Rural Self-Contained Annexe. Close To Dartmoor, Tamar River & Historic Towns, Tavistock

Devon. Sleeps up to 2

The Leat at The Old Mill is a 2 person, self contained annexe attached to a charming, 600 year old converted water mill in a forgotten valley just West of Dartmoor in a tranquil and romantic setting.
The space
The Old Mill at Sydenham Damerel dates back to the mid 1400s and was originally a Corn Mill, built by the Abbots of Tavistock who owned the whole of the lower part of the Tamar Valley.

Sitting half a mile from the mighty River Tamar which is the boundary between Devon & Cornwall, in just over an acre of forgotten valley, things have barely changed here in the last 1000 years. The unrivalled peace and quiet and natural beauty that comes with being on the western edge of Dartmoor is a given. However, we are also less than 10 minutes by car from the historic West Devon county town of Tavistock with its wide range of shops, pubs and eateries and the famous Pannier Market if you need anything.

The Leat was a sympathetic stone built addition to the Old Mill, built in what used to be the mill leat which fed water to wheel and then on into the brook which runs along to bottom of our garden.

The surrounding valley is an unspoilt oasis for wildlife. We regularly see: weasels, deer, birds of prey, butterflies, slowworms, water voles, pipistrelle bats, plus every songbird imaginable. The only sounds you’ll hear are lambs and calves in the local fields and a dawn chorus every morning. Truly an oasis of peace and quiet.
Guest access
In 2021, we turned the Leat into a stylish, self contained annexe for the use of our families and paying guests at certain times of the year.

In spite of the simplicity, The Leat has every convenience imaginable, including a self contained, fully equipped kitchenette; dining and seating areas; high speed broadband; 4K TV and luxury king-size mattress and crisp bed linen. The bathroom has an excellent shower, luxury fittings and a heated shaving mirror. The Leat is full of natural light and feels very airy with its stylish, neutral decor and 10’ ceilings. You have the use of the mill-race sunken garden with its exotic planting with outdoor dining area and BBQ.
Our secluded orchard is also yours to use, with its shepherds hut, complete with Moroccan seating, wood burner and beautiful views down the valley. At nights you can sit outside in the orchard with the fire pit going and treat yourself to the most incredible display of stars as the light pollution here is non-existent.

Everything is spotlessly clean and you’ll find our attention to detail is present in everything we do here. In the age of COVID, we are particularly careful to sanitise everything between guests, so please bear with us on changeover days.
Other things to note
The Old Mill is our home and the Leat adjoins it, but you’ll find the areas we’ve set aside for guests are cleverly secluded from the main house and garden and it affords you plenty of privacy. You may be interested in the organic homestead fruit and vegetable garden we’ve established. Don’t be surprised if you end up with a basket of homegrown fruit, salad or whatever is in season!

We love animals and you’ll find our Border Terrier is very friendly and loves a cuddle. Unfortunately our cats struggle with other peoples dogs, so regrettably we can’t allow guests with dogs.

As a professional gay couple who moved down from London in search of a simpler life, you’ll find a warm welcome for couples of all backgrounds, race and ages. We welcome members of the LGBT+ community.

We ask that you respect our home and we’ll bend over backwards to make sure your stay in this unique place is special and relaxing.

Viv & Howard

Located in Tavistock, this apartment is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Calstock Arts Centre and Limekiln Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Tavistock Golf Club and St. Mellion Golf Club. Country Cheeses and Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre are also worth visiting. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.