Clovelly high streetWent to Clovelly. As its web site says, “one of the most famous villages in the world”. Well, maybe, not sure about that. But it was full if Italians and Germans making the most of the weak pound and strong euro. It is beautiful though, a very steep, very old fishing village, with no cars. People transport stuff up and down the cobbled streets on sledges.

Part of the reason it has been preserved is because the whole village – i.e. the land, the coast, the houses – is owned by one family – only the third since the Norman Conquest. It now must get most of its income from tourism – one of the few villages where people still live where you have to pay to go in – actually, possibly the only village. But it was worth it, and for the residents, fair compensation for the hordes of tourists who must overwhelm the place in summer.

We decided to look for a place to stay in Bude that evening. Never having been there, I thought it might be a giant Butlin’s camp, but actually, it was a really nice place, with a great free open air swimming pool on the beach. We found a place to stay, the first one we asked at, getting the last available room.

We had a walk on the beach, a picnic, some wine – and phoned Helen and Andy to see if any great XCs had been done that day, because it looked really good. Fortunately not, other than Kai who had done some massive 500000000km triangle or something from the Mynd. Everyone else, I think, was stuck on the hill.

Back to the B&B, for wine in our room and a movie – they had lots of DVDs and videos you could borrow for the evening. A great bed and breakfast place.

See photos of today.

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