Visiting Clovelly
Clovelly is a beautiful, picturesque fishing village, steeped in maritime atmosphere and history. It was once owned by the Queen of England!
Book TicketsBook a stay in Clovelly
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
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
Clovelly activities & shops
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
History of Clovelly
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
Gig Regatta
Gig Regatta
August 31
Clovelly Gig Regatta celebrates Devons best teams going head to head in a fun but intense day of competition .
We hear you are asking what’s in a Gig…?
Gig Rowing has exploded in popularity over the last few decades. There are now Gig Rowing Clubs all over the South West and beyond. But what is a Pilot Gig? How did its design evolve and why is it such a good racing boat?
The first record of a Pilot Gig is in 1666 when one is listed as helping the crew of a stricken ship off the Cornish coast. The fact an open rowing boat was taken out in heavy seas illustrates that this was no ordinary dinghy.
The gigs were designed for the highly competitive world of professional pilotage and in the 18th and 19th Century, especially in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, being a pilot was a dog-eat-dog business. Individual pilots would race to get to the ships needing help, with the first there getting the job and the payment – a pilot who could not get to ships quickly enough would soon go hungry.
The West Country boasts a long tradition of racing pilot gigs. Gig racing is exciting and strenuous, with crews reaching speeds of 9 knots in North Devon’s powerful tidal waters.
You’re assured an exhilarating day’s racing. So come along and cheer on the brave crews!
Watch the video of the event filmed and edited by Miles Trevelyan-Johnson in 2019:
Normal admission charges apply.
© Clovelly 2024 | Privacy Policy
