# Clovelly

> Clovelly in Devon tumbles down a steep, cobbled street to a small harbour, whose quay was completed by George Cary in the late 16th century.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/clovelly/

A fishing village built down a steep cobbled street to a small harbour, with no cars allowed in the village itself. Park at the visitor centre at the top and wear good shoes, as the walk back up is steep.

Clovelly in Devon tumbles down a steep, cobbled street to a small harbour, whose quay was completed by George Cary in the late 16th century. No vehicles are allowed on the main street; goods are carried on sledges, a job once done by donkeys. Since the 13th century the village has belonged to just three families in turn: the Giffards, the Carys and, since 1738, the Hamlyns. The writer Charles Kingsley lived here as a child from 1831 to 1836, and his novel Westward Ho! (1855) made the village famous.

Admission is charged at the visitor centre at the top of the village; the tour includes the Fisherman's Cottage and the Kingsley Museum, among other things. Allow two to three hours for the descent, the sights and the steep climb back, and wear sturdy shoes. The street is unsuitable for wheelchairs. The Hobby Drive, a carriage road begun during the Napoleonic Wars, makes a pleasant walk along the hillside. The village lies about 14 km (as the crow flies) west of Bideford, off the A39.

- **Nearest town:** Clovelly, United Kingdom
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 50.9960, -4.4040

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually June. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July–October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels.** Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.

## Sources

- [Clovelly – History](https://www.clovelly.co.uk/history/)
- [Clovelly – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovelly)
- [Clovelly – The Unique English Village (Faltprospekt 2025, PDF)](https://www.clovelly.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Clovelly-8pp_DL_RollFold-English_2025_press.pdf)

## Nearby

- [Tintagel Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/tintagel/) – 44 km
- [Valley of Rocks](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-valley-of-rocks/) – 47 km
- [Tarr Steps](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-tarr-steps/) – 56 km
- [Postbridge clapper bridge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-postbridge/) – 57 km

## FAQs

### Where is Clovelly?

Clovelly is in Clovelly, United Kingdom, at GPS 50.9960, -4.4040. It is about 21 km from Bude.

### Can you camp near Clovelly?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Roey's Retreat Campsite, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 53 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Clovelly?

Places worth a stop nearby: Tintagel Castle (44 km), Valley of Rocks (47 km), Tarr Steps (56 km) and Postbridge clapper bridge (57 km).

### When is the best time to visit Clovelly?

The most pleasant months are usually June. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July–October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)