was a bit more lively, but a lot of the houses here are actually very small and not suitable for modern residents.

“I think most families would find it difficult to live here.”

While some people find it annoying that the village is being taken over by people looking for a holiday home, there are also people who are happy with the fact that it is mainly a tourist attraction.

Tom Rose, who has been manager of the Royal Hotel in central Runswick Bay for two years, says he loves it here ‘whatever the weather’.

He said: ‘Runswick definitely has a certain charm that people fall in love with. Most of the cottage owners don’t live there, but they are often there all year round.

‘Everyone who comes in is nice, probably because they are all in vacation mode! We do get some locals who come in and they are nice too.

‘All the houses have probably been knocked down over the generations. I think Runswick is a bit of a hidden gem, but once you find it, you know everything.’

In March 2023, angry Cornish residents took on second homes by spray-painting large graffiti slogans on properties.

A powerful message was spray-painted on the wall of one of the holiday homes: ‘Second home owners give something back: rent or sell your empty homes to locals for a fair price.’

This article was first published on May 10, 2023.

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