Visiting Clovelly
Clovelly is timeless
From Elizabethan times until today, Clovelly has been in private ownership, which has helped preserve its original atmosphere. The village remains a fully functioning working village, clinging to a 400 foot cliff, overlooking Bideford bay. It has no vehicular traffic on its steeply cobbled street, just donkeys and sledges. Donkeys used to be the main form of transport for centuries, but now mainly give children rides during the summer or can be seen posing for photographs in the street. The man-powered sledges transport all goods to and from the village, from groceries to furniture.