... 2 miles south-west of Lydford and 1 from its gorge, 400 yards of private farm-lane end at Burnville Farm, a lovely farmstead amid beech trees. It is on the side of a shallow stream-valley with supreme views of Dartmoor hills and tors and to Brentor’s peak-top church, from almost anywhere on the 250 acre working farm (direct moor access from it). There are sheep, cattle, ponies, pigs, chickens, ornamental pheasants. You can "go anywhere" (owners) on the farm and help is most welcome. Stabling/grazing for your own ponies/horses, a pond (picnicking), with mallard, moorhen and usually Canada geese in spring; badgers and foxes about. Clay pigeon shooting and instruction, archery tuition (equipment provided) and mountain bikes (adults’ and children’s) by arrangement. Outdoor heated swimming pool (32’ x 16’ and 3’6" to 8’ deep, available 28 May to 18 Sept) and hard tennis court shared with owners. Fun badminton and volleyball. Games room (6’ pool table, table tennis, skittle alley) and well-equipped gym in a refurbished barn. Lovely walled vegetable garden. Fresh veg. available in season, and eggs. Meals available in the owners' house. Golf and gliding, 2 miles.

For you to stay in are the original stone farmhouse (A121) or a large Victorian house (A122), 200 yards up the private lane, a converted coachhouse (A120), roughly midway between the two, or a converted barn (A51) a mile away. The extremely nice owners live nearby but out of sight and do B&B in their own house.

... a mile away by car or a 10 minute walk across Burnville Farm, is the Red Barn, highly successfully converted, surrounded by its own enclosed garden with terrace at the back. It shares the tennis court, swimming pool and all other facilities at the farm; has splendid long views over farmland to the moor.

Front door to good-sized hall off which the very spacious, stylish beamed living room with windows all one side and doors to terrace, fireplace (woodburner), deeply comfy sofas, books, antiques and good paintings, TV/DVD/video, wood floors with rugs over. Lockable door to an indoor swimming pool (15’ x 8’ x 3’ - ‘endless pool’ with variable river flow for ambitious swimmers) and jogging and rowing machines in panelled room with glazed door to terrace. Pretty dining/fitted kitchen, well-equipped, excellent handmade fitments (dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer), pine dining table, glazed doors to little patio (table/chairs). Utility room with washing machine, tumble drier; downstairs loo (washbasin). All downstairs floors except living room have good terracotta tiles.Upstairs, three pretty, very individual bedrooms, all with superb views - a double with 5’ brass bed and en suite bathroom (suite plus hand-shower), another double with 5’ pine bed and en suite bathroom (suite plus triple tray power-shower), a twin with antique Victorian beds and en suite bathroom (suite plus hand-shower). Cautionary Deposit £100. A really fine five star cottage.