Jane and I decided that we needed to get out of the office.. so we rang a few of our accommodation providers and asked if we could come and visit... When we set out just after lunch the weather was dry but overcast. By the time we reached the Oratory in Princetown, first picture, it was raining, but the warm welcome from Sally made up for that. The first shot is of one of her double rooms.It has a private shower room just along the corridor, a tea tray, telly and usual trimmings. On the way over Jane and I had discussed the merits of Princetown as a holiday destination, and it has much to commend it. For one it is at the hub of many breathtaking walks, there are several good places to eat that are not off the chart pricewise, and every vistor must have a natural curiosity about the prison itself. Masses of history, check out the Prison Museum. Sally offers 2 double rooms and a large annexe with it's own front door. She welcomes children and dogs and her vistors book is stuffed with complimentary comments.
Find her on our price range one page. http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/accommodation/dartmoor_b&b_price_range_1.html
Already behind schedule we arrived at 
Barnabas House in Yelverton just as Carolyn was taking cakes and quiches out of the oven that were destined for
a visit from the Bishop to the local church the following day. One thing I did comment on to Carolyn as we walked round taking pics of all the bedrooms, was that her whole house was gloriously clean without any whiff of the dreaded airfresheners and fabric conditioners that I often come across these days. I don't know why some landladies think that visitors will appreciate this overpowering usually cinnamon pong. In the early 80's Rob and I visited New York and the lasting memory is of the synthetic stink that whafted through any and every shopping mall. Carolyn agreed wholeheartedly that artificial cover up smells should be outlawed. Her's is the room with the purple throw on the bed. She has 7 rooms on offer in total. So if you have a group of 16 that you want to house, (the family room will take 5) then
Barnabas House in Yelverton just as Carolyn was taking cakes and quiches out of the oven that were destined fora visit from the Bishop to the local church the following day. One thing I did comment on to Carolyn as we walked round taking pics of all the bedrooms, was that her whole house was gloriously clean without any whiff of the dreaded airfresheners and fabric conditioners that I often come across these days. I don't know why some landladies think that visitors will appreciate this overpowering usually cinnamon pong. In the early 80's Rob and I visited New York and the lasting memory is of the synthetic stink that whafted through any and every shopping mall. Carolyn agreed wholeheartedly that artificial cover up smells should be outlawed. Her's is the room with the purple throw on the bed. She has 7 rooms on offer in total. So if you have a group of 16 that you want to house, (the family room will take 5) then
give her a ring in plenty of time. We were even further behind on the timetable when we arrived at Pixeycombe near to the 
village of Meavy where the cheerful Trevor ushered us in from the lashing rain and offered us tea and chocolate biscuits. Sue arrived in no time and we were treated to a tour of their comfortable family home to see the 2 letting rooms. The house is full of wonderful oil paintings and prints. I love the furnishings and the guest sitting room with it's giant settee and eye catching fireplace. This is one of those the bed and breakfasts where you arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. I know that sounds really corny, and I hate to see it on websites, but Trevor is friendly, interesting AND interested. Both he and Sue have enjoyed having folks to stay and share their space. They have an 11 year old son who meets a new set of friends each Summer, much as our 2 girls did in our busiest B&B years. The local pub, The Royal Oak in Meavy is perfect for evening meals. The pic above with the 2 double beds is the twin /family room which has an adjacent private bathroom. They have an impressive garden with views and a deep empty pond that Trevor refuses to fill in case any toddler comes to grief. Eggs for breakfast come from their own hens so of course they naturally get an extra tick there, me being bonkers about chucks.
Finally and after Jane had rung to apologise, we arrived at Hunter's Lodge, close to Badgers Holt at Dartmeet, a honeypot for holidaymakers in the centre of the Moor and overlooking the stunning River Dart. I have had Toni and John's B&B and annexe on my website for over 12 years and have tried to meet up with them a couple of times without success. Reticent about why I should need to visit them at all, I was hoping to reassure them that I am in no way a travel inspector or similar, merely that I want to have a look around their place for when visitors ask me the inevitable "What's it really like?" or "Do you rate it?" along with odd stuff like, "Can we bring a barbecue?" and "Is the bath big enough for my fat husband ?" (I kid you not)
village of Meavy where the cheerful Trevor ushered us in from the lashing rain and offered us tea and chocolate biscuits. Sue arrived in no time and we were treated to a tour of their comfortable family home to see the 2 letting rooms. The house is full of wonderful oil paintings and prints. I love the furnishings and the guest sitting room with it's giant settee and eye catching fireplace. This is one of those the bed and breakfasts where you arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. I know that sounds really corny, and I hate to see it on websites, but Trevor is friendly, interesting AND interested. Both he and Sue have enjoyed having folks to stay and share their space. They have an 11 year old son who meets a new set of friends each Summer, much as our 2 girls did in our busiest B&B years. The local pub, The Royal Oak in Meavy is perfect for evening meals. The pic above with the 2 double beds is the twin /family room which has an adjacent private bathroom. They have an impressive garden with views and a deep empty pond that Trevor refuses to fill in case any toddler comes to grief. Eggs for breakfast come from their own hens so of course they naturally get an extra tick there, me being bonkers about chucks.
Finally and after Jane had rung to apologise, we arrived at Hunter's Lodge, close to Badgers Holt at Dartmeet, a honeypot for holidaymakers in the centre of the Moor and overlooking the stunning River Dart. I have had Toni and John's B&B and annexe on my website for over 12 years and have tried to meet up with them a couple of times without success. Reticent about why I should need to visit them at all, I was hoping to reassure them that I am in no way a travel inspector or similar, merely that I want to have a look around their place for when visitors ask me the inevitable "What's it really like?" or "Do you rate it?" along with odd stuff like, "Can we bring a barbecue?" and "Is the bath big enough for my fat husband ?" (I kid you not)
The one point that I do wish to get across to you is that Hunter's Lodge is so much better than I was lead to expect from the website. Toni and John are quiet gentle people and their house is beautifully kitted out in a cross between Country Living and Amish style. There is no tv. Possibly because reception there might be poor, but largely I think because that is not their way. Help yourself to one of the many books on offer, meet up with the family around the fire in the sitting room, on the large comfy sofas. They will spend time showing you the best walks on a map that you can borrow.
John has taken the trouble to fit an almost silent extractor fan in an enclosed bathroom, and they were both keen to let me know. It is important to look after our holidaymakers in this way. I used to love waving folks off at the end of their stay, when I knew that they had taken a chance to unwind and recover in this quality landscape.
Toni and John will let you do just that without intruding. I plan to go back and see inside their holiday cottage at a later date as the weather by now was truly dire. But as we drove off through thick fog at Princetown we agreed that come Summer all these places will be ever better in the sunshine. All four of these B&B's can be found on my B&B's price range one page.
Here is the link :-
http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/accommodation/dartmoor_b&b_price_range_1.html
John has taken the trouble to fit an almost silent extractor fan in an enclosed bathroom, and they were both keen to let me know. It is important to look after our holidaymakers in this way. I used to love waving folks off at the end of their stay, when I knew that they had taken a chance to unwind and recover in this quality landscape.
Toni and John will let you do just that without intruding. I plan to go back and see inside their holiday cottage at a later date as the weather by now was truly dire. But as we drove off through thick fog at Princetown we agreed that come Summer all these places will be ever better in the sunshine. All four of these B&B's can be found on my B&B's price range one page.
Here is the link :-
http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/accommodation/dartmoor_b&b_price_range_1.html
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