The Red Lion Hotel is an 18th Century 4-star Inn that stands on the quay alongside Clovelly’s ancient harbour in North Devon. Each of its 17 beautifully decorated rooms boast a sea view.
To wake up to the sights and sounds of Clovelly’s ancient fishing harbour and the sounds of the sea at the Red Lion Hotel is a unique and unforgettable experience.
The Red Lion
Clovelly Court Gardens are a must see whilst visiting the famous village. Plants thrive in this sheltered sunny corner of North Devon, which has the added benefit of the warmth the Gulf Stream brings.
You’ll find neat, carefully tended gardens and beautifully restored Victorian greenhouses within its old walls. The incredible variety of fruits & vegetables grown here supply the Red Lion Hotel. You can even take some home with you!
Clovelly Court Gardens
Check out our shops, galleries and museums. Try your hand at our arts & crafts workshops, charter a boat for a fishing trip or take a stroll along the beautiful cliffs, beaches and through the village. The choice is yours in Clovelly!
Things To Do
Originally the estate was owned by William the Conqueror, King of England, gifted to his wife and then had many royal associations until 1242 when first acquired by the Giffard family. Until the middle of the 19th century Clovelly was unknown to the outside world. It was partly as a result of Charles Kingsley’s ‘Westward Ho!’, set in and around the village, that visitors began to come.
History of Clovelly
Thank you to The Telegraph for their article about Clovelly. All of our decisions are guided by our core objective: to preserve Clovelly as a living community for future generations to enjoy. The entrance fee (which has actually been in place since 1926!) helps with the essential maintenance of a village perched on a 400ft cliff with limited access.
Read the article here.
A big thank you to Devon Life Magazine for their article in February’s issue about living in Clovelly. It highlights the community that we, in Clovelly, are so lucky to have (some families have lived in Clovelly for over 300 years), as well as some of the challenges of living in a village with no car access. It touches on tourism and how the entrance fee supports the essential maintenance and restoration of the village and surrounding woodland/coast path.
Most of all, it shows how Clovelly is not just a tourist destination but a working, living, breathing community.
Thank you for coming to visit us!
A drama unfolded this week when an adventurous pup got into a bit of trouble 120 meters from the shore!
Thanks to the swift action of the Clovelly RNLI crew, Reuben the spaniel was rescued and brought back safely.
Read the full article here.
We’d like to offer The Guardian a warm thank you for our latest feature in the press.
We couldn’t agree more that Clovelly is the ‘template for the idyllic English coastal village’.
Read the article in full here.
‘Clovelly has received a 4/5 star rating from more than 2,000 reviews on TripAdvisor. One person wrote: “It was like stepping back in time, Clovelly is traffic-free and remains unchanged.’
‘A second added: “A spectacular place to visit, it was totally different from anything else we’ve seen on our various travels.”
‘There are plenty of things to do in the small village including Clovelly Court Gardens – a Victorian kitchen garden with restored greenhouses and carefully tended gardens.’
Thank you to The Sun for the feature!
Read the full article here.
‘You couldn’t get a more spectacular venue – old pasture land with the stunning backdrop of Clovelly Court and spectacular views over Bideford Bay.’
Read the article here.
“Situated on the north coast of Devon perched on a 400ft cliff a four-hour-plus drive from our county, the fishing village has its roots all the way back to the days of William the Conqueror.”
“You can even stay overnight at The Red Lion Hotel where there are 19 rooms of various sizes on offer and you can mingle with locals in the adjacent Snug Bar in the evening. Come the morning you’ll wake up to the sights and smells from the hustle and bustle of the harbour below.
And what’s more, there is even a waterfall tucked away to the east of the uneven big pebbled beach. It is a slight trek and it is advised to wear some sturdy shoes. The walk from the top of the village to the waterfall takes about 90 minutes.”
“The ancient fishing village of Clovelly has a rich history and was originally in the hands of royalty.”
“The term “hidden gem” can sometimes be overused, so when you find out about somewhere genuinely off the beaten track it is a must-see. While Surrey has plenty of these, if you fancy a family holiday in the UK further afield then you should look no further than the picturesque settlement of Clovelly.
Situated on the north coast of Devon perched on a 400ft cliff a four-hour-plus drive from our county, the fishing village has its roots all the way back to the days of William the Conquerer when he gifted the estate to his wife. It remained in the hands of royalty until the 1200s when it was acquired by the Giffard family but remained unknown to the wider world until the mid-19th century.”
Thank you to Surrey Live for featuring us.
Read more here.
You will find The Red Lion on the harbour’s edge at Clovelly (our front cover photo of this issue), a village hemmed in by green headlands, where fishermans’ cottages sit side by side along a donkeys-only, cobbled lane that rolls down to the sea.
The village was recorded in the Domesday Book and visitors have to pay to enter it. However, hotel guests have the harbour to themselves (and locals) at the end of the day, and nothing but a soundtrack of waves to help them sleep.
The Red Lion’s 19 bedrooms have subtle nautical themes and each is within sight of the sea. The most luxurious bedrooms are the six housed in the Sail Loft, next door. Entrance to The Clovelly Court Gardens is also free for guests.”
“Visitors to an artisan market made a splash in Clovelly as the village hosted its Seaweed Festival. The event attracted crowds to see the stalls alongside the harbour all, as well as entertainment for young and old.”
Thank you DevonLive for the feature and Simon Ellery for the great pics!
