The Hayloft at Manaton

The Hayloft occupies a converted hayloft above old stables in the hamlet of Water, about 400 yards from the pub in the Devon village of Manaton on the edge of Dartmoor. The cottage sleeps 6 across three bedrooms, each with its own en-suite, and has an enclosed courtyard for evenings outdoors.

A gravel path leads from the parking area, past the owners' farmhouse, through the courtyard to the front door and a tiled entrance hall for boots and outdoor gear. Stairs climb to a first-floor open-plan living space with views across the fields towards Black Hill, where a hand-built kitchen and dining area sit at one end and leather sofas gather around a woodburning stove at the other.

The three bedrooms sit off this floor: a king-size room with an en-suite shower room, a double with an en-suite bathroom that has a bath, and a twin that can convert to a king-size on request, also with its own en-suite shower room. A cot, highchair and stairgate are available on request, useful for family stays.

Two well-behaved dogs are welcome but need to stay on a lead outside the enclosed courtyard, because livestock and small children are nearby, and pets aren't allowed on the furniture or the beds. Some low windows have safety restrictors fitted, worth knowing if you're travelling with young children or pets. Off-road parking is provided for 2 cars, though the path from the car park crosses uneven granite steps worth planning around, and smoking isn't permitted anywhere on the property. The pub is 0.2 miles away.