Perched on the top of a 400ft hill, the coastal village of Clovelly in north Devon has a unique history and is said to be the prettiest village in Devon. The county is filled with quaint destinations which could easily fit that description, so what makes Clovelly so special and how easy is it to visit Clovelly with kids?
During a summer holiday in north Devon, we took a day trip to Clovelly to investigate. We visited the fishing village with our two children (aged 3 and 6 at the time). Read on to find out why Clovelly is such a unique place, tips on visiting with children and all you need to know about a day trip to Clovelly in north Devon.
What makes Clovelly unique?
Clovelly is a privately owned village with a fascinating history. It has been owned by just three families in the last 800 years and the estate was originally kept by William the Conqueror.
John Rous is the current landowner of Clovelly and it has been in his family for 400 years. Rous owns and rents out all the homes in the village with the rental prices kept at some of the lowest in Devon. No one is able to buy property in Clovelly. Only 500 people live in the small village. With just one owner, the traditional look of Clovelly has been retained which makes it one of Devon’s most popular and attractive tourist destinations.
Visiting Clovelly
Bideford is the closest town to Clovelly with the seaside town of Westward Ho! to the north and Bude to the south. We drove from our accommodation in Appledore which took around 20 minutes. Clovelly has a free car park and, at the entrance, a large visitor centre.
To enter the village you have to pay a fee to help with the upkeep of the village. After seeing Clovelly, I do understand why there is a fee charged – much like other heritage sites and estates. Clovelly is a one big museum you can walk around that has retained a traditional look unaffected by the modern world.
The entrance fee also permits you into the two museums exploring the history of the village and one dedicated to the author Charles Kingsley who lived in the area. Your ticket is valid for seven days so you can revisit again without charge.
Clovelly’s large visitor centre has a shop and toilets. It also has a small theatre where you can watch a film about the village’s history and life in Clovelly. Although slightly dated, it provided a good introduction and insight into life in the harbour village.
Almost as soon as we walked out of the centre into Clovelly, we were reassured our visit to Clovelly would be worth the price. The views are outstanding from the top of the hill and as we walked down the steep cobbled pathway, we were in awe at the preservation of the architecture. It is like stepping back in time.
Donkeys have previously been used to transport goods but now it is just sledges. A Land Rover can ferry people and produce down to the harbour on the back road.
What is there to do in Clovelly?
Coastal views
The views from Clovelly are stunning. Looking out onto the Bristol Channel, the hilltop location gives you picturesque vistas of the North Devon coastline.
Close to the war memorial – which looks out to sea – there’s a bench where you can sit and take in the scene.
As you walk down the main cobbled street, there’s no shortage of great photo spots of the view and village. It’s a half mile walk down to the seafront. When we visited, the bunting was out as well as the sunshine setting a picture postcard scene.
Enjoy walking down (and up) its hill
The village is on a large hill so take your time wandering the Main Street. Take in the views, the unique houses, browse the shops and enjoy the atmosphere. When we visited, the bunting was out and the sun was shining.
Visit the Kingsley museum
The author Charles Kingsley spent most of his childhood in Clovelly where his father was a rector at the village. His novel, Westward Ho! helped boost tourism to the area in the 19th century when little was known about this part of North Devon. The museum is in the home Kingsley lived as a child. There is a corridor mural of ‘The Water Babies, more on the history of Clovelly and Charles Kingsley’s links with Devon. There is also a souvenir shop.
Admire the traditional buildings
As all the buildings in Clovelly are owned by one person, there is a uniformity to them. The traditional village still looks as it would have in the 16th century when many of the houses were built. Although Clovelly is a little like a living museum, the houses are still people’s homes, so be respectful when you visit and view from afar.
Walk along the seafront
Come to the bottom of the hill and the harbour where you can stop for a drink at the Red Lion and buy a delicious ice cream.
Wander onto the sea wall and take a look out onto the sea. Clovelly’s harbour has been used for filming movies such as Sense and Sensibility and, more recently, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
When it’s low tide, walk out onto the pebble beach. My daughters loved looking for sea creatures and playing in the mud. Take a net and bucket to go rock pooling.
Clovelly Court Gardens
A visit to these walled gardens is included in the price of the visitor’s ticket. Have a look at the neat gardens and its restored Victorian greenhouses. The fruit and vegetables grown there supply the Red Lion Hotel.
See the Clovelly sledges
As you walk up and down the hill, you are likely to see goods being transported up and down the huge hill in wooden sledges. Another unique aspect of the village.
Accommodation and eating in Clovelly
There are a number of restaurants in Clovelly which sell fresh sea food caught locally, including Clovelly lobsters. The Red Lion is the main accommodation in the village and restaurant. Click here to book your stay at The Red Lion Hotel in Clovelly
Visiting Clovelly with kids
We were told at the check in desk at the tourist centre that pushchairs and prams were not recommended to navigate Clovelly. I took the buggy back to the car and told our three-year-old daughter she had to walk. This was very good advice which I was grateful to receive. We saw people struggling with pushchairs on the steep slopes and I was glad not to be one of them.
I do not recommend visiting Clovelly with young children who cannot walk unless they can go in a baby carrier. The village is essentially a long walk down a steep hill to the harbour. A visit to Clovelly would be more convenient when your child can walk unaided and for longer distances.
My two girls seemed to have a great time during our few hours in Clovelly although the walk back up was a little challenging. We visited at low tide and they loved walking along the pebble beach, looking for sealife (and getting their feet muddy).
Is Clovelly the prettiest village in Devon?
Covelly’s hilltop position means its views across the coast are abundant and very striking. We were blown away by its beauty and how well preserved the village has been kept. Devon is full of quaint villages but this is certainly up there as one of the prettiest. Take a look for yourself when you are in the area or book a stay at the Red Lion hotel which looks out onto the quay. Prepare to be taken back in time and treated to a unique experience.
How much does it cost to visit Clovelly?
To visit Clovelly, you need to pay an entrance fee. For adults it is £8.20, children (7 – 16), £4.80 and under 7s are free to enter. There are also season tickets available. Tickets are valid for 7 days after purchasing so you have the option to return in that time. Clovelly charges a fee to enter to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the village. For more information on visiting, go to the Clovelly website and to book your stay in Devon, click here to see some of the latest deals on accommodation in Devon.
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