- Relax in tranquil surroundings
- Explore unspoilt Devon villages
- Enjoy the spectacular rugged coastline
Clovelly is situated around 12 miles to the west of Bideford on Devon’s North coast, Clovelly can truly claim to be an unspoilt, historic fishing village. Privately owned since 1738, Clovelly has been maintained in the style of the mid 19th Century. The village is set into a narrow cleft in the cliff and visitors can walk “downalong” through the narrow cobbled streets, past whitewashed 16th century cottages to the picturesque quay. A small charge is levied on entrance to the village to help pay for its upkeep – once admitted you can enjoy the selection of art, craft and gift shops, galleries, museums, tea rooms and pubs – helping to make this a vibrant and enchanting place to visit. Be prepared for a good walk though - as no visitor cars are allowed into the village.
Hartland gives it name to the Peninsula to the West of Bideford Bay – culminating in Hartland Point, as well as the large village of Hartland midway between Bideford and Bude. Hartland Peninsula has been designated an Area of Natural Beauty – explore its open moorland and ancient woodlands; and discover stunning cliff top views, secluded beaches and abundant wildlife. Visit Hartland Quay – a former important harbour and port on this stretch of coast, now home to the Ship Wreck museum, an excellent pub and some fantastic fishing. The village of Hartland is slightly inland, enjoying a more sheltered position. Within the village you will find village shops stocking general provisions, craft shops, galleries, tea rooms, pubs, a health spa – even its own Brewery!
Food and Drink
You will find a huge range of locally produced food on offer during a visit to North Devon with a variety of farm shops and farmers markets – start your search at Hartland Farm & Tea Shop in Hartland village and Barton Farm Shop in South Stroxworthy near Woolsery. Farm shops and farmers markets are ideal for finding locally produced meat, fruit and vegetables, baked goods, honey, ice cream – and much more.
If you can’t find everything that you need, the nearest larger supermarkets are just a short trip away in Bideford.
Why not try a pint of the local brew in one of the areas country pubs – you can even visit the place where some of it is made! Forge Brewery in Hartland is said to base its brew on that made by the Monks at Hartland Abbey – learn more about their history on a Brewery tour, and taste some for youself! Hartland also offers The Anchor Inn, The Hart Inn and the Cheristow Country Kitchen for a warm welcome and some hearty local fare.
Despite being just a small village, Clovelly can boast two restaurants: The Red Lion and The New Inn. Both are situated on the quayside in the village, and specialise in modern English cuisine made with ingredients sourced from the Clovelly Court kitchen gardens; fish landed locally and game from the Clovelly Estate. For a lighter snack or to indulge in a Devon Cream Tea visitors can stop in at the delightfully quaint Cottage Tea Rooms.
Hartland Quay Hotel serves excellent food and has a lovely atmosphere inside with tables outside allowing you to look out over the stunning coast line and sea.
Beach Guide
North Devon is famed for its beautiful stretches of sandy beaches, great surfing conditions as well as some beautiful, more secluded coves – perfect for a picnics or bathing. Hartland has a great selection of smaller beaches, and neighbours the great expanse of beach at Westward Ho!
Hartland Beaches from East to WestAs you head from Bidefor to Bude on the A39 Atlantic Highway, you will find the following beaches and coves:
- A peaceful wooded valley leads down to Peppercombe beach. The small beach is backed by dramatic red cliffs. Dogs allowed all year.
- Bucks Mills is a rocky secluded cove at the bottom end of the picturesque village. It is quite popular for fishing but limited access means it is quiet most of the time. The beach comprises sand and pebbles, which give way to hard molten rock formations here making irresistible rock pools! Dogs allowed all year.
- After wending your way down the hill you will find a small pebbled beach set in the middle of the picturesque 14th Century harbour at Clovelly. No restrictions on dogs. Facilities in the village.
- Hartland Quay was once a thriving harbour, and important port for the shipping of raw materials in the area, but fell into dis repair in the mid 18th century. Today it is very popular for fishing and for the spectacular coastal scenery and views. The beach is shingle and pebbles with some unique rock formations. Dogs are allowed between October and April.
Family Attractions
If the kids are tiring of the great outdoors then there are plenty of family attractions in the Hartland area to keep everyone occupied. It is worth noting that most attractions are open year round, but may have restricted opening hours in the winter months.
For an experience thats out of this world – head to the Milky Way Adventure Park, North Clovelly. This family theme park is home to a great selection of all-weather rides and activities to suit children of all ages! It boasts Devon’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster, a huge indoor play area, live shows and entertainment, sports tuition – including archery, golf and laser target shooting, country crafts and Toddler Town – a whole play area dedicated to the under 5s. For more information visit: http://www.themilkyway.co.uk/
A little further afield is The Big Sheep – an all weather family attraction abased on a farm in Abbotsham near Bideford. Offering a huge range of activities both indoors and out there will be entertainment for all the family – from sheep racing and sheep dog trials demonstrations, pony rides and a soft play areas – to high energy fun of mountainboarding, High Ropes and outdoor laser combat games! A packed calendar of events ensures that there is always something going on whether its lambing in the spring or the skating rink in the winter. For more information please visit: http://www.thebigsheep.co.uk
To fire yours and the kids’ imaginations and learn a bit about the history of the area you are staying why not check out a “Treasure Trail”. This award winning activity is perfect for getting to know the area – as you are given a series of clues by which to navigate your way around the sites! There are over 40 trails in Devon – with , the nearest to Hartland and Clovelly in Bideford. This trail has a murder mystery theme and is around 1 ½ miles long. Treasure Trails cost £5 and you can download one from: http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/
Events
Clovelly holds vents throughout the year including the Fantastic Fudge Hunt at the beginning of April, Clovelly Maritime Festival mid July, The Lobster and Crab feast at the beginning of September and the switch on of the Christmas lights at the beginning of December.
