The Stables Oakhurst

18/10/2026

Nature’s Wonders

After last night’s stunning sunset, beautifully captured by our son using his drone, we had a feeling we were in for a rather special day. And Dartmoor certainly didn’t disappoint!

Setting off from The Stables, we headed towards Yennadon Quarry before taking the gentle climb towards the track leading to the aptly named ‘Million Pound Bridge’.

This well-used route, popular with both walkers and cyclists, winds its way across the open moorland towards Princetown, offering some wonderful views along the way.

Today, though, we fancied exploring a little further afield, so we left the main track and headed towards Walkhampton, with a stop at St. Mary’s Church along the way.

I was particularly keen to see if we could find the headstones of members of the Prowse family, who have a connection to Oakhurst and its history. Unfortunately, time and the elements haven’t been kind to many of the old gravestones. Some have become badly weathered over the years, while others are now hidden beneath overgrowth, making our search rather difficult.

It looks as though I’ll have to make another visit, perhaps when someone is available at the church to point me in the right direction. There’s still a little more local history to uncover!

From the church, we followed a lovely tree-lined lane down towards Walkhampton village and the The Walkhampton Inn. Of course, no country walk would be complete without a little pit stop, and by that, I mean a tasty bite to eat and a well-earned drink!

Suitably refreshed, we continued our circular route, climbing out of the village towards Yelverton, before making our way back across the crossroads and up Lake Lane towards Oakhurst.

All told, it’s a walk of just under five miles, and took us a couple of hours, including our leisurely lunch stop. But when the weather is this beautiful and the views are this spectacular, there really is no need to hurry.

Days like today remind us just how fortunate we are to live on the edge of Dartmoor. From the ever-changing skies and sweeping moorland views to the quiet lanes, hidden corners and little pieces of history waiting to be discovered, there’s always something new to enjoy, even on a familiar walk.

We hope you enjoy a few of today’s photographs as much as we enjoyed the walk itself.

Sometimes, the best days are simply those spent outdoors, taking the long way home.

The Stables – Oakhurst
Your little corner of Dartmoor.

08/10/2026

Pride of place

During the early stages of renovating The Stables, we had to remove the internal walls and dig up the old concrete floor. Little did we know at the time just how much history was hiding beneath our feet.

If you’ve been following us from the beginning, you may remember that we discovered numerous Victorian glass bottles, a candle s***f, two porcelain chicken eggs and, perhaps most intriguingly of all, a small brass name plaque.

Engraved on the plaque were the words “Mr A P Prowse”, the name of Albert Philpott Prowse, the original owner of the land and the man who had Oakhurst and the stables built.

Finding something so personal, hidden away beneath the old floor for who knows how many years, was a real highlight of the renovation. It felt like uncovering a little piece of the people who had lived and worked here long before us.

Recently, a good friend of ours, Lucy from Ballard Bespoke Framing (Whitchurch) very kindly framed the plaque for us, and we couldn’t be happier with how it has turned out. Thank you so much Lucy.

We deliberately resisted the temptation to flatten, polish or clean the plaque, choosing instead to leave it exactly as we found it. The years of age and wear are part of its story, and I think the colours and patina are rather beautiful.

Now all we need to do is find the perfect place to hang it…

After all, Mr A P Prowse was here first.

25/09/2026

Bidding Farewell to Summer

It’s hard to believe that summer has already slipped away and autumn has arrived at The Stables, Oakhurst.

The first signs are certainly here. The trees around the property have begun to turn, and their golden-brown leaves are already carpeting our new driveway. My trusty new leaf blower is getting plenty of use as we try to keep on top of them, although we’re also gathering as many as we can for this year’s compost heap. Nothing goes to waste here!

Meanwhile, life at Oakhurst has been a little busier than usual. Our son and daughter-in-law have settled in really well, and the building work on their new extension is now underway. It’s wonderful to see their plans finally taking shape.

The good news is that we’ve already started taking bookings for November onwards, when they’ll be moving back into their newly completed home.

