16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park
Step back in time in this 16th century Grade ll listed cottage, situated on its own in 2.5 acres of woodland abundant in wildlife. Rabbits, foxes, squirrels. badgers deer and many species of birds are often seen. Because of it's location (the cottage is completely surrounded by moorland) it is a true walker's paradise. The moorland villages of Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Chagford and Widecombe-in-moor are within 15 minutes drive.
Please note we only accept bookings from Friday to Friday. There is no vehicular access to the property, you park at the top then walk 250m down hill through the woods, we supply a wheelbarrow for your luggage The property is not suitable for those with walking difficulties
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
If the heating is on, please turn it down to 15 degrees
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 8036309
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Newton Abbot
Located in Newton Abbot, this cottage is in a rural area. House of Marbles and Old Walls Vineyard are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Devon Guild of Craftsmen and Pixieland. Travelling with kids? Consider Higher Knowle and Stone Lane Gardens. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding, hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.
Is 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park on 14 Aug 2026 start from AU$215, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 16th Century Grade II Listed Cottage in Heart of Dartmoor National Park located?
This family-friendly Newton Abbot cottage is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Jay's Grave, Becky Falls and St Pancras Church. Grimspound is 3.1 mi (4.9 km) away.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The property was amazing, clean and exactly as described. Host was very helpful and checked in with us by text to make sure ok. A steep path down to property which is slippery when wet -the description made this very clear. We loved our stay!
Photos and reviews don't do this property justice, it was absolutely amazing. It was the perfect place to get away and quiet the mind, do a little art, and enjoy nature! I will definitely be back!
An absolute gem of a place. We were blessed with a week of good spring weather, which meant that every day we were able to have breakfast outside and enjoy the plentiful variety of bird song in the woodland. The walk down and up from the property is definitely not for those with any mobility or strength issues, but it just added to the sense of peace and isolation for us.
Location is best we ever had in the past 30 years in the UK. Because the cottage is a grade listing building (16th century) it's not easy to modernise (we talked with the incredibly sympathetic owner mrs. Clare Head).But after some days we got used to it and often stayed home enjoying the silence and abundance of fauna.
Horrendous weather impacted hugely but still a lovely break. The cottage was very damp but once the heating and fire were on it was. The bathroom left a little to be desired but as long as you are prepared to rough it a bit a great way to enjoy Dartmoor rain or not.
This place is truly wonderful, almost like something out of a fairytale. Deep in the heart of Dartmoor, 300 yds from the road, down in a beautiful valley, you come across this gorgeous 500 year old cottage. Totally silent and truly cut off from “civilisation”, this is the place to be if you are looking for peace and quiet. I loved it and will be back for more, sooner rather than later. Ten out of ten, highly recommended.
This cottage is a magical place. It is completely hidden from the world and breathes another time. Birds and squirrels come to visit, even a fox lives on the grounds. The fireplace is where you snuggle up at night - like once upon a time. Although we had to battle the damp due to very wet weather we had THE most wonderful week. Thank you, Clare, for having us.
I immensely enjoyed my stay in Gratnor Cottage. What a magical, enchanting place! Don't miss the remains of the ancient settlement next to Hound Tor and the walk down into the woods. So beautiful. I will definitely come back. It's perfect to recharge your batteries and forget about the worries of the world.
Very friendly contact with host Clare. If I could I would give 10 stars.
What else can I say beyond the title of this review? Best means best. I extend my warmest thanks to our gracious host. We will visit again soon. Be forewarned: you must be in good physical condition to be able to walk up and down the steep path between your car and the cottage. Do NOT choose this property if 1) you have heavy or oversized luggage AND/OR 2) you are in any way unable to manage—let alone enjoy, as we did—the strenuous walk required to get there.
