Hartland Abbey Special Events 2020:
Daffodils and Spring Flowers Sunday, 15th March 11 – 4pm*.
Easter Egg Hunts Sunday 12th and Monday 13th April 11-5pm
Bluebell Sundays 19th and 26th April 11-5pm* *reduced admission
Outdoor theatre on the lawn in July and August
For further details https://www.hartlandabbey.com/daffodil-days/
2020 Opening: 29th March to 4th October 11-5pm, Sunday to Thursday inclusive plus Good Friday. House 2 - 5pm (NB last admission to house 4.00pm). Gardens 11 - 5pm. Tea Room open 11 - 5pm (with entry tickets to House and/or Gardens only).
Hartland Abbey is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
2019 Events for North Devon & Hartland Peninsula
Find all the best events, festivals & things to see and do in North Devon and the Hartland Peninsula during 2019.
February
February, Lentsherd, Clovelly. Free entry after 4.30 p.m.
Lentsherd (pronounced ‘Lanshard’) is an old Clovelly Shrove Tuesday custom, and the aim is to chase bad spirits away and drive the devil into the sea before Lent. At dusk children set off Down-a-long, dragging clattering tin cans, which are then tied together and thrown into the sea (later retrieved). Children taking part will receive a free pancake to decorate with toppings. http://www.clovelly.co.uk/clovelly-events/lentsherd
March
Farmers Market
March 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along to the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
March to April, Find the Easter Chicks, Clovelly.
Children receive a village map on entry on which to mark the location of a number of Easter chicks perched up and down the cottages along the High Street to the quay. If they spot at least 10 chicks, they can return the map to the Visitor Centre reception to win an Easter egg and a bigger prize if they spot all 15. Come along and join the fun. http://www.clovelly.co.uk/clovelly-events/find-easter-chicks
April
Hartland Abbey
Bluebell Sunday 14th April 2019 11am - 5pm
Bluebell Days at Hartland Abbey are legendary and a wonderful opportunity to visit at a reduced entry price when the valley is looking at its most beautiful. The bluebells at Hartland Abbey carpet the walks from the Walled Gardens to the sea. A restored woodland path links the Summerhouse to the Gazebo and Blackpool Mill overlooking the Atlantic. The restored Summerhouse was always a favourite spot for the family to picnic and for the children to play. If it is cold there will be a lovely log fire burning! See ‘Barton Cottage’ by the sea, the home of the Dashwood family in the BBC production of ‘Sense and Sensibility’and the location for BBC’s ‘The Night Manager’ by John Le
Carre. Along the way enjoy our bluebells, primroses, violets, wild anemones, wild orchids, foxgloves and much
more. We love children and dogs and hope that you will bring as many as possible!
There should be lots of lovely plants out in the gardens too; the early rhododendrons, camellias, tulips and later
bulbs and early perennials amongst others. For the energetic, children and dogs, there will be plenty of
opportunity for walking and exploring the 3½ miles of paths within the Abbey grounds.
Bluebell Day entry prices: Adults £7, Children (age 5-15) £2, Under 5 free.
Your entry ticket to the gardens and grounds includes the Museum, Exhibition and Gift Shop. Entry to the
house £4 extra, 2 -5pm (last admission 4pm).
**NB We regret that loyalty and membership cards (eg HHA, CPRE, Gardeners World etc) are not able to be
used on Special Event Days.
The Old Kitchen Tea Rooms will be serving their delicious light lunches and home made cream teas. www.hartlandabbey.com/bluebell-days
Clovelly
Find the Easter Chicks. 8th April to 22nd April
Children receive a village map on entry on which to mark the location and number of Easter chicks perched up and down the tumbling cottages along the High Street to the Quay. Return the map to the Visitor Centre reception if you spot at least 10 chicks to win an Easter egg and a bigger prize if you spot all 15.
Hartland Abbey
Easter Sunday April 21st - Easter Monday April 22nd 11-5pm
N.B. We are open on Good Friday (closed Saturday) but no Egg Hunts until Easter Sunday & Monday!
Come and join the fun in the beautiful grounds and gardens of Hartland Abbey over Easter. This year Easter is
so late that it should coincide with the best of our beautiful bluebells! Children will have a wonderful time searching all the woodland paths and walks for clues that will lead them to a hidden treasure trove of Easter Eggs. There will be traditional activities and games like Pin the Tail on the Bunny and Easter egg decorating.
The bluebells and spring flowers should be looking wonderful, making this a special day out for adults and
children alike. The house will be open from 2-5pm at an extra charge.
