Ellesmera Mill
Dartmouth, Devon, UK
400-year-old Ellesmera Mill is a bewitching blend of grace and rusticity, a place where old-world beauty abounds. In a tender restoration project, the owner has sourced vintage tiles and rugs from Morocco, transforming the old millhouse into a luxury self-catering sanctuary. Sheltered by trees in a secluded valley near Dartmouth and the South Hams, a gentle stroll through the valley leads to the cove of Blackpool Sands. Sunbathe on the beach, sway in the hammock and spend evenings stargazing from the hot tub.
Introduction
A haven of tranquillity sleeping up to ten guests, this stunning luxury millhouse promises to endlessly enrapture all who step into its world. Truly divine, inside Ellesmera Mill it's all open fires, white-washed beams and rough stone walls, whilst the garden is filled with fluttering butterflies, mature trees and stepping-stones leading to a wood-fired hot tub. The dreamy south Devon coast is almost within touching distance too, with Blackpool Sands just a short walk down the country lane. After dark, the cinema room makes for a fun and atmospheric arena for the evening's entertainment.
Inside
From starting your day with an aromatic cup of coffee in the kitchen to family suppers in the elegant dining room, Ellesmera Mill turns every meal into a special occasion. Gifting ample space to both come together and spread out, the sitting room is perfect for relaxed socialisation whilst the adjoining linhay with log burner was made for lovebirds looking to be alone. In the evening, gather for film nights in the cinema room before giving into tiredness and making tracks to one of the five bedrooms, each a blissful marriage of modern and rustic. Slip between cool, crisp sheets and fall asleep in blissful silence.
Outside
Old mill stone steps lead from the formal dining room to the deck, where a zinc-topped table invites guests to enjoy starlit feast nights. The coastal gardens are filled with delicate wildflowers and big shady trees, all enhanced by the pacifying sound of the trickling (unfenced) stream once used to power the mill. Let children run wild exploring their new terrain and making flower crowns, leaving grown-ups to pad around the garden between the sauna, hammock and steamy hot tub. With children tucked up in bed, grab some blankets and a bottle of wine and chatter away as an infinite number of stars pinprick the dark night sky.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 10 guests
From £3,595 per week, £3,150 per short break
Day hire options are available - Bedrooms and bathroomsOn the first floors (separate wings) are two double bedrooms both with king-size beds, one of which has an extra single bed in the room. On the second floors are two further double bedrooms with king-size beds, and a separate single bedroom. There is a family bathroom with roll-top bath and Moroccan plaster shower, a second floor Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared between the single and one of the double bedrooms, and a shower room on the ground floor.
View bedrooms - FeaturesWood-fired hot tub, sauna, cinema room with table football
- PetsSorry, no pets
- Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyYes, children are very welcome. One cot and highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThere is private parking for three cars. Please note, access to the house is down a narrow lane. The rustic farmhouse-style kitchen has an Aga, electric oven, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave and Nespresso coffee machine. A washing machine and tumble dryer can be found in the utility room. Please note, the mobile signal is patchy and WiFi speed limited due to the remote location. The stream which runs through the garden is not fenced so please exercise due diligence if you are travelling with young children.
- Homestay includesLuxury welcome hamper with Devon cream teas and the owner´s choice of French wines, TVs with Freesat, Sonos sound system in cinema room, iPad, landline, charcoal barbecue, linen and towels, fresh flowers, books, logs and kindling to get you started...House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RestrictionsParties considered on prior permission from the owner
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Dartmouth
A major harbour town on the River Dart with valley walks and rolling countryside, Dartmouth is a great base for exploring local towns and beaches, but it´s just as lovely for grabbing a beer and watching the boats go by.
Getting there
- On the Map Ellesmera Mill is located in the Blackpool Valley near Dartmouth, close to Salcombe and Dartmoor in Devon's South Hams district.
- By Car From London, take the M4 toward Bath, take M5 South and follow the directions provided to the property.
- By Train Totnes station is around 30 minutes away, offering regular trains from London Paddington with a journey time of approximately three hours.
- By Air The nearest airport is Exeter, one hour away by car.
