Clovelly - Devon

About Clovelly - Devon

Clovelly is a village on the north Devon coast, England about twelve miles west of Bideford. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history, extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys, and beautiful location looking out over the Bristol Channel. Thick woods shelter it and render the climate so mild that even tender plants flourish.
Clovelly used to be a fishing village and in 1901 had a population of 621. It is a cluster of wattle and daub cottages on the sides of a rocky cleft; its main street resembles a cobbled staircase which descends 400 feet (120 metres) to the pier, too steeply to allow wheeled traffic. Sledges are used for the movement of goods. The street is lined with houses, and a small number of shops and a cafe and a public house.

All Saints' Church, restored in 1866, is late Norman, containing several monuments to the Cary family, lords of the manor for 600 years.

The surrounding scenery is famous for its richness of colour, especially in the grounds of Cary Court, and along The Hobby, a road cut through the woods and overlooking the sea. The South West Coast Path National Trail runs past the village, and the section from Clovelly to Hartland Quay is particularly spectacular.In former times, deliveries were made on the backs of donkeys. This is no longer practised, but some donkeys are kept at the village, for children's rides in a paddock by the main car park, and for photo opportunities in the street.

Their continuation is under threat from the estate owners, and the donkeys' welfare depends upon donations from visitors. The donkeys have their own website www.clovellydonkeys.co.uk