The picturesque, ancient, fishing village of Clovelly is uniquely special in that it has no cars and no individually owned houses. Its flower-strewn cottages "tumble like a waterfall" down a cleft in the 400' cliff along cobbled streets to the tiny working port and C14th quay. It combines a rich environment and an historic village, with so much to see and explore.

Glorious views over the coast of North Devon, stories of cannibals and unsolved murders, an ancient Iron Age fort, Norman church, donkeys and links to the Armada, Charles Kingsley, William Turner, Charles Dickens and Rex Whistler, all help to make this a unique experience.

A visit to Clovelly allows you to step back from the modern world into a still thriving community, where the buildings have remained unchanged for centuries, where history straddles three millennia and whose people offer a warm Devon welcome to visitors.

The famous cobbled street, know as 'Up-a-long' or 'Down-a-long', was built of stones from the beach. Visitors can only gain access to the village on foot as no traffic is allowed. 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 they are now mainly used to give children rides around their meadow during the summer or can be seen posing for photographs in the street.

The author, Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), lived here as a child and returned many times as an adult. His description of the village has hardly changed after all this time: "Suddenly a hot gleam of sunlight fell upon the white cottages, with their grey streaming roofs and little scraps of garden courtyard and lighting up the wings of the gorgeous butterflies which fluttered from the woodland down to the garden".

He wrote 'Westward Ho!' here and the village itself inspired him to write 'The Water Babies' and 'The Three Fishers'. There are two museums in the village, one of which is dedicated to him. The other is Fisherman's Cottage, a time capsule of the life of a Clovelly fisherman in the C19th.

Kingsley's contemporary, Charles Dickens (1812-1870), also visited Clovelly and described it in 'A Message from the Sea' (1860) in which the village was called 'Steepways'. "The village was built sheer up the face of a steep and lofty cliff. There was no road in it, there was no wheeled vehicle in it, there was not a level yard in it.

From the sea-beach to the cliff-top two irregular rows of white houses, placed opposite to one another and twisting here and there, and there and here, rose, like the sides of a long succession of stages of crooked ladders".

Explore the winding side alleys of the village to discover treasures such as little chapels, enchanting cottage gardens and other nooks and crannies.
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.

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 to Hartland Point, taking in the little carved shelter of Angel's Wings and the newly restored Summerhouse with its magnificent view over Mouth Mill Cove, once the haunt of smugglers.

There is a lot more to do and see besides. Watch skilled craftsmen working in the converted stable yard, creating beautiful silks (including the designs of Rex Whistler, once a frequent visitor to the ancient manor house of the estate, Clovelly Court) and pottery. You can also visit Clovelly Court Victorian kitchen gardens (token admission charge) and see its splendid herbaceous borders and magnificently restored Victorian glasshouses. It lies adjacent to the C13th parish church of All Saints where generations of the village are buried.

You are also welcome to picnic on Mount Pleasant with its beautiful panoramic view across Bideford Bay.
Clovelly has two hotels: the New Inn, in the heart of the village and the Red Lion on the quay, which provide delicious lunches, dinners and Devon cream teas. There is also the Quay Shop and Fish Shop for take-aways to enjoy on the quay while watching the harbour traffic come and go.

Clovelly holds several annual events:

Normal entry charges to Clovelly apply, Adult £5.95, Child £3.75, Family (2A, 2C): £15.90,

except for Christmas Lights where a small parking fee is charged after 3 p.m. and Woolsery Agricultural Show for which there is a separate admission charge.

Events, dates and content may be subject to change, so please visit www.clovelly.co.uk for latest details or phone the Visitor Centre on 01237 431781.

Event:       Clovelly Letter Days
Date:        Easter Saturday 23 - Monday 25 April
Location:   Clovelly village
Normal admission charges apply

Spot the letters from around the village and make that days word to win a prize !

All the clues are in the FREE brochure given you at the Visitor Centre, and you will even be told how many letters to find and given a clue to that days word.  Simple ! 

EVERY  RIGHT  ANSWER  WINS  !!

AND, once a day there will be an EXTRA prize ------------ a FREE family ticket to the Milky Way

If you are feeling creative, go along to Clovelly Pottery and paint your own Easter egg to enter the competition to WIN a prize chocolate egg.  Judging will be at 4 pm each day by a local artist.  All eggs and painting material provided.

Event:          Clovelly Celebration of Local Ales and Cider
Date:           Saturday 28 May - Monday 30 May
Location:     Red Lion and New Inn bars
Normal admission charges apply

Enjoy a range of tasty local brews.  These unique local ales and ciders are not industrially manufactured, but created with passion by small North Devon breweries.

And there'll be more ciders on offer this year.

So come along and raise a glass to support North Devon's brewers and cider makers.

Event:              Lundy Gig Row
Date:                Departs Saturday 16 July, returns Sunday 17 July
Location:          Clovelly harbour
Normal admission charges apply

The row from Clovelly to Lundy and back across 32 miles of open seas is a huge test of endurance depending upon the weather and tides it can take up to four hours.  Pilots rowed these speedy craft out to ships, battling to be the first alongside to win the pilotage job.  So come along and support the brave crews!

