Nestled right in the heart of the beautiful Dartmoor National Park, you’ll discover The Old Mill Annex in Ponsworthy. A 550 year old listed property that oozes charm and character, as well as having a couple of period property quirks… we will get to those later!
This self-contained Airbnb for two has everything you need for a weekend away, and makes the perfect bolthole for anyone wanting to explore some of Dartmoor’s scenic walking trails.
If you love escaping the busy modern day life and staying somewhere a little more remote for a spot of R & R. Well, this could be the perfect retreat for you.
In this article...
Kitchenette and dining space
As you unlock the cute pale-green stable door to the Old Mill Annex. You’ll step foot straight into the little kitchenette area with all the exposed wooden beams and old water mill mechanics. Although it’s small, this pretty kitchen area is surprisingly functional and has everything you’d need to rustle up something tasty.
When it come’s to cooking, they have a 2 ring induction hob along with a mini oven which sits on the wooden kitchen worktop. As for other appliances theres an under counter fridge, SMEG toaster & kettle, plus a swish Sage coffee machine and milk frothier for any coffee addict to enjoy.
The small kitchenette has everything else you would need like; pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, glassware, utensils and chopping boards. They even provided Yorkshire tea, coffee (both instant and Grind pods) sugar, salt, pepper and oil. We also had a few extra surprises like a couple Monty- Bojangles chocolate truffles, orange juice and a pint of milk in a glass bottle, supplied from the local farm.
Just off the kitchen, heading towards the rear of the building is a small table for two. The lovely hosts had even hung up a birthday banner as I mentioned to them that it was a birthday surprise. There was a beautiful and vibrant bouquet of fresh flowers in the window too, along with some Dartmoor magazines to flick through.
Shower room inside The Old Mill Annex
Welcome to the first quirk of this old property – the shower room. This little room is compact, but the hosts have been very creative and somehow managed to fit a shower, toilet and basin in here. The only flaw to this room (I don’t like to call it that though, so let’s call it a quirk) is the low level shower head. There is no option to create more headspace, as this property is hundreds of years old and listed.
If you’re around 5 foot tall then you’ll probably be just fine and won’t even notice it However, If you’re over 6 foot tall (like my fiance who’s 6ft 2) then you will look something like this…
We found this hilarious, but it’s just part and parcel of this old building and we absolutely loved it’s charm. I knew what I was booking anyway, as the hosts are upfront and honest about the height problem in their description.
Bedroom & living room area
To reach the bedroom you arrive at quirk no.2 – the stairs! These stairs are steep, with a gradient not too dissimilar to a ladder. Ok, thats a slight exaggeration, but they really are very steep! There is a rope handrail to help you navigate them, but do so gingerly. It does mean this property isn’t ideal for anyone who’s pregnant or struggling with mobility issues. Just because this could be a little tricky or dangerous for them to use safely.
Once you’ve made it upstairs you’ll find the cute bedroom and living room area. One entire wall has gorgeous exposed stone and 3 windows flood the space with natural light.
To the left is a cosy little nook with two tub chairs which is the perfect spot to unwind with a book. Or you can swivel the small TV to face either the seating area or the bed.
The comfortable bed came dressed in soft white bedding and was styled with a sage green throw. As it’s pushed up against the wall, one of you may have to climb over the other to get in or out of the bed. We loved that you could hear the gentle river trickling by as it sounded so peaceful at night. The perfect way to unwind and drift off to sleep.
If you want to unpack for a slightly longer stay and you don’t want to live out of your suitcase. Theres a good sized wooden wardrobe which comes with a few hangers, and you’ll find a hair dryer in there too.
Obviously as this historic building is so old, It goes without saying that you can expect some loud creaking floorboards when you’re up here!
Parking options
There are two options when it comes to parking at The Old Mill Annex. One is through a wooden gate which goes into the back garden of the hosts property. Or the easiest option (which is what we did) was to park just down the road over a narrow stone bridge beside an old red phone box. It’s under a minute walk from there to the property which worked perfectly.
