Clovelly is without doubt my favorite fishing village in North Devon: set among 400 ft cliffs, the ingenuity, and foresight it took to built this unique village is staggering, and for it to have survived the storms one gets on the South West coast for 600 years, remarkable. Clovelly, is today part of a private estate, and a entrance fee is charged, but as part of this fee helps to maintain this wonderful unique village for posterity; who can complain? A word of caution to the elderly, and infirm Clovelly Village, consists of one very steep hill indeed, know to the inhabitants quaintly as, 'up along' and naturally 'down along,' all is not lost though for the estate has thoughtfully provided a land rover service to take you down, or up Covelly High Street,. I used this service after suffering a broken ankle( all say Ahh ) its excellent, and the driver friendly, and welcoming  ( a plug for Dave here.)

And a difficult task for me for is my vocabulary: or command of the English language  good enough  to describe the wonder of Clovelly. One really must visit to see its true beauty. 'Up Along' and 'Down Along,' is very narrow, thoroughfare, consisting of delightfully painted cottages, which are adorned in the summer with hanging baskets of flowers, transforming the village into a sea of colour and beauty. And there is something, I think that is unique to this village sledges, are parked outside each cottage, for the street being very narrow, and steep: is to dangerous in the winter for vehicles, so this is the way the resident move goods, and provisions around clever, I think so, ( laughing. ) When one reaches the harbour, the true delight that is Clovelly, is set out before ones eyes: one can look up at the towering majestic cliffs, that are all around one, or walk along the harbour wall for the perfect sea view of Bideford Bay, Or even take a boat trip around Bideford Bay. And for the tired, and thirsty holiday maker respite, for there is alway the local public house 'The Red Lion' where you can relax, enjoy a meal or ( as in my case ) a beer, while you watch the fishermen repair their nets, or land the days catch for  the sea, and fishing are the reason for Clovelly existence.

Yes for centuries fishing has been the main industry, (not so today as tourism has taken over as more people discover the beautiful Clovelly ) though I believe a little bit skulldugery did go on in the 17th, and 18th, centuries. Yes I refer to smuggling. Bideford Bay, provided a safe haven for ships, from the pounding westerlies. But situated on the west of the bay is the village of Clovelly, and this beautiful village had a dark side for it had a notorious reputation as a smugglers haunt. And certainly many smugglers luggers, set out from the well-protected harbour here. An interesting local legend, is one about cannibals keeping tubs of salted human flesh in caves along the coast: this  may well have been spread by smugglers, themselves eager to keep inquisitive visitors away from their hiding places: inquisitive visitors being of course the Revenue men. Today locals will point out the smugglers cave to the curious, its a good walk east along the shore from the harbour. However I think the least said about smuggling  the better the revenue men have very long memories.

The well know actor Josh Ackland, is a resident of Clovelly. If you do decide to visit Covelly, may I suggest a slight detour, please a must place to visit Hartland Point:, and near by Hartland Quay, here you will see the true majesty of the North Devon coast. At Hartland point is the lighthouse, and if you look down from the viewing platform, directly below you will see the remains of the Panamanian coaster the ' Johana' 'which came to grief here  in 1982, the Panamanian freighter lost engine power is a storm, and the fierce westerly winds soon drove her to destruction on to the rocks. Thankfully all the crew were rescued, but it shows one that even in this day and age sailors are still at the mercy of the sea's.

Not far from the point you come to Hartland Quay: actually there is not a lot at the Quay, just a row of fishermens cottages, and a Public House. But please believe me the views are absolutely breathtaking, here one will see every aspect of the North Devon coast, encapsulated   in to one. 300ft cliffs, who's strata vividly depicts the Earths development over 300 million years. And on a clear day Lundy Island can be seen, but for me Hartland Quay, is the place to be during a storm, for then the true majesty, and ferocity of the Atlantic Ocean can be seen. Oh and the Public House alone, is well worth a visit, living history before your eyes. Near-by Hartland Abbey is privately owned, but is open in the summer to visitors, but not every day I might add, so please ensure that the Abbey is open if you plan a visit. Please do not miss these places in your hurry to see Clovelly, they will not disappoint you.!

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