From the owner
“Sleeping to the sound of the stream in the garden and enjoying the tranquillity of the ancient Blackpool Valley surroundings; strolling down the lane as the children try to identify the wildflowers on the way; then swimming in the sea and having brunch at the beach café... all makes for a perfect day.”
An old mill built some 400 years ago, Ellesmera Mill was one of four mills positioned along the stream (River Em) which runs through the garden. Evidence of the house's former life can be seen in the wooden posts in the hall which held the wheel fixings, as well as outside in the form of the original mill stones which are now the steps from the dining room to the deck.
We find the Blackpool Valley in which the house sits to be a tranquil and very special coastal retreat. Strongly echoing this sentiment, the former owners (who undertook the original restoration work) inscribed a Latin quotation on the sitting room beam. This translates as “this corner of the earth smiles for me more than any other”.
For those looking to explore the Devonshire coast, there are many beaches, walks and restaurants nearby, as well as numerous places to visit in the glorious South Hams. That said, simply staying at home and enjoying the surrounding wildlife, lying in the hammock, lighting the wood burning hot tub and staring up at the amazing night skies is just as glorious.
The Bird Family
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Dartmouth with an insider’s perspective.
To Do
Salcombe Gin School
The fabulous people at Salcombe Gin have now set up their own school for gin enthusiasts. Head over to learn about how to make your own gin, including mixing your own botanicals, and glean some skills to wow your friends with back home.
To See
Dartmoor Zoo
Based on a true story, this is the zoo that inspired the film "We Bought a Zoo" starring Matt Damon. It´s small and so easy to get up-close to the animals, including tigers and lions.
To Do
Take to the Water
For a scenic and relaxing afternoon, take a boat trip on the River Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth. Or, for the more adventurous, try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding with local family-run Discovery Surf School.
To Eat
The Seahorse
The Seahorse is an excellent restaurant specialising in seafood, situated on the picturesque banks of the River Dart in Dartmouth town. They offer an extensive wine list of over 180 bins, all carefully hand-selected for seafood.
Guest Testimonials
Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google
It worked really well for my children and grandchildren, with plenty of space and separate areas - we never felt on top of each other. The location was great for the beach and local area, and was beautifully peaceful.
A magical home in a beautiful location. A week here with our friends to celebrate our civil partnership! Thank you so much for your wonderful welcome. We have loved our stay and don´t want to leave. We will miss dipping in the stream after the sauna, swimming in the sea, gazing at the stars, and toasting in front of the fire. We could not have wished for a better home to celebrate in.
This beautiful house became our home to welcome in the new decade. We´ve enjoyed hot tub evenings under the stars, carefree walks down to the beach and cozied up by the crackling fire, before settling into the most comfortable beds. Thank you for looking after us and a very happy new year to all the lucky guests still to stay!
A brilliant holiday in a beautiful house. Such a gorgeous location to celebrate turning 40 with the nearest and dearest, we´ll be back!
We have had a super week here! The whole week was so relaxing, from log fires, hot tubbing, and beach trips. We hope to be back one day. Thank you for sharing it with us and thank you for looking after us, it was magical!
We have had a lovely weekend it´s been very restful. The local area was lovely and we managed to get out on the boat. The house is full of character and we enjoyed toasting marshmallows on the log burner outside. The hot tub took a while to heat but was lovely at night!
Thank you for such a wonderful stay in this beautiful house, we will cherish the memories and the comfort of the mill. We can´t wait to come back. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your special house.
A lovely few days here at the house, it´s so cosy with the fires lit and blankets out. Greeted every morning by a grouse in the yard, like stepping back in time with the stay!
We loved every inch of this house, garden, and surrounding area. We had beautiful weather and swam in the sea every morning. Such a lovely walk to the beach, breakfast outside, lunch in the sun by the hot tub, wonderful dinners in the dining room, followed by coffee in the outside room, with fires lit everywhere! Just enchanting. The decor is beautiful, the bed linen gorgeous, thank you for making it all so beautiful and for sharing.
A beautiful house and environs, the perfect antidote to a hectic and high octane life in London. Just what we needed. The sauna is divine, the quiet heavenly, and the decor intelligent and peaceful. Much Scrabble and table football was lost and won!