Dogs are very welcome provided they don’t eat the Easter eggs first!
Grounds open 11am-5pm.
Adults £9 for grounds and gardens, all children over 2 (or under 2 if wanting to do Easter Egg Hunt) £5.
Admission to house and gardens £12, children £5.
https://www.hartlandabbey.com/easter-fun/
Farmers Market
April 10am-1pm, Hartland Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along to the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
May
Farmers Market
May, 10am-1pm, Hartland Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along to the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly - Seaweed Festival in aid of the N. Devon Hospice
May 25th
It was launched in 2015 and has been a great success. Seaweed Festival is held to promote seaweed for its immense health and nutritional benefits.
Quay kitchens will be serving a variety of dishes. Stalls will be selling a range of seaweed products and arts and crafts.
Plus live music, street entertainment, craft activities, workshops, talks and demonstrations.
Bring your own seaweed for advice from experts on its uses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xBuN9toQms
June
Farmers Market
June 3, 10am-1pm, Hartland Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly - Charles Kingsley’s Bicentenary
Wed. 12th to Sun. 16th June
Charles Kingsley, the great Victorian writer (b. 12th June 1819), who loved Clovelly.
He lived here as a child, returned many times during his later life and was said to be inspired to write ‘The Water Babies’.
Come and enjoy the celebration with a host of activities, talks, workshops, exhibitions plus live themed music and themed street entertainment for adults and children.
The Clovelly Gardening Group, 2018 Gold award winners of National and SW in Bloom, will celebrate Charles Kingsley with plants and colour schemes for ‘The Water Babies’. Plus his other inspirations, especially as regards Clovelly.
There will also be colourful displays of ‘yarn bombing’ with decorative knitted or crocheted material as a form of street art. Made and sent by people who love Clovelly from all over the world.
Hartland Abbey
Sunday 23rd June 2019 7pm
Open-Air Theatre "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, (Hotbuckle) 7pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows. Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING: Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
July
July 10am-1pm, Hartland Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along to the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
29th July - Woolsery Agricultural Show, Woolsery. A fun-filled day packed with a programme of activities. Classes include crafts, cattle and sheep, together with horse and pony competitions. There will be a Dairy Marquee with displays such as yoghurt and ice cream making and the chance for children to "milk a cow" along with competitions. You'll find bustling trade stalls offering locally made crafts and food with fairground rides and a bouncy castle for the children. There'll also be a family dog show, a display of hounds, the Young Farmers' "It's a knockout" and to finish the day, a parade of vintage farm machinery. It's a great summer day out for all the family! Admission charge applies. http://www.clovelly.co.uk/clovelly-events/woolsery-agricultural-show
Hartland Abbey
Wednesday 31st July 5pm
Open-Air Theatre "Ali Baba and the forty thieves" (Illyria) 5pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
PLUS drama workshop (6-11 years) 3-4.30pm with Sophie and Gabby £5.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows. Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING:Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
August
Hartland Abbey
Friday 2nd August 5pm
Open-Air Theatre "The legend of King Arthur" (Box tree productions) 5pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
PLUS drama workshop (6-11 years) with Sophie and Gabby £5.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows.Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING:Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
Farmers Market
August 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly Lifeboat Weekend & Maritime Festival
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August 2019
Lifeboat Weekend & Maritime Festival join forces this year for a thrilling family fun-filled weekend.
On the Saturday, you can watch the thrilling Clovelly Cup yacht race and a 2 mile sponsored swim from Bucks Mills to Clovelly.
And on Saturday and Sunday, there will be stalls selling delicious food and BBQs, with much entertainment for all, including live music, stilt entertainers, event-themed arts & crafts, story-telling, children’s activities, Punch & Judy, face painting, competitions and lifeboat operational displays.
Hartland Abbey
Monday 5th August 5pm
Open-Air Theatre "Gangster Granny" by David Walliam (Heartbreak productions) 5pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
PLUS drama workshop (6-11 years) with Sophie and Gabby £5.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows. Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING:Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
Thursday 15th August 7pm
Open-Air Theatre "Much ado about nothing" by William Shakespeare (The Festival Players) 7pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows. Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING:Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
Thursday 22nd August 7pm
Open-Air Theatre "Frankenstein" (Illyria) 7pm at Hartland Abbey. Ticket prices £13/£10.