Leaving Clovelly 8.00 am, arriving at Lundy about 11.00 am.  Leaving Lundy about 1.00, arriving back at Clovelly about 4.00 pm

Event:               Clovelly Maritime Festival, held in aid of the North Devon Hospice
Date:                Sunday, 17 July                                          
Time:                From 10:00 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Location:          Clovelly harbour
Normal admission charges apply and include all entertainment

This great day out is packed with attractions, including rousing shanty singers, Punch and Judy, maritime themed entertainment, local stalls and more. 

Enjoy fresh seafood or a succulent spit roast on the quay and delicious, fresh strawberry and cream teas at the New Inn.
And don't miss the Tasmanian band 'The Blue Mosquitoes' with their vibrant mix of traditional Celtic music and contemporary folk.

Event:          Woolsery Agricultural Show, in aid of various charities
Date:            Monday, 25th July
Location:     Clovelly Court
A separate admission charge applies

Summer in North Devon would not be complete without a visit to this popular show.

Classes include crafts, cattle and sheep, together with horse and pony competitions.  You'll find bustling trade and exhibition stands with stalls offering locally made crafts and food and fairground rides and a bouncy castle for the children.  It's a great summer day out for all the family!

Event:               Lifeboat Weekend in aid of the R.N.L.I.
Date:                Saturday, 6th and Sunday, 7th August
Time:                From 10:00 a.m.
Location:          Clovelly harbour
Normal admission charges apply and include all entertainment.

Held in aid of the RNLI, it is a popular celebration of the Clovelly Lifeboat, Spirit of Clovelly.  The Lifeboat House will be open both days to the public.
On Saturday there'll be a sponsored swim from Bucks Mills to Clovelly.  On Sunday enjoy a cross dressing-up race, a tug-of-war and the ever popular slave auction in which young local men are 'sold' to the highest bidder to do their chores for the day.  With many local stalls, a cobble race, an auction of pledges, a lifeboat display and a helicopter flypast.

Event:                Clovelly Gig Regatta
Date:                 Saturday, 20th August
Location:           Clovelly Harbour
Normal admission charges apply

The West Country boasts a long tradition of racing pilot gigs.  Gig racing is exciting, strenuous and often downright dangerous, with crews reaching speeds of 9 knots in North Devon's powerful tidal waters.  You're assured an exhilirating day's racing.

Event:               The Great Tour
Date:                 August - date to be confirmed
Location:           Hobby Drive to the harbour
Normal admission charges apply

This annual endurance cycling challenge, in aid of Prostate Cancer Charity and Caravan, the National Grocers Benevolent fund, will once again be circumnavigating the entire coastline of Britain from July to September.

The leg across Exmoor from Selworthy to Clovelly is one of the most arduous.  Subject to weather, come and cheer the riders as they cycle along the Hobby Drive followed by a bone-shaking ride down the cobbles to the harbour! 

Everyone is invited to join in this colourful and inspirational sporting celebration of the British coastline.  For further details, please see:www.thegreattour.org

Event:  Lobster & Crab Feast, in support of The National Lobster Hatchery
Date:   Sunday 4 September
Location: Clovelly harbour
Normal admission charges include all entertainment

We pay tribute to Clovelly's famous lobsters and crabs with a day of live folk music, quay kitchens, wine and beer tasting, local food stalls, prize draw, arts and crafts stalls.  For the children there's face painting, storytelling, walkabout magic, balloon modelling, street theatre and N. Devon A.O.N.B.'s event-themed craft activities.

The Red Lion Harbour restaurant will again be offering delicious seafood, crab and lobster platters, each with a complimentary glass of champagne.

In aid of the National Lobster Hatchery at Padstow, who will bring along a tank of baby lobsters, to be later released into the sea.  http://www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk/

Event:              Clovelly Herring Festival
Date:               Sunday, 20 November
Time:               From 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Location:         Clovelly Harbour
Normal admission charges apply, which include all entertainment.

Clovelly was once a major centre for herring fishing.  This popular festival is held in support of sustainable fishing by traditional methods and to celebrate the herring, the Silver Darlings of the sea.

There'll be herring specialities, beer and cider, traditional shanty singers and street entertainment. 

Mike Smylie will return with his 'Kipperland' exhibition and smoke his delicious kippers and bloaters.  There will also be net making, flax processing and a curragh on show provided by 'Flaxland', plus local stalls.  The N. Devon A.O.N.B. will provide event-themed, free craft activities.

Event:            Christmas Lights in support of the R.N.L.I.
Date:             Sunday, 4 December
Time:             About 3:30 p.m.
Location:       Starting from the Visitor Centre
Entry:             Admission charges from 3:00 p.m. by donation to R.N.L.I.

Christmas is a magical time at Clovelly.  A local brass band leads the procession down to the harbour and accompanies Christmas carols sung with the Torridge Male Voice Choir.  A hog roast, punch and mince pies follow and Father Christmas makes a surprise visit.  At about 5 p.m. the switch is thrown and the entire village and harbour are lit up.
 
It's a fantastic sight and there is a grand finale of fireworks to finish off.

The modest admission charge to Clovelly includes parking, the must-see audiovisual film of the village history, best seen before you visit the village, café, shops, and two museums.

For more information, please contact:

Clovelly Visitor Centre
Clovelly
nr Bideford
North Devon
EX39 5TA
Web:  http://www.clovelly.co.uk/
Tel: +44 (0)1237 431781

The New Inn
Tel : + 44 (0)1237 431303
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The Red Lion
Tel: 01237 431237
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