Gratnor is a fairy tale place. Leave your car at the top of the hill, walk across a field and down through the woods, over a little stream and into another world. You could stay here the whole time and not see another soul (other than the sheep in the field next door), or you can walk up on the moors all day and return for an evening by the fire. One week at the end of March and we had sunshine, torrential rain, high winds, hail, snow, thunder and lightning and a mini flood. And we loved every moment. If you like an old world adventure, this is the place to go.
This place is so remote, with only wildlife for company. A gorgeous cottage set amongst the woods with the moors to one side. The cottage is so well equipped with lots of nice little homely touches and an amazing log burner. The garden full of birds complete with feeders and a small pond, beautiful to sit in on a warm day. You could spend the whole time here and not see a sole (apart from maybe the farmer on his tractor in the nearby fields). It is a bit of a walk to get down through the woods but so worth it when you get there. Getting back up the hill takes a little longer!! A true hidden little gem.
We had an amazing week at this little idyllic cottage.
Family of 4, the 'Kids' are 16 and 20 happily shared the twin room.
I wished I had taken less when we first descended the steep path through the woods, but after a couple of ventures out, it became the perfect warm up to our Dartmoor tor adventures!
We cooked, talked, played games by the fire and my son took his guitar to entain us.
It really was the most perfect holiday.
The circular walk from the cottage around Houndtor to Haytor (8miles ish) was our favourite day. It was an easy walk with moderate elements. It was a hot day and we cooled off in streams along the way. The medieval village was beautiful.
The owners have done a wonderful job of adding just enough of the modern world in to the cottage so that you're comfortable, without drawing attention away from the charm and beauty of such a unique historic home.
The house was extremely clean when we arrived, the WiFi is good, but the views surrounding the garden, the lambs and sheep in the field next door and the array of birds visiting the garden (often tapping on the windows in the morning) were the real treats to wake up to every day. Its like the cottage is in its own little world.
I was expecting it to be a little chilly/ draughty as the cottage is so old, but despite horrendous weather on our first night we were perfectly cosy as the cottage is well looked after, heating is brilliant and you get a stunning open fire too!
Clare was really friendly and great at providing directions, tips for using the fire and looking after the cottage while we were there. We'd certainly stay again!
Geweldige tijd gehad in Gratnor Cottage! Omringd door natuur, vogels, schapen en een familie vossen. Knus huisje, met een fijne houtkachel, die we vanwege lage temperaturen echt nodig hadden. Aanrader!
Outstandingly cottage located in its own woods in the Dartmoor National Park. 5 minute walk and you are out on the moor with miles of walking available. Abundance of wild birds, roe deer and foxes within view of the cottage. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants some time a way from it all. Thank you!
I live in Devon with my husband and two children. My husband and I run a successful piano tuning and sales company. I am a keen naturalist, enjoying the delights of Dartmoor and the countryside around it. My interests include walking, cycling, dancing, and travelling, our family are active members of the Devon Wildlife Trust.
Why they chose this property
Gratnor Cottage was inherited by my in-laws. My self, my husband and brother in-law have now taken on the running of Gratnor. It is such a unique place, the first time I came to the cottage was on a hot summers day in 1989, Julian my husband (then friend) invited me to one of his legendary cottage party as I walked down the path through the woods I wondered if I was in the right place, as I rounded the corner I saw the cottage it was like something out of a fairy tail, it feels totally remote and you can feel the stress of modern day living draining away as soon as you arrive. we as a family have spent some very happy times here,I like the fact there's no TV. We walk,talk,read and play games. There is such an abundance of wildlife,Fox's,badgers,deer,barn owls are just some of the regulars.
What makes this property unique
Although Gratnor feels remote its in a great location for exploring Dartmoor, the moorland villages of Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Chagford and Widecombe-in-moor are all within a 10 minutes drive. If you love the countryside and particularly enjoy the wilderness and wildlife that Dartmoor offers, Gratnors the place to come, its a walkers paradise you just walk out the garden and your on the open moor, and when you come back you have the wood-burning stove to cosy up to. Its such a special place over 70% of our bookings are return visitors.
Languages:
English
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