Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Essentials
GETTING THERE It's not easy to get to Clovelly by public transportation. From
London's Paddington Station, you have to catch a train to Exeter (around £69 for
a round-trip), and then from there you take a local train to Barnstaple. Travel time
from Exeter to Barnstaple is 1 1 4 hours on First Great Western trains. From Barn-
staple there are relatively frequent buses to Clovelly (though sometimes you need
to change at Bideford). Check at the station for details. The entire journey essen-
tially takes all day.
If you're driving from London, head west on the M4, cutting south at the junction
with the M5. At the junction near Bridgwater, continue west along the A39 toward
Lynton. The A39 runs all the way to the signposted turnoff for Clovelly.
VISITOR INFORMATION To gain entry to the village, you're required to buy a
ticket from the Clovelly Visitor Centre ( &   01237/431781; www.clovelly.co.uk).
The cost is £6 for adults, £3.65 for children 7-16, and £16 for a family ticket. This
also covers parking for the day; a tour of a fisherman's cottage; and admission to the
Kingsley Exhibition, a tiny museum devoted to (former resident) Charles Kingsley,
author of The Water Babies . The center is open July through September, daily 10am
to 4pm; April through June and October, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm; and
November through March, daily 9am to 4:30pm. If you arrive outside of these times,
you don't have to pay the entrance fee, nor do you pay if you're staying overnight in
the village (in which case the Land Rover service is also free).
Where to Eat & Stay
East Dyke Farmhouse Set above Clovelly village itself, with gorgeous views
over field and sea, this working farmhouse is a lovely place to stay. Named after the
Iron Age hill fort that backs onto the garden (yes, really), the house has three comfort-
able and reasonably sized bedrooms. One room is a twin; the others are doubles.
Breakfasts are filling and delicious (and more varied than just the usual “full English”
once common in places like this). The owners do their utmost to make you feel at
home, and provide a wealth of information about the local area.
Higher Clovelly, Devon EX39 5RU. &   01237/431-216. 3 units. £55-£60. Rates include breakfast. No
credit cards. Amenities: Restaurant; bar. In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
New Inn Hotel About halfway down High Street is the village pub, a good meeting
place at sundown. The small restaurant here uses fresh local produce to make
French-influenced British cuisine—it's a good option for dinner in a town with very
few restaurants. Guest rooms here are actually based in two buildings on opposite
sides of the steep street (with only a 3.5-m/12-ft. leap between balconies—not that
you should even think about doing that). Each room is relatively small but comfort-
able, although the decor could use a facelift in places. Two rooms are large enough
for families. If you're driving, you can park in the lot at the entrance to the town. It's
advisable to pack a smaller overnight bag because your luggage will have to be carried
down (but it's returned to the top by donkey).
High St., Clovelly, Devon EX39 5TQ. &   01237/431303. Fax 01237/431636. 19 units. £103-£119. Rates
include English breakfast. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar. In room: TV, Wi-Fi (free).
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