Postcards from Winter in North Devon

This year, my boyfriend and I saw in the New Year in North Devon, roaming between beaches and country pubs, and cosying up under duvets and blankets in his small van. New Year’s Eve was quiet. I was asleep before midnight, having filled pages of notebooks with plans for the year ahead, sipping on red wine and eating leftover Christmas chocolate.

The beach at winter is like a whole other world. Instead of the usual bikini-clad bathers, you will find hats and scarves a-plenty, as well as these strange beings covered head to toe in black neoprene. These are the brave beings heading into the freezing water for a chance to catch some winter waves. I tried it for the first time this year, and can confirm my brain froze numerous times, but the euphoria was glorious.