Clovelly

Clovelly is a village on the north coast of Devon in England, where whitewashed houses line a single cobbled street that drops 120 meters (400 feet) from the hillside to the quay. The cottages have small front gardens with flowers and vegetables, while the lower end of the street opens onto a tiny harbor with stone pier and fishing boats.

The village belonged to a single family for over 300 years and was extensively renovated during the 19th century when the owners rebuilt many houses in a uniform style. The sledges became the only transport method at that time after vehicles were permanently excluded because of the slope and the nature of the cobblestones.

All transport happens by sledge because no vehicles are allowed on the steep cobblestones, and goods like firewood or fishing gear are still dragged through the village on traditional wooden sledges. Residents often work together to haul heavy items back up, since the single street runs straight down to the sea.

The street is slippery in rain or fog, so sturdy shoes are necessary, and it helps to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon when fewer visitors are around. The descent takes about 20 minutes, while the return climb uphill takes longer and several rest benches are placed along the route.

Some of the cottage doors have semicircular top halves that open separately to let light inside while the lower half stays closed to keep animals out. At the harbor stand two old stone lime kilns where limestone from Wales was once roasted to produce mortar for building and soil improvement.

Location: Torridge

Website: https://clovelly.co.uk

GPS coordinates: 50.99000,-4.40000

Latest update: December 15, 2025 02:02