Clovelly
The Town
Most property buyers know of gated communities, but what if your property finder could show you an entire gated village? Clovelly in Devon, clinging to the slopes of a 400 foot high cliff, is one of the prettiest and most unique coastal villages in the county, if not the country. Recoco property finders will be delighted to introduce this Devonshire treasure.
If your property search, or your real estate buyers agent, should guide you to this tiny hidden gem, you’ll find no cars, or bikes, or other vehicles on the main street. The cobbles are too steep for anything except sledges, as your property buying agent will agree. The thoroughfare is made from stones dragged up from the beach, and Recoco property finders will happily reveal its local names: ‘Down-a-long’ or ‘Up-a-long’. Property finders can also point out the pretty little winding lanes and picturesque passageways of the village.
Your Recoco buying agent can also confirm that almost every house and structure on this street is listed. The cottages are mainly traditional wattle and daub – ask your property finder for details.
Property buyers who enjoy historical continuity will enjoy hearing from their Recoco buying agents that, in almost 800 years, Clovelly has been associated with just three families. Recoco property finders can also reassure you that Clovelly is still owned by one of those families, who keep a caring, careful eye on the residency rules of the village. Property buying agents will confirm that Clovelly Bay ward also includes Lundy Island. Ask your real estate buyers agent for the current population figures.
History
To the north west, at Windbury Head, property buyers will find an Iron Age hillfort site. Your Recoco buying agent will verify that Clovelly is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book. Buyers agents will attest to the 1866 restoration of the late Norman All Saints’ Church. Fishing and seafaring has always been important, as Recoco buying agents can tell you, and Clovelly now has its own RNLI lifeboat, the Toby Rundle, installed in 2014.
Travel
Clovelly is located 10 miles to the west of Bideford, just off the A39. The nearest M5 motorway junction is 27. The nearest train station is in Barnstaple, and the closest airport is Exeter. Stagecoach bus number 319 serves Clovelly; ask your property buying agent about other stops. The main street is inaccessible to vehicles, but the buyers agent can explain about the public road, with a right of way for vehicles and pedestrians to the main street and harbour. For a small fare, a Land Rover service runs between the top and bottom of the village. Recoco buyers agents will gladly help you locate the two nearest major towns on the map, Bideford, around 12 miles away, and Barnstaple, around 21 miles away.
Education
Your Recoco buying agent will happily clarify locations of the nearest schools. Nearby independent schools include Kingsley School in Bideford, West Buckland in Barnstaple, and state schools in Barnstaple and Bude, just under 23 miles away. The nearest state primary schools are in Hartland or Bideford.
Celebrity Connections
Clovelly has charmed many creatives, including writers and artists, including Charles Dickens, Charles Kingsley, Rex Whistler, and William Turner. Contemporary celebrities include actor Joss Ackland.
Foodies’ Corner
Menus often feature fresh-from-the-sea delicacies, with lobsters and crabs particular specialties. Traditional cream teas offer a traditionally hearty way to take a break from your property search – perhaps with a sprinkling of good-natured debate with your Recoco buying agent about whether it’s jam or cream on the scone first. (We’ve tried it both ways. Either is delectable.) For more informal al fresco refreshments to accompany your property search, the Quay Shop sells takeaway food. Including pasties. Hours are seasonal, so do check.
Leisure and Events
There is a very strong sense of community in this tight-knit village. You can watch and support skilled artisans practising their crafts, or visit the Kingsley Museum. The Fisherman’s Cottage museum, meanwhile, allows a glimpse of 1930s family life.
At the top of the village lies Clovelly Court, with its Victorian kitchen gardens and gloriously restored glasshouses. The bracing woodland and clifftop walks offer views of Bideford Bay and Clovelly’s own harbour. Alternatively, head towards Hartland Point, with views to Mouth Mill Cove, an erstwhile smugglers’ haunt.
Clovelly’s annual festivals include Seaweed, Maritime, and Herring, and the Lobster and Crab Feast in early autumn. For those who enjoy fishing, permits are available for a small fee, and the harbour is equipped for both commercial and pleasure craft.
Fun Fact
The village has been owned by royalty, including Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror, and Queen Elizabeth I.