Pictures of Clovelly

a Picturesque Village in the county of Devon

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About Clovelly

Beautiful Clovelly, mentioned in the Doomsday book, has its origins rooted deep in Saxon times. Often referred to as Devons' Secret
Treasure, this lovely place has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

With its single cobbled street plunging in wide steps between quaint cottages to the sea some half a mile below, Clovelly is not for the feint hearted. To visit this, one of Englands' prized "Showplace" villages, the visitor needs plenty of stamina and comfy walking shoes for transport up and down the steep slopes is - on foot! Those who do decide to decend down the narrow slope are richly rewarded by the beguiling sight of flower decked cottages all tantalizingly different in shape, size and colour. The picture is very much of cottages tumbling over one another and at some of the steepest points, the door of one house looks out on the roof of its neighbour.

Once below, you are greeted by a small curving quay with an old inn facing the sheltered harbour estuary. The harbour is alive with pleasure boats and fishing craft, many of which provide locally caught crab and lobster to the cafes and inns that populate this pituresque village.

The Hamlyn family, Lords of the Manor, first occupied Clovelly Court in 1738 and much credit is due to this family for preserving the village and maintaining many of its cottages. Both house and village are now owned by a trust. At the top of a cliff close to this great house lies the church of All Saints which surprisingly has a Norman porch, a Jacobean pulpit and a monument to the novelist Charles Kingsley, author of Westward Ho, who lived in Clovelly as a child. The church and original court were built over 600 years ago. But the house was twice destroyed by fire and rebuilt - in the georgian era and in the 1940's when it was used as a convalescent home for Britains war wounded.

Many legends and customs still exist in these parts and on Shrove Tuesday, the village children drag tin cans and buckets up and down the cobbled streets. This action is said to scare off the Devil before Lent begins.

This area is a natural haunt for Devon's Artist community and there are many original paintings for sale in the local shops that are dotted up and down the main street and all around the harbour.

Clovelly is beautiful, it retains an 'Olde Worlde' charm that even along this breathtaking coastline, is simply incomparable.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Clovelly

Milky Way Adventure Park, Clovelly	(1.6 miles, 2.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Northam Burrows Country Park	(8.0 miles, 12.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Crow Point Lighthouse	(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction NE)	Pictures
RHS Garden Rosemoor	(12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction E)	Pictures
Once Upon a Time, Woolacombe	(15.6 miles, 25.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Lundy Island	(16.7 miles, 26.9 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Watermouth Castle	(20.6 miles, 33.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Arlington Court	(20.8 miles, 33.4 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park	(21.6 miles, 34.8 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Okehampton Castle	(25.4 miles, 40.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
The Nine Maidens Stone Circle	(27.1 miles, 43.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures

All attractions in Clovelly
All attractions in Devon
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Clovelly

Hartland, in the county of Devon (3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction W)
There is not a lot to beat the sound of waves crashing against the rocky promontory which was known by the Roman's as the "Promontory of Hercules".
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hartland Quay, in the county of Devon (5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)
The beauty of Hartland Quay is only eclipsed by the rugged cliffs which loom above it.
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Appledore, in the county of Devon (9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)
Appledore is as enchanting as its name. It is a pretty place that shows a host of colourful fishermens cottages in the narrow streets beyond the quay
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Instow, in the county of Devon (10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction E)
Instow is a gorgeous seaside resort with a mass of golden sands backed by a delightful village clambering upwards to meet with fine wooded countryside.
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Croyde, a Picturesque Village in the county of Devon (11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction NE)
Croyde village has a scattering of thatched, colourwashed cottages and other delightful buildings, all sheltered by dunes which stand between the village and the bay.
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Stratton, in the county of Cornwall (12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction SW)
Stratton is a short distance inland from the resort of Bude and was the scene of a Civil War battle in 1643.
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Bude, in the county of Cornwall (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction SW)
Backed in parts by grassy downs, the wide sandy sweep of Bude Bay with creamy waves flowing in endless procession from the Atlantic make this a perfect summer place for surfers.
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High Bickington, in the county of Devon (17.6 miles, 28.4 km, direction E)
High Bickington lies in one of England's most beautiful and relaxing regions, it is a short distance from the meandering River Taw and is ideally set close to both Dartmoor and Exmoor.
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Chittlehamholt, in the county of Devon (20.7 miles, 33.4 km, direction E)
Chittlehamholt is a lovely peaceful village lying in unspoilt countryside close to the River Taw.
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Combe Martin, a Picturesque Village in the county of Devon (21.4 miles, 34.4 km, direction NE)
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Okehampton, in the county of Devon (25.0 miles, 40.2 km, direction SE)
There has been a settlement at Okehampton since the Bronze-Age, later it became a prosperous Saxon town with the Saxon Lords being overthrown at the time of the Conquest.
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Boscastle, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (25.1 miles, 40.5 km, direction SW)
Boscastle is favoured with the only natural harbour along a rugged rock strewn twenty mile stretch of North Cornish Coast.
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All towns in Devon
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Nearby travel help

Barnstaple Station	(15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction E)
Chapleton Station	(16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction E)
Plymouth City Airport	(41.8 miles, 67.2 km, direction S)
M5 Junction 31	(44.6 miles, 71.7 km, direction SE)
M5 Junction 29	(45.1 miles, 72.6 km, direction SE)
Exeter Airport	(46.5 miles, 74.8 km, direction SE)
Clovelly to London	(188.6 miles, 303.4 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Clovelly

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Clovelly center
The Hoops Inn & Country Hotel	(3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction E)
Durrant House Hotel	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction E)
Tantons Hotel	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction E)
The Royal Hotel	(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction E)
The Pines At Eastleigh	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction E)
The Saunton Sands Hotel	(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction NE)
Bude Haven Hotel	(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction SW)
Camelot Hotel	(13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction SW)
Edgcumbe Hotel	(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction SW)
Atlantic House Hotel	(13.3 miles, 21.5 km, direction SW)
All hotels in Clovelly