Winter brings a few new challenges to The Stables, but it also brings some of our favourite days of the year. There’s something rather special about those crisp, cold mornings when the temperature drops and the countryside seems to come alive.

And after a chilly walk across Dartmoor, there can be few better places to return to than The Stables, light the woodburner, put your feet up and settle in for a cosy evening while the fire takes the chill from the day.

Snow is never guaranteed here on the edge of Dartmoor, but when it does arrive, the scenery is simply stunning. A short walk up towards Burrator can reward you with views that look like they’ve been lifted straight from a picture book.

So, if you fancy escaping for a few days this winter, wrapping up warm, exploring Dartmoor at its most atmospheric and then relaxing beside the fire, take a look at The Stables on cottages.com.

We’d love to welcome you to Oakhurst, and perhaps even provide the perfect excuse for a winter getaway.

We look forward to seeing you.

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/UK52150

04/09/2026

Supporting Children’s Hospice South West.

We’re really pleased to be able to support our niece, Kerry Higginson, and her friends as they help organise a very special charity event in aid of Children's Hospice South West.

Mums on a Mission is a wonderful group of mums from Little Harbour, the local hospice supporting families across Plymouth and the surrounding area.

Kerry, Bex, Ruth and their families have all experienced the incredible support Little Harbour provides, from respite care and sibling support to bereavement care, and so much more. It’s a charity that makes an enormous difference to families when they need it most.

To help with the fundraising, we’re delighted to be donating a two-night stay at The Stables as an auction prize.

This really is a fantastic cause and one that is very close to our family’s hearts. If you’re able to help, please do, whether that’s buying a raffle ticket, booking a seat at a table, sharing the event with friends and family, or simply spreading the word.

Every bit of support will help Mums on a Mission raise much-needed funds for Little Harbour and the families who rely on its amazing support.

Please get behind them if you can, together, we can help make a difference.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18keohE7RQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Join us for an incredible evening of fun whilst raising vital funds for Children’s Hospice South West

03/09/2026

Tall Tales and Good Nights

Sadly, we were away when our latest guests arrived, so we didn’t get the chance to meet them in person on this occasion.

When I first met Alex, my immediate thought was, “I hope the bed is long enough!”

As you can imagine, being a basketball player, Alex is pretty tall to say the least. Then, when he mentioned that his girlfriend also plays basketball, I started to wonder whether we might have two very tall guests facing a rather uncomfortable night’s sleep!

Thankfully, my concerns were completely unfounded. The bed passed the test with flying colours, and they both enjoyed their stay, making the most of the weather, a mixture of rain and sunshine, to explore some of the local attractions and even fitting in a jog or two around beautiful Burrator Reservoir.

It’s always lovely to hear that our guests have enjoyed both The Stables and the area around us, even if, on this occasion, we didn’t get to meet them ourselves, until the last morning of their stay.

Unfortunately, The Stables will be taking a little break over the next two and a half months while our son and daughter-in-law stay with us during the construction of an extension to their home.

But we’ll be back up and running before we know it, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming our next visitors in the autumn.

To check future availability, please visit our rental website.

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/UK52150

22/08/2026

The Extra Mile

Sadly, our guest this week wasn’t visiting The Stables for pleasure, but to make arrangements following a very sad family loss. Our thoughts are with her and her family at what must be an incredibly difficult time.

After a recent knee replacement, and now experiencing some problems with her hip, we wanted to make her stay here just a little easier. So, we installed a support rail by the front door and provided a temporary step to make getting into The Stables a little more manageable.

It’s a small thing, but sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. And although these were put in place for our guest this week, they’ll hopefully make The Stables more accessible and comfortable for any future guests who may need a little extra assistance.

We’re having a slightly quieter week here at The Stables before our next guests arrive, on the 28th of this month, for a five day stay. Which probably means there’s no excuse for putting off a bit of gardening!

The hot summer certainly took its toll on some of the shrubs we planted earlier in the year, so there’s a little TLC needed outside. It’s all part of the ongoing journey of getting Oakhurst and The Stables just how we want them.

There’s also plenty happening locally this between now and September . . .

