The beautiful UK seaside village full of streets so windy cars are banned
Clovelly is a privately-owned village on the north Devon coast.
A beautiful uk seaside village is so full of streets so windy that cars are banned.
Clovelly is a private harbour village in north Devon. Built into the sea cliffs, it was once owned by the Queen and is home to around 440 people.
The village’s cobbled lanes are lined with whitewashed cottages with small boats bobbing in the 14th-century stone quay.
There are no chain stores, no traffic noises and no light pollution - just a hotel with a restaurant, a tea room, and two museums. There are also a handful of shops selling silk, pottery, soap and shoes.
Even today, there are no cars in Clovelly. It would be too steep for them to get access even if the village wanted them.
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Transporting goods through the village was historically done with donkeys, which were mostly replaced by sledges in the 1970s. There are now a group of donkeys living at the top of the village.
Originally the estate was owned by William the Conqueror, gifted to his wife and then had many royal associations until 1242 when it was acquired by the Giffard family. Until the middle of the 19th century, Clovelly was unknown to the outside world.
Things to do in the village include visiting the Victorian greenhouses at the Court Gardens and the 12th-century All Saints Church.
There is a beach and a number of coastal paths in the area to enjoy such as the walk up to Mount Pleasant and along the cliffside. Clovelly also has annual festivals such as the Seaweed Festival, the Lobster and Crab Feast and the Herring Festival.
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The only access to Clovelly is through the visitor centre, which charges £9.50 per adult for entrance (£5.50 for children).
The village is privately owned and the fee is used for "the essential maintenance and upkeep that comes with an ancient village perched on a 400ft cliff, with no vehicular access", much like a National Trust site.
There are a small number of places to stay in the village itself, but these are in high demand and so it may be easier to stay in the surrounding area.
Those wishing to visit can get there via train to Barnstaple and bus to the village.
