Clovelly is one of the most extraordinary villages in England — a privately owned fishing village on the North Devon coast whose single cobbled street drops 120 metres from cliff-top to harbour in a series of stepped terraces so steep that no motor vehicle has ever descended it. Donkeys traditionally carried goods; today residents use sledges. The entire village has been in private ownership since 1738.
Charles Dickens visited in 1835 and described it in A Message from the Sea; Charles Kingsley, author of The Water Babies, grew up here. The Hartland Peninsula immediately north is one of the wildest and most dramatic stretches of the British coast. Lundy Island is visible 12 miles offshore.
Housing & Property Prices
HM Land RegistryAverage Price
£348,000
All property types
Detached
£508,000
Average sold price
Semi-detached
£310,000
Average sold price
Terraced
£252,000
Average sold price
Flat / Maisonette
£178,000
Average sold price
Annual Change
+3.0%
vs previous year
Schools & Ofsted Ratings
OfstedOutstanding
0
schools
Good
1
schools
Requires Improvement
0
schools
Inadequate
0
schools
- Good
Crime Statistics
Police.ukCrime Rate
8
per 1,000 residents
vs National Avg
Well below average
England & Wales
Most Common
Anti-social behaviour
crime category
Broadband & Connectivity
OfcomAverage Download
28 Mbps
median speed
Superfast Coverage
62%
30 Mbps+
Ultrafast Coverage
12%
100 Mbps+
Full Fibre (FTTP)
5%
premises
Health & NHS Access
NHS DigitalNearest GP Surgery
Clovelly Medical Practice
0.4 miles away
NHS Trust
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
responsible trust
Nearest Hospital
North Devon District Hospital
14.8 miles
Environment & Green Space
DEFRA / ONSAir Quality Index
Good
annual average
Green Space
82%
of local area
Flood Risk
Low
Environment Agency
Transport & Connectivity
DfT / National RailNearest Station
Barnstaple Railway Station
18.4 miles
To London
3h 30m
approx by rail
Nearest Motorway
A39
0.4 miles
Nearest Airport
Exeter Airport
52 miles
Clovelly at a Glance — Area Scorecard
TownData.co.ukOverall
8.8
Excellent
Family Life
8.0
Very Good
Schools
8.0
Very Good
Transport
3.0
Poor
Nightlife
2.0
Poor
Value for Money
7.0
Very Good
Safety
10.0
Excellent
Green Space
10.0
Excellent
Scores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.
Who is Clovelly Good For?
TownData.co.ukFamilies
✅ Great for families
Commuters
❌ Poor transport links
Students
❌ Limited student life
Retirees
✅ Peaceful & well-served
Young Professionals
❌ Limited for young pros
First-Time Buyers
⚡ Moderate affordability
Outdoor Lovers
✅ Excellent green space
Nightlife Seekers
❌ Better options elsewhere
Things to Do & Local Attractions
VisitBritain- Clovelly Village StreetThe most dramatic village street in England — a single cobbled lane dropping 120m from cliff-top to harbour. No motor vehicles have ever descended it.
- Clovelly Harbour & PierThe ancient fishing harbour at the foot of the village — looking back up the cascading street from the pier is one of the great views in Devon.
- Hartland Peninsula WalksThe wild Hartland Peninsula immediately north — Hartland Quay's waterfall cliffs and the clifftop path are extraordinary and barely visited.
- Fishermen's Cottage MuseumA restored fisherman's cottage showing how the village's fishing families lived in the 19th century — nets, lobster pots and the story of Clovelly's herring fishing heritage.
- Lundy IslandVisible 12 miles offshore, Lundy's puffins, seals, dramatic cliffs and Victorian lighthouse are accessible by ferry from Bideford — an unforgettable day trip.
Nearby Towns & Villages
ONS / Ordnance SurveyWeather & Climate
Met OfficeJan
7°C
Feb
7°C
Mar
9°C
Apr
11°C
May
14°C
Jun
17°C
Jul
19°C
Aug
19°C
Sep
16°C
Oct
12°C
Nov
9°C
Dec
7°C
Annual Rainfall
1040mm
mm per year
Sunshine Hours
1680 hrs
per year
Warmest Month
July/Aug
avg high 19°C
Coldest Month
January
avg low 3°C
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clovelly a nice place to live?
Clovelly is a settlement in Devon. It has 100% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, average house prices of £348,000, and crime that is well below average the national average. Use the sections above to explore the full data profile.
What is the average house price in Clovelly?
The average house price in Clovelly is £348,000 according to HM Land Registry. This covers all property types. See the housing section above for a full breakdown by property type and annual price change.
Is Clovelly safe to live in?
Clovelly's crime rate is well below average the national average. See the crime section above for a full breakdown by category.
What are the schools like in Clovelly?
100% of schools in Clovelly are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. See the schools section above for a full list with individual Ofsted ratings.
How fast is broadband in Clovelly?
Average broadband download speeds in Clovelly are 28 Mbps according to Ofcom. See the broadband section above for superfast and full-fibre coverage figures.
Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.