Location of The Old Mill Annex
This isn’t the place to come if you want bars and nightlife, as the closest little town is roughly 30 minutes drive away through mostly narrow country lanes. You’ll see lots of sheep and Dartmoor ponies happily strolling along the roads without a care in the world. So take your time and be careful driving through Dartmoor national park.
You’ll be right in the heart of Dartmoor, as The Old Mill Annex is situated in a small and idllic rural hamlet called Ponsworthy. Which is around 3 miles from the better known Widecombe.
The annex is connected to the end of the main mill house, which is where the airbnb hosts and their young family live. You have to walk across their courtyard, but you do have your own private entrance into the annex.
At times we could hear muffled voices of the airbnbs family through the walls. Although this was mostly just downstairs where the original internal door would have been. We never heard anything when we were upstairs and overall it was very quiet.
Outdoor garden space
At the side of the annex there is a cute outdoor table and chairs area for guests to use. You may see the family walk past as they need to cross this area to reach their own garden, but they will try to give you as much privacy as possible during your stay. We didn’t end up using it as we were only there for one night, but it’s a nice little addition to the accommodation.
Places to eat nearby
Ponsworthy is a quiet hamlet so you’ll need to venture a little further afield to find some places to eat.
There are a few different local pubs nearby. But you will probably need to drive as walking could take quite a while through all the windy country lanes. We took a 10 minute drive to Holne to go for dinner at The Church House Inn. Which served traditional pub grub in a very olde-worlde pub with big open fireplaces. I bet it’s a true gem during the chilly winter months and feels super cosy when the fires are lit. There’s also the nearby Tavistock Inn and Rugglestone Inn. So you have a few dinner options if you’re staying at The Old Mill Annex for a few nights.
As for nearby breakfast options, we went for a 10 minute drive to Cafe on the Green which I highly recommend. The service was both friendly and speedy, and the food was delicious. Make sure you get the mini hash-brown bites as they are super crispy and moreish! Beside the cafe, you’ll see a good sized pay and display carpark. If you don’t have coins or phone signal, the cafe has free wifi so you can download the Ringo parking app and sort your parking ticket inside which is exactly what we had to do!
Another option is Ullacombe Farm near Haytor. As it’s so close to the popular Haytor Rocks walk, it’s probably best to book a table here to avoid disappointment. They even do takeaway lunches so you can have a picnic once you reach the impressive rock formations. Or it would be a good place to stop for a slice of cake and cup of tea after finishing your walk.
Dartmoor walks to do near the Airbnb
As the Old Mill Annex is right in the heart of Dartmoor, there are so many local walks to explore. We opted to do a 5 mile circular walk which took us across Haytor Vale, down into a valley and then back up the other side to Hound Tor, then back along to Haytor. I would say it was a moderate walk with a few steep inclines to tackle. I will write a separate blog post on how to do it soon.
If you wanted a shorter walk, both the tors have nearby carparks. So you can easily just go up and back to each one.
Other places to visit
It depends how much you want to travel, but as we were travelling from Somerset. We figured it would be a good time to visit the Eden Project whilst we were closer to Cornwall. Plus as this is included on our Newt membership, we got in for free! There’s also The Lost Gardens Of Heligan which is around 1.5 hours away. Or if you’re a National Trust member Lydford Gorge is only 40 minutes away.
Conclusion
We absolutely loved our stay at The Old Mill Annex. Not only is the location peaceful and idillic, but the place was full of historical charm which had all been lovingly renovated and designed to a high standard.
So long as you’re aware of the height constraints and ease of access to upstairs. You won’t be disappointed with your stay here.
The airbnb hosts were really responsive and incredibly helpful with local recommendations. I also really appreciated the little treats they had left us along with the personal touch of the birthday banner.
So if you’re after a cosy little bolthole to explore Dartmoor, definitely take a look at the Old Mill Annex in Ponsworthy.
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