Visiting the North Coast of Devon

 While we were recently staying in Devon we decided to visit the north coast. We rarely visit this area as the gentler waters of the south coast have always drawn us to their shores. Our first destination was Clovelly, an ancient fishing village that I have longed to visit. I remember my mother telling me how she had visited here on holiday as a child. I doubt it has changed very much over all those years. 



There is only one cobbled street called Up-Along and Down-Along.  The gradient is so steep that cars are banned. In the past donkeys were used to transport the fish up the hill. They are still here but these days they carry lighter loads and as can be seen in the picture are quite happy to stop and munch a tasty climber! Each house has a sleigh to transport their shopping and other items. Most of the sleighs have been converted from bakers trays.














The village has been owned by only three families since the 14th century. Most of the cottages are rented out to local people. There are no holiday cottages- visitors can stay in three hotels in the village.

Inside of an old fishermen's cottage


The cobbles were pebbles that had originally been taken off the beach. 
 There were quirky things to see around every corner.


The street heads down and down around bends and eventually reaches the harbour......

We can see you!



If you want to see more of Clovelly, I found this short video on You Tube.


We then drove further along the coast to Appledore. Another old fishing village, and for centuries it was also a major ship building centre. It was lovely therefore to spot this tall ship in the bay.


It is also a popular holiday destination with such colourful cottages.


 Tavi was delighted to get away from the cobbles and be back down by the shore!
The fish and chip shop has a fun way to advertise it's food!
There were lots of  nautical decorations!


The new plastic five pound had only been released a week before and we had only been given one a few days beforehand. It seemed to have been the first time that anyone had seen it in Appledore and the icecream man was delighted to get his first one. Have you seen many yet or have found any with serial numbers of AA,AB or AC they have been selling for about two hundred pounds!


We enjoyed our day out in North Devon and now hope to come back again sometime for a longer stay. Have you ever been to this area?

Thank you as always for your lovely comments. wishing you a happy and healthy week.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. With the difficulties associated with those steep streets, it does make you wonder why people settled in Clovelly in the first place!. It must have a fantastic harbour or something. I've never been there myself, despite having spent my schooldays in Devon (Tiverton). I think I once went Dunster with my parents - that's not too far away, is it?

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    1. It's about 50 miles away. We visited Dunster when the children were tiny, it is also very pretty. Sarah x

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  2. I enjoyed your post on your visit to North Devon. We visit Lynmouth, Lynton and the Valley of Rocks fairly often but it is a good few years since I have visited Clovelly and Appledore. xx

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  3. Clovelly, what a treasure! Everything about it! The people must be in great condition, walking up that road all the time. Thanks for sharing that special place!

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  4. oOoh, damn I had several of the £5- didn't think to check!!!!
    That place looks delightful and SOOOOOO steep!!!!

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  5. must make local life interesting, that steep road!

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  6. Nothing as beautiful around here for miles and miles.

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  7. Clovelly is unique, indeed. I watched the video, plus the one after it. Did you walk back up or take the little truck?

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    1. We walked back up.It did not seem to bad although we are used to walking up hills luckily ours aren't so steep! Sarah x

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  8. The mind boggles thinking of the intense manual labor needed to create the beautiful stone work! It is a perfect backdrop for the colorful arts and crafts here and there. I enjoyed the Youtube video, also. Thanks for the tour, Sarah. My youngest son is headed out to go fishing near Tillamook, Oregon, on the coast. He has brought back delicious salmon lately. Wishing you a good and healthy week, as well. xx

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  9. Such a quaint place, loved that fishermans cottage. Do you ha e to park outside the village and walk in. That steep street would do it for me, I would have to stay down on the beach all day :). Lovely part of the world.

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    1. Yes Elaine there is a car park at the top of the village. The hotel down by the quay does a car park for their clients with a separate road. It is a lovely village but obviously there is a price to pay for living there with difficulties on getting things in and out and also lots of tourists! Sarah x

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  10. Clovelly is lovely isn't it. I'm a big fan of the North Devon coast, it's a beautiful spot. Glad you had a good time. CJ xx

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  11. OH Sarah, the CHARM of this place! The cobblestone streets, the little tunnels, the sea....and TAVI in mud! HAHAHAHAHHAHA Enchanting.

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  12. Sarah, neues Geld haben wir nicht bekommen, als wir in Schottland waren, sie haben ja ihre eigenen Scheine. Clovelly ist wundervoll, ich möchte auch dorthin. Bisher hat es sich nicht ergeben, als wir mehrfach dort waren. Welch wundervoller Ort!

    Sigrun

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  13. It is fascinating to see somewhere you know well through someone else's eyes. We have been to Clovelly a few times, most recently a couple of months ago for an evening meal. As ever, I was glad I am hill trained! Not so familiar with Appledore though. Lovely post Sarah.

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    1. All that gardening on your slopes must have helped! Sarah x

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  14. I've never been there but it looks so charming. I should like to stay in that old fishermen's cottages, such a cozy little house. Tavi is such a funny dog, especially when he is muddy, haha.

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  15. We've been to North Devon and visited Clovely, It's hard work climbing back up that steep street! We stayed in Appledore for a week, it's very quaint and also very 'arty'. There was an arts festival on when we stayed there. Some of the local artists opened up their homes for people to view their work. There was also a door knocker competiton where people made decorations to hang on their doors. There were some very interesting and quirky exhibits

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  16. I love Up Along and Down Along streets! Very interesting to see the inside of cottages ... Makes me think of how my own ancestors would have lived. Glad Tavi was able to find some water ... I wouldn't think cobbled stones would suit him

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  17. We've visited Clovelly a couple of times, the last time when the boys were toddlers, before my daughter was born, and we had to give them piggy-backs all the way back up! It's a beautiful place. I've not seen a new £5 yet. Will look out for those serial numbers! Sam x

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  18. Thank you for the most wonderful memory jog! Until I saw your photos it hadn't occurred to me how much I have missed this tiny corner of Devon. Thanks for sharing. ~ Heather x

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  19. I hope it doesn't get icy in Clovelly. I cannot imagine that cobbled hill after an ice storm.

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  20. Don't think I've ever visited Appledore - though have long loved the name - and I was knee-high to a grasshopper when last in Clovelly. Great photo tour - north Devon has some wonderful beaches too.

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  21. Lovely photos of Clovelly - I can see it hasn't changed at all since I was last there as a child. I've not been to Appledore so enjoyed seeing that. I love the photo of Tavi on the beach!

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  22. Beautiful village, it looks so clean and also so pretty with the colorful houses. I like donkeys and happy to see they still use them for work. Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Beautiful pictures from a beautiful place! I love the colours on the houses...lovely to see!
    Have a happy day.
    Warm hug from Titti

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  24. What a beautiful village. I can just imagine them pulling or holding tight to their sleighs in winter. The cobbles are hard to walk on, so I am sure your little dog was happy to be down by the sea.

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  25. Amei este lugar cheio de pedras e cores!Deve ser um lugar muito tranquilo...lindo mesmo, obrigado pelas fotos.

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  26. Thank you for sharing your trip to Clovely, not somewhere I've been, so it is interesting to see without leaving my lounge. :-)

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  27. What lovely photos - it must have been a wonderful trip. So different from anything we see hear in NY.

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