Castle Combe in Wiltshire is one of the UK’s most Instagram-able village (Image: SWNS)
The tranquil life in Castle Combe, often lauded as the UK’s “most beautiful village,” is being disrupted by the incessant hum of drones, much to the dismay of its residents. The Cotswolds hamlet in Wiltshire, with a modest population of around 400, finds its peace shattered as tourists launch drones to capture images of its quintessential stone cottages and lush landscapes. In response, Castle Combe Parish Council has taken action, installing signs throughout the village warning against drone usage. Residents have also joined the effort, displaying “no drone” notices in their windows to ward off intrusive visitors.
Former district councillor for Castle Combe, Nick Botterill, has expressed his unease about the situation, labelling drones as a “nuisance” that infringe upon the villagers’ privacy. There are growing fears among locals that these flying devices might be used for snooping into homes or tracking personal activities, especially given the recent spike in burglaries in the region.
Despite its allure and status as a magnet for countless tourists each year, Castle Combe now faces the challenge of becoming “hollowed out” due to an influx of second homes and Airbnb properties. This surge has put a strain on community resources and is causing some long-standing inhabitants to consider abandoning their cherished homes, as the negative impacts of excessive tourism and a diminishing sense of community take their toll.
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People enjoying Castle Combe in Wiltshire (Image: SWNS)
The idyllic village of Castle Combe is facing a modern-day invasion as residents plead with tourists to respect their privacy amidst a surge in drone activity. A retired business owner and experienced local councillor voiced his concerns, remarking: “The parish council’s done a good job at putting up signs to deter people but it’s one of those things that has grown from nowhere to become a significant nuisance.”, reports Gloucestershire Live.
He continued, noting the issue’s prominence in community discussions: “It’s such a localised issue. As the local member I attended parish council meetings and this is something that came up and was discussed several times.” The councillor also mentioned measures taken to educate drone enthusiasts: “Various signs have been put up advising users of drones what they can and can’t do.”
Nick, 62, pointed out the escalation of the problem since the pandemic, stating: “Castle Combe gets hundreds of visitors, particularly on summer days, and more and more of them seem to be bringing drones in order to take photographs and it’s got to the stage where it’s no longer just the odd thing.” He raised safety and privacy concerns, asking: “People are having them at quite low levels when there are lots of people around, so it’s not just a privacy issue; actually is it safe to do so in confined areas?”.
He further questioned the motives of some drone operators: “You could argue some of them seem to be wanting to know what goes on in people’s back gardens because the nature of Castle Combe is there are residential properties all over the place, if you put a drone up you get a window into all sorts of people’s private lives.”
Castle Combe in Wiltshire is one of the UK’s most popular tourist village (Image: SWNS)
A local has voiced concerns over the negative effects of tourism in Castle Combe, highlighting security risks and privacy invasions. The resident expressed alarm, saying: “It could be a security risk as well because we have had burglaries in the area.” They lamented the intrusive nature of drones, stating: “You’ve got these things going up and people milling around and launching them, they’re buzzing around, they could easily crash them into buildings, they’re taking pictures of people’s private areas – they’re a nuisance on numerous levels. Somebody was followed along the street by one.”
The individual also touched on tourists’ lack of awareness that Castle Combe is a living community, not an attraction: “You get quite a lot of people from all parts of the world who really have no sense this is a place where people live. They think: ‘Gosh, there are people living in these ruins’ – this is not a theme park.”
They further complained about the disrespect for personal space: “‘Why can’t we look through your windows and letter boxes and see what’s going on in your house?’ – because it’s my house.” Highlighting the economic impact, they said: “The problem with Castle Combe and the wider impact of tourism is it gets an awful lot of people who, unless they stay in the hotel or go to the pub, bring no value to the area.”
The resident pointed out the lack of financial benefit from visitors: “There are no shops, no economy they’re boosting. They’re just simply making a nuisance of themselves and not adding anything because they spend an hour and then buzz off. It’s tourism without any of the benefits.”
They acknowledged Wiltshire Council’s attempts to manage the situation through traffic control and discouraging social media posts during peak times like bank holidays, warning of parking difficulties. The local also noted a significant decrease in permanent residents, mentioning a “massive long-term decline in permanent residents”.
The no drone area signs (Image: SWNS)
Nick, from a neighbouring hamlet, lamented: “The lower village has been hollowed out. There are very few permanent residents.” He explained the changing village dynamics, saying: “There are quite a few Airbnbs and second homes; generally there has been a drifting away. It’s the usual reasons – people could sell their property for a large sum, there is nowhere to park, no shops and it becomes sort of self-reinforcing after a while.”
Nick expressed an understanding of the village’s lure: “But it’s a beautiful village and people are attracted and I can quite understand why people come to look at it. I’m not pretending it’s Venice but the same sort of arguments – how do you mitigate impacts? – are quite difficult.” He discussed the local parish council’s concerns: “These are the things the parish council is there to think about and try and get a grip off.”
He mentioned that visitors had welcomed the new information signs, which have been in place for roughly a year. Chairman of the parish council for nearly two decades, Fred Winup, voiced worries about residents’ privacy and security. The ex-bank executive highlighted issues with drone use in the area, stating: “When these people use small drones, if they’ve got cameras attached they may well be breaking GDPR rules. They may well be filming people in their gardens and invading their privacy.”
Fred recalled a recent incident involving drones: “About a month ago somebody was filming children in a garden and the police were called and seized the footage. It’s just not on to do that sort of thing.
Castle Combe in the Cotswolds, Wiltshire, has been dubbed ‘one of the most beautiful locations’ (Image: SWNS)
“The majority of users are not intentionally wanting to cause a problem, they like to have a memory of a pretty village, but they don’t realise they’re invading people’s privacy in their homes. When it happens quite a lot people get quite annoyed about it. Castle Combe can get substantial crowds and it would be dangerous for people to fly even small drones.”
With the introduction of a new sign at the village’s entrance, outlining the regulations for drone use, he’s noticed a drop in their use – spotting just a handful on packed days. He recounted an episode where a drone buzzed over him while in his garden, a scenario he says has become all too common for local residents.
He continued: “When I explain to people they are causing an issue almost invariably they understand. A lot are foreign; a guy from California was flying a drone just above my head as I walked down the street.” His approach to such invasions? To inquire directly: “I asked: ‘Why are you doing that?'” Fortunately, after a civil discourse, both parties agreed to bring the drone down.