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Clovelly
  • Clovelly
  • Clovelly Harbour
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Clovelly

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About

Clovelly, North Devon.  Welcome to a different world

 

The picturesque, ancient, fishing village of Clovelly is uniquely special and was once owned by the Queen of England.  From Elizabethan days until today, Clovelly has been in private ownership, which has helped preserve its original atmosphere. 

 

Clinging to a 400 foot cliff, it has no vehicular traffic, just donkeys and sledges. Its steep, cobbled street tumbles its way down to the ancient fishing harbour and C14th quay. It is a descent through flower-strewn cottages broken only by little passageways and winding lanes that lead off to offer the prospect of further picturesque treasures. It combines a rich environment and an historic village, with so much to see and explore.

This famous cobbled street, know as 'Up-a-long' or 'Down-a-long', was built of stones hauled up from the beach. Man-powered sledges transport all goods to the village, from groceries to furniture. Donkeys used to be the main form of transport for centuries, but now mainly give children rides around their meadow during the summer or can be seen posing for photographs in the street.

 

The many literary and artist connections; Charles Kingsley, Charles Dickens, William Turner and Rex Whistler, all help to make this a unique experience.  Kingsley lived here, Dickens wrote about it, Turner painted it and Whistler featured it in much of his workl 

There is much to see and do such as watching the film of the history of the village, visiting the the extensive souvenir shop in the Visitor Centre, watching skilled craftsmen in the converted stable yard creating beautiful silks and pottery before exploring the village where you can visit two museums, Kingsley Museum and Fisherman’s Cottage. Or book and take a village tour with Jana Edwards who is a mine of information about village history and traditions.

 

Clovelly has two hotels: the 400 year old New Inn, in the heart of the village and the C18th Red Lion on the quay, which provide delicious lunches, dinners and Devon cream teas.  There is the Quay Shop at the harbour for take-aways to enjoy on the quay while watching the harbour traffic come and go.  Boat trips are available to take you along the dramatic coastline.

Once a bustling fishing port, Clovelly was renowned for its herring and mackerel and, although fishing has declined, it is still very much a part of village life. Clovelly is also today famous for its lobsters (and crabs), which are sent away as far afield as France and Spain. In past centuries, the coastline was occupied with smuggling, wrecking and piracy and was notorious for shipwrecks, so since 1870, Clovelly has also had its very own lifeboat.

 

Visit one of our annual festivals such as the “Seaweed Festival” in June, “Maritime Festival” in July, “Lobster and Crab Feast” in September and the “Herring Festival” in November and there’s no extra admission charge.

 

For those who do not want to walk back up, there is a fare-paying Land Rover service for much of the year to return you to the top of the village where you can also visit Clovelly Court Victorian kitchen gardens and see its splendid herbaceous borders and magnificently restored Victorian glasshouses. It lies adjacent to the C13th parish church of All Saints.

 

Clovelly offers breathtaking scenery and lengthy walks along the cliff tops. Hobby Drive, built after the Napoleonic wars to give employment to Clovelly's returning soldiers, winds its way through woods and offers superb views of both Clovelly harbour and Bideford Bay. Walking the other way takes you along the dramatic North Devon stretch of cliffs towards Hartland Point, taking in the little carved shelter of Angel's Wings and the Wilderness Summerhouse with its magnificent view over Mouth Mill Cove, once the haunt of smugglers.

 

The modest admission charge to Clovelly includes parking, the must-see film of the village history, two museums, Clovelly Court Gardens and a contribution to the preservation of this very special private estate.  Dogs on leads are welcome. 

Visit Website

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£7.75 per ticket
Child£4.50 per ticket
Family (2 adults & 2 children)£21.00 per ticket
Season Ticket - Adult£25.00 per ticket
Season Ticket - Family£60.00 per ticket

Under 7s free
Boxing Day is Free entry

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4 of 5 stars
2496 reviews
    • Excellent
      1062
    • Very Good
      640
    • Average
      325
    • Poor
      190
    • Terrible
      279

    Recent Reviews:

    • 417keelys
      Westward Ho, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Family
      Just WOW!
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 26th December 2020
      We live close by but had never ventured out to Clovelly. We visited Boxing Day for a walk and we were absolutely wow’ed! The cobbled street down to the beach was lined with quaint houses with the... Read full review
    • R6824OGmarkc
      Bristol, England, United Kingdom
      Rude local People
      1 of 5 stars
      Wednesday, 6th January 2021
      I used to be taken here by my Grandad who has since died and I wanted to maybe reminice. I had forgotten about having to pay to get in. We pulled into a depressing car park filled with people who... Read full review
    • W5685OGjamess
      Reading, United Kingdom
      Gorgeous Devon villages
      5 of 5 stars
      Friday, 15th January 2021
      Beautiful quaint fishing village Privately owned. The price of entry £7.25 includes the visitor center. To live there have to ask the owner first. People have said it's a ripoff having to pay to... Read full review
    Write a review
    © TripAdvisor 2021

    Facilities

    Accessibility

    • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
    • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

    Attraction Facilities

    • Shop - Many shops from the Visitor Centre to Lower Yard and down through the village
    • Tea Rooms

    Catering

    • On-Site café/restaurant
    • Picnic Site - Take-away food from the Quay Shop to enjoy on the quay,

    Children & Infants

    • Accept Children Over 3 - And under 3. Admission charges only for children (7-16).

