Clovelly

Even if you’ve never been to Devon, you must have heard of this unbelievably quaint and picturesque village that tumbles down a steep hillside in terraced levels. Almost every whitewashed and flower-strewn cottage is worthy of its own picture postcard and from the sheltered little harbour there is an enchanting view of this unique place. One reason Clovelly is so unspoilt is that the village has belonged to the Rous family since 1738 and they have ensured that it has been spared such modern defacements as telegraph poles and ‘street furniture’.

The only access to the beach and the beautifully restored 14th century quay is on foot or by donkey, although there is a Land Rover service from the Red Lion Hotel for those who can’t face the climb back up the hill. The only other forms of transport are the sledges that are used to deliver weekly supplies. During the summer months there are regular boat trips around the bay, and the Jessica Hettie travels daily to Lundy Island with timings that allow passengers to spend some six hours there, watching the seals and abundant wildlife.

The owner of the Jessica Hettie, Clive Pearson, is also a potter. In 1992 he opened The Clovelly Pottery, which displays an extensive range of items made by Cornish and Devon potters. In the nearby workshop, for a small fee, you can try your hand at throwing a pot.

This captivating village has some strong literary connections. It features as Steepway in the story A Message from the Sea by Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Charles Kingsley (The Water Babies; Westward Ho!) was at school here in the 1820s and the Kingsley Museum explores his links with the village. Next door, the Fisherman’s Cottage provides an insight into what life was like here about 80 years ago. And the award-winning Visitor Centre has an audio-visual show narrating the development of Clovelly from around 2000BC to the present day.