Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Clovelly - For Something Different in UK (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/clovelly-for-something-different-in-uk-599400/)

PalQ Mar 15th, 2006 09:06 AM

Clovelly - For Something Different in UK
 
If touring England's Cornish (or is it Devon) west coast up from Penzance and St Ives, you can stop by one of the UK's weirdest villages - Clovelly and its famous donkeys, traditionally used for transport up and down its steep cobbelstoned main street that plunges down to the sea. (Donkeys i believe have been sent out to pasture in the name of preventing unnecessary animal abuse and motorized carts have taken over.) The village's one main drag is lined by lovely flower-bedecked cottages and all is preserved as it was decades ago. On the sea is a noted Lifesaving Boat station.
Folks will either revel in this type of museum town or will be turned off by the tourist trap aspect.
If you've been to Clovelly, whadda think?

tower Mar 15th, 2006 09:27 AM

PalQ...
we were there during the donkey days...what a fun way to visit a village...parked our car in a special lot and bags and all were transported to a lovely B and B..forgot the name..but thyere are dozens. Truly one of the loveliest little villages in the UK...we had driven up from Land's End and spent two nights there, relaxing...not a lot to do..great photo ops. I imagine some of the initial charm has been lost with motorized carts...
StuT....(it's definitely Devonshire..

julia_t Mar 15th, 2006 09:29 AM

Clovelly is in north Devon, but not far up and around the coast from the Cornish border.

Very picturesque and quaint, certainly worth a visit if you are in the area, but yes, it is a tourist destination.

That hill back up is STEEP!!

These days you get a minibus lift back up.

www.clovelly.co.uk

PalQ Mar 16th, 2006 08:00 AM

Any other opinions of Clovelly?

annhig Mar 16th, 2006 08:37 AM

if you like the idea of Clovelly, but not the touristy bit, try "Buck's Mill" a bit further east along the coast; or for something a bit wilder, Hartland Point [where the west coast meets the north] or Appledore, near Bideford, for a well -preserved ship-building village.

xxx30 Mar 16th, 2006 09:12 AM

Stumbled upon Clovelly a few years ago.It seemed a bit touristy at first but as we descended the cobblestone steps the village seduced us,ended staying over night at the Temple bar B&B.Parked the car near where the Land Rovers ferry the tourist back up to the car park.That was quite a road.
The harbor totally empties out at low tide leaving the boats sitting on the definitely worth a visit,after 5PM you have the village to you self.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:56 AM.