Clovelly Donkey Stables

The donkeys here are the real draw - proper working animals that have hauled goods and tourists down Clovelly's famously steep high street for generations. You'll find the stables tucked away in this North Devon village, and they're still very much part of the functioning community rather than a theme park attraction. A few minutes with the donkeys beats any museum, especially if you've got children who actually want to do something rather than look at things behind glass.

Clovelly itself is the main event - a picture-postcard fishing village where cars aren't allowed and the cobbled street drops so steeply you'll feel it in your calves on the way down. The donkeys are woven into the fabric of that experience. Whether you're visiting for an hour or a full day, you're really here for the village atmosphere and the coastal walk, not the stables alone. It's the kind of place where you stop for a cream tea and watch the light change on the water.

If you're based at Roeys Retreat Campsite just a mile away, you can pop down on a quiet morning before the day-trippers arrive - that's when the village actually breathes. The Coastal Cabins Glamping site, slightly further out, gives you more breathing room but puts you further from the village proper. Bideford's your nearest proper town for supplies and backup entertainment. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're combining the donkeys with a village wander. Go early or late in the day for the best light and fewest crowds.