    COVID-19 Response

    • 1m distancing in place
    • 2m distancing in place
    • Capacity limit
    • Clear signage
    • Contactless payment possible
    • COVID-19 measures in place
    • COVID-19 refund and cancellation policy in place
    • COVID-19 risk assessment completed
    • COVID-19 staff training completed
    • Deep cleaning between visitors
    • Face masks available for visitors
    • Facilities must be booked
    • Floors clearly marked for social distancing

    Establishment Features

    • Coach drop-off point - Immediately outside the Visitor Centre with parking close by
    • Dog Friendly - On leads
    • Dogs Accepted - On leads.
    • Event Venue
    • On-site coach parking
    • On-site parking or valet parking
    • On-site Restaurant/Cafe
    • Open All Year - Except for Christmas and Boxing Day
    • Picnic Area
    • Printed Material in Foreign Languages
    • Shop
    • Tea / Coffee Shop
    • Toilets - Inc. WCs for the disabled in the car park, at the Visitor Centre and Clovelly Court Gardens
    • Wedding Venue

    Key Features

    • Approx length of visit - Allow two to three hours for a visit, including a cream tea or lunch.
    • Families
    • Groups - Big discount on the standard entrance fee for groups of 20+
    • In countryside
    • Max group size - Max. group size only for a guided tour: 20
    • Outdoor Attraction
    • Smoking Some Areas
    • Village Location
    • Weddings

    Parking & Transport

    • Coach Parking - Drop off points immediately outside Clovelly Visitor Centre with parking close by.
    • On site parking - At the Visitor Centre car park, which is included in the entry fee.
    • Parking (charge)

    Payment Methods

    • Accept Bank Transfers, Internet Payment or SWIFT/IBAN - For groups
    • All major credit cards accepted
    • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
    • Maestro accepted
    • MasterCard accepted
    • Min group size - 20
    • Solo accepted
    • Visa accepted

    Specialist Features

    • Marketed towards families
    • Marketed towards senior citizens

    Tours and Demonstrations

    • Guided Tours Available for Groups - Please contact the Visitor centre, visitorcentre@clovelly.co.uk. T: 01237 431781
    • Guided Tours Available for Individuals - Please contact the Visitor centre, visitorcentre@clovelly.co.uk. T: 01237 431781

    Travel & Trade

    • Free accommodation for coach driver - Free entry for driver and group leader. £10 each for a main meal and drink at the Visitor Centre cafeteria. 10% discount for the drivers to shop at the V.C. Free family entry for coach drivers on a separate occasion.
    • Group discounts available
    • Room/unit allocations available - Red Lion at harbour: 17 rooms. Centre of village, New Inn: 8 rooms. Hamlyn's B&B: 11 rooms
    • Wi-fi available

    Venue Facilities

    • Groups Accepted - Big discount on the standard entrance fee for groups of 20+

    Video

    • Clovelly

    Map & Directions

    View Map

    Road Directions

    Clovelly is just off the A39, 10 miles west of Bideford.  Exit the M5 at Junction 27.

    Public Transport Directions

    Nearest train station is Barnstaple.  Buses run from Barnstaple and Bideford to Clovelly.

    facebook: https://facebook.com/clovellyvillage

    TWITTER

    Clovelly North Devon

    ClovellyVillage

    Clovelly North Devon

    Romantic Gallantry Bower Sunsets 🌅 A dramatic headland 400 feet above the sea, Gallantry Bower holds views alon… https://t.co/PKSYIIHLk8
    5 Mar 2021   16:56:56
    Without the donkeys, the village could never have been a successful fishing port. It was these sturdy four legged f… https://t.co/p3Elm3LWh8
    3 Mar 2021   09:38:49

    Access Information

    PARKING

    Designated parking provided for guests with disabilities
    Designated parking within about 50 metres of main entrance
    Drop-off point for guests immediately outside the main entrance
    Flat route with no steps from parking area to entrance
    Parking is provided for visitors

    ATTRACTION ENTRANCE

    Drop-off point for guests immediately outside main entrance
    Level access, ramp or lift from entrance to reception

    ACCESS TO PUBLIC AREAS (Displays, exhibits, rides etc)

    Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to:
    Gift shop
    Information point
    Public toilet
    Public toilet suitable for visitors who use a wheelchair
    Ticket issuing point
    Level access, ramp or lift to a public toilet
    Level access, ramp or lift to dining area
    Level access, ramp or lift to the bar

    CAFETERIA / RESTAURANT

    Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to the:
    Cafeteria
    Meals for guests with special dietary requirements can be provided

    STAFF

    Staff have had disability awareness training

    GENERAL

    Audible alarm system

    This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.

    Clovelly Visitor Centre, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5TA

    Visit Website

    Email

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    Call direct on:

    Tel01237 431781

    Add Clovelly to your Itinerary

    Opening Times

    * Clovelly is open all year round, except for Christmas. Open for free on Boxing Day. During the summer months, open from 9am to 6pm. For other opening times, please call the Visitor Centre T: 01237 431781 or email: visitorcentre@clovelly.co.uk

    Awards

    • TripAdvisor AwardsTripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018
    • Devon TourismVisit Devon Awards - Bronze Visit Devon Awards - Bronze 2018
    • Regional and MiscellaneousRHS Britain in Bloom - South West Gold - 2015 - 2019 RHS Britain in Bloom - South West Gold - 2015 - 2019 2019

    Useful links

    • Clovelly Brochures download

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