Cobbled paths, bright white houses, decorated windowsills complete with colourful hanging flower baskets- oh and donkeys. It’s not Greece- it’s the pretty and very steep village of Clovelly, Devon. So photogenic I could not put my camera down!
The pretty village of Clovelly is still a working fishing village and sits on a steep cliff, so steep there are even cars to take you back up if you’re tired. There is no road traffic here only donkeys and sledges. The donkeys used to be a way to transport goods into the village but now are just there for kids to ride and pat (and the adults too!).
Did I mention that you have to pay to enter the village? Yeh, it’s quite strange but it is definitely worth it as it’s so incredibly picturesque. You can pat the donkeys in the stable and check out the textile factory while you’re there too. The pottery shop also has lots of interesting handmade items for sale too. You can have a go yourself at pottery workshop which is open throughout the summer.
The walk down into the village is steep but do-able. There is an art gallery, a small church, museum, gift shops, a coupe of pubs and the harbour right at the bottom. Take your time to explore the tiny side alleys before heading into the tea room for a classic cream tea.
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Flowers are everywhere and each house has paid such attention to detail with the quirky window decorations and welcoming front patios, perfect for a fresh coffee in the morning. I think I forgot I was even in England! I could have been aboard, especially with the sun beating down and the endless blue sky.
After taking in the harbour views, we headed back up the steep path to find food. It was a climb I’m not gonna lie, increased with hunger pains, but I made it. We had a good sized lunch in the New Inn, outside on the pretty patio before heading back up to the visitors centre. Clovelly was just a stop off on the way down to Cornwall but so glad we made the small detour as it was just stunning.
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Even though it’s quite touristy it still feels very authentic. There are only a handful of places to stay in the village, so if you want to see it after all the tourists are gone then staying in the village would be the way to do it, getting up early the next morning while it’s still quiet.
Getting to Clovelly in Devon
I would recommend driving to Clovelly and parking in the visitors centre. The local bus 319 runs to Clovelly but it can be tricky navigating local buses, and sometimes in these small towns they might not run very often. For more info check out the official site.
I’m very happy with my short visit here, picture perfect and a glimpse into a quaint traditional Devon fishing village and a quieter way of life. Clovelly- you have been wonderful.
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