Three generations of our family have just enjoyed a wonderful week together here, a very special time. We had rain, shine, every kind of weather, and loved it all. A beautiful house and so well equipped, much better than at home! Thank you for lots of happy memories.
I would like to say how much we adored the house and the surrounding area. Please pass on our thanks to the owners, we didn’t want to leave! We had breakfast outside every day and when the sun moved behind the trees at lunchtime we sat at the table in the back garden. We loved the outdoor snug and played cards there in the evening after supper, we swam in the stunning Blackpool sands every morning and enjoyed the walk to Stoke Fleming to the Green Dragon. Thank you to all and we look forward to staying in another unique home in the future.
From start to finish we have had a wonderful weekend. The welcome was most warming, greeted with flowers all around the house, mince pies on the table, milk and eggs in the fridge and fresh bread too. The luxurious hamper didn’t disappoint either. We felt very comfortable in this beautiful home and loved the open fire and woodburners. We were able to indulge ourselves with the hot tub and sauna and listening to the sound of the stream was idyllic! The quality of the furnishings, down to the linen and towels were all exceptional. We will be back!
We had a lovely time here at Ellesmera Mill. We´ve especially enjoyed going in the hot-tub and the sauna. The house is so cosy which has made my mum very happy! Thank you for making our stay that little bit more special. We hope to come back again. P.S. the hamper was amazing (especially the scones and cream!)
This was our second visit to Ellesmera Mill and we had a fabulous weekend enjoying the hot tub and sauna. The weather was kind, although we couldn´t resist the lure of the fires. We loved the wonderful hamper with local goodies. Thank you for looking after us!
We go away together every year and this has to be one of the best places we have stayed. From the luxurious linen and towels, to the goody basket and all the little extras. Love, love, love the bath products! Thank you so much for having us!
I have to say that this was simply the most incredible property we have ever stayed in! A beautiful house in the most wonderful spot in Devon. The attention to detail, the interiors, the comfort, the facilities, the location - it was all wonderful. Our week has gone much too fast but we will be back one day!
We all enjoyed your lovely Ellesmera Mill, having barbecues, using the hot tub and sauna and playing on the garden swing we´re such a treat to finish off our summer. The owner and his team were excellent and nothing was ever too much trouble. Thank you for everything, and the super hamper of local produce!
This is a fabulous holiday home in the most perfect, idyllic setting. We´ve had a very restful weekend! We loved the hot tub and the closeness to the beach was great. It´s an interesting house and is beautifully decorated throughout. The perfect weather also made for a splendid week. Thank you!
Thank you for allowing us to stay in your superb home. Every detail considered and so many beautiful touches. The character of the mill still shines through. We have all had a fabulous time and we hope to return one day.
Honoured to be number four in the book! We had the most wonderful weekend, so sorry that we could not stay longer. Glorious house and facilities, especially loved the hot tub and the babbling brook.
The perfect home for our family holiday. We had a wonderful week here, the most beautiful place we have stayed in. Excellent hospitality and thoroughly enjoyed the area. Thank you.
We have had a wonderful week here. The house is beautiful and very well equipped, with lots of thoughful touches that make all the difference. We loved cooking on the aga & BBQ, watching films in the cinema room, playing ball in the garden. The pleasure of walking 10 ten minutes down the road to the beach. Thank you.
What a treat to be the first ones here! An amazing week in this beautiful home. I want to wake up every morning to the sound of the stream! Everything we needed and more. Thank you so much.
A beautiful property, beautifully renovated and with all facilities we could need. Lots of thoughtful touches e.g. nice soaps, linens, towels, good crockery, good supply of logs, beautifully cut flowers in the rooms. Everything had been thought through and it felt like a home from home. Wonderful location. Nice touch to send texts before and after we left
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Ellesmera Mill and Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
Tales from the Mill
Country Homes & Interiors
October 201925 of the best autumn getaways
The Times
November 2024Good manors
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2024Ways to improve your life—from our experts
The Times
October 2024The UK´s most relaxing riverside stays
The Times
October 2024At one with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024Healing waters
Condé Nast Traveller
September 202425 of the UK´s best lakeside stays
The Times
September 2024
Luxury Self-Catering Cottages > UK > Devon > Dartmouth > Ellesmera Mill
Related Collections
Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
