Out & About

SURFING IN CLOVELLY

Clovelly itself is not a traditional surfing destination due to its sheltered harbour location, but there is an advanced surf spot called "The Gore" at nearby Buck's Mills that works under specific conditions.

The Gore at Buck's Mills

The Gore is a challenging reef break located off Buck's Mills, just north of Clovelly village. This spot requires large swells exceeding 8 feet on main beaches to activate, and tide timing is critical—high tide submerges the reef completely eliminating surf, while very low tide creates a breakwater effect. When conditions align, the reef produces steep, powerful, and often tubing left-hand waves in a relatively deep channel.

The Gore is one of the rare North Devon spots that works well on prevailing southwest winds, which typically ruin most other beaches in the region. However, it remains a specialist location suitable only for experienced surfers and kayak surfers due to its powerful, steep waves and shallow reef.

Better Surfing Options Near Clovelly

For more accessible surfing experiences, several renowned beaches are located within reasonable driving distance:

Westward Ho! (10-12 miles) offers soft, learner-friendly waves year-round with RNLI lifeguard coverage from May to September, making it ideal for beginners. The spacious beach provides consistent surf at most tide stages.

Croyde Beach (approximately 15 miles) is rated as one of the best surfing beaches in the world, featuring high-quality, powerful waves suitable for advanced and professional surfers. The beach break provides both left and right-hand waves, with the best conditions occurring with easterly winds and northwest to southwest swells.

Woolacombe (approximately 18 miles) offers a variety of waves suitable for all skill levels, making it excellent for beginners while still providing challenging sections for experienced surfers. The beach has RNLI lifeguard patrol from Easter through September.

Putsborough connects to Woolacombe and provides similar wave quality, particularly useful when Woolacombe experiences unfavorable wind conditions.

GOOD ROUTES / CYCLE TRAILS

Here are some good cycling options near Higher Clovelly and wider North Devon: 

1. National Cycle Route 278

   • This loops off NCN Route 27. It heads past villages like Georgeham, and along the coast around Morte Bay to Woolacombe.

   • Scenic, coastal, with ups and downs. Could be a good half-day or full-day ride depending how far you want to go.

2. Tarka Trail: Braunton ↔ Meeth

   • About 30+ miles (≈ 31 miles) of traffic-free shared-use path between Braunton and Meeth.

   • Flat / gentle gradients mostly, great for relaxed cycling, families, or those not wanting to deal with traffic.

   • You could reach parts of it from Barnstaple or other nearby towns.

3. Devon Coast to Coast (NCN Route 27)

   • If you want something longer, Route 27 (Devon Coast to Coast) goes from Ilfracombe (north Devon) down to Plymouth, passing through pretty countryside, estuaries, quiet roads, and off-road sections.

   • You would use bits of this route, combining with local lanes around Higher Clovelly.

4. Coastal / Local Lane Loops from Higher Clovelly

   • You can plan local circular rides using quiet lanes, heading to Clovelly Village, perhaps over to Bucks Mills or Buck’s Mills, then around via country lanes back.

   • Combining parts of the South West Coast Path (where cycling is permitted) or adjacent parallel roads where possible.

5. Shorter Scenic Spin + Viewpoints

   • A route from Higher Clovelly down to the coast via woodland / cliffs for views out to sea (if you don’t mind climbs).

   • You might do a ride to Clovelly, explore the harbour, then ride back via inland lanes.

BIRD WATCHING IN CLOVELLY

Clovelly and its surrounding coastal and woodland areas offer excellent birdwatching opportunities throughout the year, with diverse habitats supporting a wide variety of species.

Clovelly Area Bird Watching

Coastal Birds - The dramatic coastline around Clovelly supports seabird populations along the cliffs.

Seasonal Highlights:  Spring (March-May) brings migratory birds including warblers, swallows, and swifts, with coastal paths offering prime viewing locations. Seabird breeding colonies become active during this period, with razorbills and kittiwakes nesting on cliff faces. Autumn sees an influx of migratory waders and waterfowl passing through the region. This season is particularly rewarding for observing species diversity as birds travel along the Devon coastline. Winter brings waterfowl including various duck and geese species to estuaries and coastal areas, while the Taw-Torridge estuary hosts curlew, golden plover, and lapwing.

Nearby Premier Birdwatching Sites

Several exceptional birdwatching locations lie within easy reach of Clovelly:

Lundy Island (accessible by ferry from Bideford) hosts the Southwest's largest puffin colony and serves as a conservation area with year-round bird populations including various seabirds and migratory species.

Braunton Burrows and Crow Point(approximately 15 miles) form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve featuring one of the UK's largest sand dune systems, where birders can spot species including bittern, night heron, spoonbill, black-winged stilt, flycatchers, harriers, skylark, sand martin, and little egret.

Isley Marsh RSPB Reserve near Braunton overlooks Crow Point and consists of saltmarsh and mudflats, accessible via the Tarka Trail, offering views of wading birds and waterfowl at various tide stages.

Baggy Point provides coastal cliff birdwatching with northern fulmar, razorbill, and peregrine falcons frequently observed, plus smaller bird species attracted to wildflowers along cliff paths.

For optimal birdwatching, early mornings and late afternoons provide the most active periods, with binoculars and field guides recommended for species identification.

FOOD SHOPPING

 There is a choice of supermarkets, Tesco Superstore (Manteo Way, Bideford, EX39 4AJ), Lidl (Clovelly Road, Bideford, EX39 3QU) or Co-Op (Mill Street, Bideford, EX39 2JT) all within a 15 minute drive away.