Hartland Abbey holds events throughout the year – including special Bluebell and Daffodil days in the spring when these two flowers carpet the gardens and grounds in a sea of colour.
Activities
There are a huge range of activites to be enjoyed on your holiday in Hartland or Clovelly. The nearby beaches of Westward Ho!, Bude and Croyde are freat for surfing and sea kayaking, while the famous Tarka Trail cycle route is only a few miles away. The Hartland Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is crisscrossed with walking and cycle trails to explore. Equipment including bikes and kayak hire are available in nearby Bideford or Barnstaple.
Horse Riding
If you prefer to explore on horse back then there is a beautiful bridle way from East Titchberry to Exmansworth with fantastic views to Lundy and across Bideford Bay. Riding stables are available at “Gooseham Barton” near Bude and “Follyfoot Manor” at Northam nr Bideford both are suitable for all levels of experience and confidence and offer lessons, hacking and trekking. Many of the sandy beaches to the East of Bideford allow horses if you fancy a gallop on the beach!
Golf
North Devon is home to some fantastic golf courses. Within the Hartland area itself is the Hartland Forest Golf Park. A par 71, 18 hole course, Hartland Forest is a challenging round with gently undulating fairways and plenty or water hazards! No handicap certificate is required and green fees start at £15 for non members – all equipment including buggies are available for hire.
Walking
The coastline to the west of Bideford, stretching to Hartland Point, has been owned by the National Trust since 1921 and is amongst the most ruggedly beautiful in the South West. Walkers will delight in this challenging 14 mile stretch of the South West Coast Path. The path undulates along spectacular high cliffs and narrow, steep valleys running down to small sheltered coves such as Peppercombe. Much of the route winds through ancient woodlands and you can expect to encounter huge diversity of wild flora and fauna – from seals and deer to butterflies and wild flowers.
History and Heritage
The village of Clovelly remains virtually unchanged since the mid 19th Century and is almost a piece of living history The tiny narrow streets are traffic free and wind down the hill to the harbour where you will find the Kingsley Museum – dedicated to the author who lived and worked in the area. Because of its hillside location, traditionally goods would be transported down the hill on purpose built sledges and carried back up the hill on donkeys – and some of those donkeys are still in residence today – with donkey rides available at Mount Pleasant. No cars are allowed into the village, but there is a Land Rover service that ferries visitors can use to get up and down the hill. The village of Clovelly is privately owned and as such there is a small fee payable at the visitor centre (the fee includes entrance to two museums and parking).Much of the charm of Clovelly is retained through local craftsmen and their use of traditional materials to help maintain the style of the mid 19th Century. Look out for:
- The Clovelly Visitor Centre
- The Kingsley Museum
- Mount Pleasant gardens – perched above Clovelly this WW1 memorial garden provides spectacular views to Lundy
- The Lifeboat
- Clovelly Court Gardens – a classic example of a Victorian walled kitchen garden with magnificent glasshouses. It is perfectly preserved and still used to supply fresh produce to village’s restaurants. Visitors can buy plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables which have been cultivated to organic principles.
- Docton Mill Gardens
Hartland Abbey
Between the village of Hartland and Hartland Quay you will find Hartland Abbey. Built in the 12th Century the Abbey was a monastery until the reign of Henry VIIth – when in 1539 it became the last monastery in the country to be dissolved. Since then it has remained in the hands of the Stucley family who still own and live at the Abbey to this day. Visitors can explore the beautiful Abbey and grounds and venture down the wooded valley to Hartland Quay. Movie fans will recognise the cottage used as the Dashwood family home: Barton Cottage in the BBC film version of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility starring Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson. Refreshments are available onsite at the Tea Rooms – proceeds of which maintain the nearby St Nectans Church with its 128ft tower.
Hartland Quay and Shipwreck Museum
Hartland Quay is itself interesting, commissioned in 1586 it went on to be a busy port shipping raw materials from the Hartland Peninsula. However, with the advent of railways in to the area, it began to fall into decline during the 18th Century and the ravages of the sea means that littleor none of the original quay remains. The Shipwreck Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the ships list along this dramatic coastline. At nearby Hartland lighthouse you can catch a helicopter to Lundy.
Shopping
Hartland and Clovelly have some fascinating independent shops and galleries to explore. Nearby Barnstaple and Bideford have many of the familiar highstreet brands as well as some interesting independent shops of their own. If you fancy some retail therapy then Bideford is also home to Atlantic Village – North Devon’s largest shopping centre. It is packed with well known retail brands and even has something to entertain the kids with the on-site Atlantis Adventure Park complete with indoor & outdoor play areas, trampolines and mystery maze.
Travel
By car – Exit the M5 at junction 27 and follow the A361 to Portmore. Exit onto the A39 pass Bideford towards Bude.
By Rail/Coach – Railway services operate between London Paddington and Barnstable, changing at Exeter St. Davids. There is a regular bus service from Barnstable to Westward Ho! Westward Ho! has a coach station and is served by National Express.