Grounds open free to those attending performances 1 hour before start of 5pm shows, 2 hours before 7pm
shows. Bring rugs/low backed seating/picnics. Refreshments. Bar. Barbecue, Ice creams. Cream teas before 5pm
shows.
BOOKING: Please contact the Plough booking office direct on 01805 624624 or online via:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
You can join our Facebook and Twitter feeds for up to date information and special offers. https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/
Clovelly Gig Regatta
Saturday 24th August 2019
Gig racing is exciting and strenuous, with crews reaching speeds of nine knots in North Devon's powerful tidal waters. You are assured an exhilarating day's racing. So come along and cheer on the brave crews! Normal admission charges apply, please consult www.clovelly.co.uk for details.
September
Clovelly - Lobster and Crab Feast 10th Anniversary!
September 1st, 2019
Clovelly celebrates its famous lobsters and crabs sustainably caught by its fishermen with a great day out for all the family.
In aid of the National Lobster Hatchery, who will be exhibiting baby lobsters before releasing them into the sea at the beginning and end of the day. Consequently they are best known for their lobster stock enhancement programme. They rear baby lobsters from eggs, the most vulnerable stage of their life cycle, before releasing them back into the sea. As an example, they released 53,000 juveniles into the wild in 2014 and hope to increase the numbers over the next few years. Adopting a Lobster for just £4 helps pay for baby lobsters to be raised and released.
Live folk music, quay kitchens, cookery demonstrations, a magnum of champagne prize draw, delicious lobster and crab dishes, craft stalls and beer tasting. Plus street theatre, walkabout magic, balloon modelling and ArtyCrafts craft activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbMkHPKc2Lc
Standard admission charges include all entertainment.
Farmers Market
September, 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
October
Farmers Market
October 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly - Apple Day – Harvest Fayre
October 23, 2019
It is Apple Season – so we are holding our Fourth Apple Day with lots of lovely apple crafts and activities. On arrival at Clovelly you will see apple pressing by Gatcombe valley outside the Visitor Centre, so please do bring a bag of apples. Watch them being pressed and taste the fresh juice. Or if you wish, you can bring more for pasteurisation and bottling for which there will be a charge (£1.90 per 75 cl bottle).
Crafts and and activities;
On entry to Clovelly (free for children under 7 years old), you will find the Apple Day crafts and activities in the Visitor Centre from 11:00-16:00. The round shape of the apple with the great reds and greens makes the apple a perfect base for creating art. So enjoy some Apple Art with The Plough and either carve, sculpt, decorate or do all of them with your apple.
There will also be live music, apple bobbing, apple stamping and making corn dollies.
Storytelling
Isabella Necessity on her Story Bicycle will be there to tell stories of her orchard escapades and share snippets of apple folklore. Isabella is a bicycling botanist who loves to share stories from her incredible journeys around the world with the people she meets along the way. She has flown with the blue butterflies of Brazil in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, outwitted trolls in the fjords of Norway, learnt Kung-Fu on the Mountain of Kunyu and rested in a robin’s nest on Dartmoor. With delightful storytelling, gorgeous illustrations, unexpected wonders and a handsome Story Bicycle called Dilys, Isabella will whisk you away to another world.
Farmers market and competition
There will be a small farmers market, including a pick of pumpkins, vegetables, herbs, and cider amongst other stalls. Merry Harriers Garden Centre will also have some of their interesting products on display. The RNLI will be hosting our Apple Crumble competition (so please bring your crumbles at 10:00 to enter). They will be also selling lovely homemade cakes and apple deserts.
Harvest Hunt, Garden Tour and Chef demonstration
At 13:00 pm, families can take part in a fun Harvest Hunt with the Clovelly Tour Guide, Jana Edwards, who will take you down around the craftyard and Mount Pleasant. She will tell spooky stories and looking for clues to win a harvest treat back at the Visitor Centre. Please book your place on arrival as spaces are limited.
Again this year, our Head Gardener, will offer a garden tour at 14:30.
Then don’t miss our Chef demonstration at 16:00.
Timings
Apple pressing: 11:00-13:00; Apple day activities: 11:00 – 16:00; Harvest Hunt 12:30-13:30; Garden Tour: 14:00-15:00; Chef Demonstration: 15:30-16:00
November
Farmers Market
November, 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly Herring Festival.
