Why you have to walk for miles just to see this secret Devon village
- UK Hidden Gems
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Tucked away on the tough North Devon coast, this amazing village is so steep and so secret that cars are completely banned from its cobbled main street.
The whole place is built on a single, winding road that drops sharply down hundreds of feet toward the small harbour below.
This isolation makes the atmosphere feel absolutely frozen in time, stopping the noise and rush of the modern holiday world.
Because the main street is just too steep for cars, the people who live here still use special wooden sledges to drag everything they need up and down the hill.
This unique, untouched tradition gives the spot an incredible, old-world vibe that you simply cannot find anywhere else in Britain.
The village's sheer drop is actually the key to its perfect preservation, keeping it secret and beautifully unchanged for centuries.
The village's biggest secret is its fierce independence and long history of resisting change, meaning the whitewashed cottages and the tiny, peaceful harbour look exactly the same as they did generations ago.
This fierce protection of its history is what makes the whole village feel like an eerie, perfect film set, completely separate from our fast-moving world. It is a genuine piece of forgotten history that every keen walker needs to explore.
For visitors planning a holiday, be prepared for a real challenge because the narrow cobbles are very steep and slippery, so wearing sturdy boots is totally necessary for your safety.
You must park your car in the large visitors' car park at the top of the hill, as you cannot bring your vehicle any further into the ancient settlement.
Remember to pack light, because whatever you carry down into the village, you will have to carry back up that colossal, winding hill later!
The sheer effort required to get to the bottom and back out is entirely worth it for the stunning visual reward of the untouched harbour and the unique atmosphere.
This challenging, secret village is a proper piece of British history, offering a tough but hugely rewarding day out for adventurous travellers. The unique piece of history we are finally revealing is Clovelly.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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