Dartmoor Outdoor Festival -
Running from Friday the 28th of August to Friday the 4th of September, with Princetown at the heart of the festival. There’s a fantastic mix of walks, outdoor activities, talks, workshops, films, climbing, navigation, live music and plenty more taking place across Dartmoor.

Tavistock Canal Guided Walk - Saturday the 29th of August.

The Tavistock Heritage Trust is holding a guided walk along the historic Tavistock Canal, starting at the Visitor Information Centre at 2pm.

The walk is around 5 miles and takes approximately 3 hours, exploring the fascinating history of the canal and its links to Sir Francis Drake.

So, while things may be a little quieter here at The Stables this week, there’s certainly plenty going on just a short drive away.

17/08/2026

Cycling Holiday

Our departing guests this week have certainly made the most of their stay, exploring some of the stunning scenery around Dartmoor and even venturing over into Cornwall on one of their rides.

One of the routes from The Stables they took was from Dousland up to Princetown, across to Tavistock, on to Yelverton and then back to Dousland, around 27 miles in total. I believe they may have also done a few laps of Burrator on this particular ride?

Considering the temperature during their stay, that was some feat.

A huge thank you to you both for your lovely comments about your stay. It was a real pleasure meeting you, and we hope you have a safe journey home and plenty of happy memories of your time here.

There are plenty of other routes to discover too, both on and off road. Whether you’re looking for a gentle ride taking in the scenery or something that really gets the legs working, Dartmoor certainly has something for everyone.

Today is another quick changeover for us, as we get The Stables ready to welcome our next guest, who’ll be staying with us for five days.

And there’s plenty going on locally this coming week, including:

RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend, at the former RAF Harrowbeer airfield in Yelverton on Saturday 22nd August, from 9am–5pm.

Yelverton to Tavistock Ramblers Walk, a 12-mile walk via Doublewaters, setting off at 10am on Saturday.

Tavistock Street Food Festival, also on Saturday in Bedford Square, with plenty of tempting treats to choose from.

Sadly, our new guest may miss these particular events, but we’re looking forward to seeing what adventures she gets up to during her five days with us.

One thing’s for certain… there’s always another road, another view and another little adventure waiting to be discovered around here!

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/UK52150

10/08/2026

Our first changeover!

Our very first guests have now departed and have headed off on the next leg of their adventure, Bath first, followed by the Yorkshire Dales. They’re on a two-month road trip from their home near Paris, so we were delighted that The Stables could be part of their journey.

We’ve just completed our first changeover clean (and breathed a small sigh of relief!) and are now getting everything ready for our next guests, who arrive shortly for a seven-night stay.

And what a few days they’ve picked for their visit!

There’s the World Championship Fireworks Competition in Plymouth on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th, a partial solar eclipse on the 12th, and the Perseid meteor shower reaching its peak around the 12th and 13th.

Thankfully, we’re lucky enough to have very little light pollution here at Oakhurst, so if the skies stay clear, our guests should have a fantastic view of the meteor shower right from here.

Not a bad way to spend your first few nights at The Stables.

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/UK52150

04/08/2026

First ‘official’ guests

After a few wonderful weeks preparing for our son’s wedding and reception here at Oakhurst, tomorrow we welcome our very first official guests to The Stables.

The wedding day couldn’t have been more perfect. We were blessed with beautiful weather, and it was a day we’ll never forget.

I have to admit, I’m feeling a little nervous today, perhaps even more than I was hosting the wedding reception! We want to make sure everything is just right and that our first guests, along with their little one, have a truly special stay.

Our hope is that they leave with wonderful memories and that Oakhurst becomes a place they’ll always look back on with a smile.

We still have some availability this month and then we’re fully booked through until the end of November.

20/06/2026

Thank you, one and all . . .

Fi and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who liked, commented on, shared, and followed our page after our last post. The support, encouragement, and kind words we’ve received have been genuinely appreciated and have meant a great deal to us.

As we continue this exciting new chapter, it’s wonderful to have so many people following along on the journey. Thank you for being part of it.

Scott and Fi