November 17, 2019
Clovelly Herring Festival always falls in November. It’s the time of year when our historic village celebrates the coming of the great “Silver Darlings”, better known as Herring. We celebrate and promote this tasty, nutritious fish whilst supporting sustainable fishing. The village always depended on the harvest of herring, caught in superb condition for a short season off this coast. Records go back over 400 years and in 1749 there were about a hundred herring boats in the port. When fishing was good, 9000 herring could be landed at one time. Those days of massive catches are long gone. These days we have just two herring fishermen, both employing sustainable fishing methods using only drift nets and long lines.
The Maritime historian and writer, Mike Smylie, attends with his “Kipperland” exhibition, which is devoted to the history of all things herring. Mike also turns the herring into delicate-tasting kippers and bloaters in his smokehouse for sale.
Flaxland was unfortunately unable to join the event last year, but will do this year with their exhibitions and demonstrations. An opportunity to discover how the flax plant is used to make a vast range of goods.
On the quay, kitchens serve a variety of delicious herring specialities along with beer tastings, local food and craft stalls. And throughout the day there will be live music, street entertainers, face-painting & henna tattoos, and an exhibition of Clovelly herring fishing.
You can also learn how to handcraft bowls from sea debris at the ‘Beach clean’ bowl workshops. Clearing beach debris keep it free from ropes and nets, which are harmful to wildlife and sea creatures. Washhouse Studio is fully supplied with equipment from Beach Care and Keep Britain Tidy to organise beach cleans with the local general public. All such debris gets collected and taken back to the studio so it can be re-used to make beautiful bowls.
Sustainable Fish education will have tasters and information on cooking herrings and information on their current projects.
There will also be a North Devon Hospice 3km Fun Run along Hobby Drive. To take part nearer the time, please sign up online at https://www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/ or contact them on 01271347232.
The Clovelly Herring Festival features in lots of publications and TV programmes and is one of the best five autumn food festivals.
December
December, 10am-1pm, Parish Hall, Hartland. On the first Sunday of every month from March - December, come along the the Hartland Farmers Market & Cafe. Delicious local produce, real slow food, organic produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, local bakery...and so much more. There are also local arts and crafts and delicious breakfasts, pastries and drinks from the cafe (run by Amy and her team from the Point@Hartland Point). Come and support local business, find a unique gift and treat yourself to some delicious food. See here for more details
Clovelly - Christmas Lights in aid of the R.N.L.I.
December 01, 2019
Christmas lights in the village makes this such a magical time at Clovelly. It starts at 3:30 pm in the afternoon. A local brass band leads the procession down to the harbour with festive Christmas carols sung along the way.
There’ll be a hog roast, hot dogs, Christmas grog and other refreshments available at the Harbour and Lifeboat Station and Father Christmas will make a surprise visit.
After the Carol Service lead by a local vicar and sung by a local choir, the switch is thrown and the entire village and harbour lights up. It’s a fantastic sight!
Then there is a grand finale of fireworks to finish off the festivities.
For those in the mood for a light snack or dinner, the Red Lion bar and restaurant are open as is the the Up-along bar at the New Inn.
Entrance fee: £5 per car at the Visitor Centre after 3 pm. All proceeds to RNLI.
Clovelly - Boxing Day Barbecue
December 26, 2019
Boxing Day Barbecue should make the perfect follow-up to Christmas day for all your family and friends.
Enjoy a lunch barbecue with live music on the quay with FREE entrance into the village all day. So come and park at the Visitor Centre. Take a walk along the estate and/or explore the village in the morning. Then come on down to the Red lion on the quay. Cooking starts at midday and the live music runs from 1pm to 3pm.
The Red Lion serves some great mulled cider. If you are more of a chocolate person, then try one of the delicious, hot chocolate drinks
There will be a Land Rover available this year if you do not wish to walk back up.
Clovelly - New Years Eve Fancy Dress Party
December 31, 2019
New Year’s Eve Fancy Dress Party is fast becoming one of the most popular events in Clovelly’s calendar. Dressing up is always great fun. Becoming a pirate or something similar for the night helps the party go with a bang! Come and help us celebrate our historical links with these rogues. Consequently lots happen throughout evening including wonderful food and plenty of grog to choose from. There is also a pirate disco running throughout the evening. And fires and gunpowder are set off to illuminate the quay and celebrate another year’s passing.
It’s a thrilling way to welcome the New Year within the unique atmospheric of our village setting. Tell your friends and book, as tickets go very quickly.
Stay in either of Clovelly’s inns or B&Bs. The Red Lion lies at the harbour and the New Inn at the heart of the village. A delicious dinner is served at the Red Lion Harbour Restaurant and a good standard English pub dinner at the New Inn Up-a-long Bar.
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