Little Gate Cottage

4.1★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

33 Customer Review(s)

Susan
March 2025

“The cottage met all of our needs and more.”

The location was fantastic.We enjoyed local walks following clear maps and directions from the guide book at the cottage. We were only a round a twenty minute drive from Drewsteighnton and Chagford. We enjoyed walking from Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo and also had a lovely walk around Fenworthy Reservoir. It was a real bonus having the Ring of Bells right on our door step. The staff were so friendly and welcomed our dog with plenty of dog treats. The only disappointment was when we visited ...

The location was fantastic.We enjoyed local walks following clear maps and directions from the guide book at the cottage. We were only a round a twenty minute drive from Drewsteighnton and Chagford. We enjoyed walking from Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo and also had a lovely walk around Fenworthy Reservoir. It was a real bonus having the Ring of Bells right on our door step. The staff were so friendly and welcomed our dog with plenty of dog treats. The only disappointment was when we visited Castle Drogle to have a cup of tea. We were directed to the so called dog friendly area. This was actually out doors in low temperatures in a very cold and exposed area where we sat on a cold bench.

- Susan, March 2025
Sarah October 2024

“Very comfortable and warm.”

Mats immediately inside were a nightmare as moved all the time - this was often noted in the visitors book. think it should be advised that the garden is really unusable in the winter - I hadn’t read the write up properly as didn’t realise the garden wasn’t connected to the cottage so was no use if you have a dog! I think a small airer would be useful as nowhere to hang dripping clothes if inclement weather or to just dry washing. The pub is a real bonus, excellent food. A lovely stay.

- Sarah, October 2024
Iain September 2024

“A beautiful cottage.”

Lovely peaceful area. Fabulous walks. Very happy holiday. Would love to visit the cottage again.

- Iain, September 2024
Robert September 2024

“On the whole the property was as described but we were very disappointed with ...”

On the whole the property was as described but we were very disappointed with the overgrown outside space, brambles growing across the dining room door

- Robert, September 2024
Christopher August 2024

“No significant issues with the cottage and its facilities.”

On the whole it was comfortable, peaceful and charming. A couple of minor niggles: the handbook/guide had some conflicting instructions about the recycling and rubbish collections which I think that we got right in the end. When we arrived, the dehumidifier was operating in the dining room but there were no clear instructions as to whether we should continue to use it throughout our stay. (We decided that we should but turned it off when we left). Also, it would be good to caution potential bookers that North Bovey can only be reached via narrow single track roads which my partner found very intimidating to drive along. For that reason we're very unlikely to return, which is a shame as it's a beautiful spot!

- Christopher, August 2024
Simon July 2024

“As advertised.”

Lively cottage in chocolate box location. Unexpected welcome pack which was very nice. Clean and well provided for. Could do with blind in bathroom. New carpets are great. I had to work some of the time and able to use teams and video without any issues. The garden is just down the lane with lovely view. Great doggie walks straight from front door. A few steps away is great pub serving first rate food all day. Lovely locals. Very nice community. Great location. Very quiet and peaceful. Thanks and may well book again.

- Simon, July 2024
Victoria April 2024

“A beautiful little cottage in a gorgeous location.”

The property was clean and the owners left lots of helpful information, thank you. We did find the garden unsuitable for our dogs, which was disappointing. Luckily, the walk to stepping stones was good so we used that instead. We would also have appreciated knowing dogs were not allowed upstairs before going so we could have been prepared for leaving them downstairs during the stay. The property was lovely and perhaps suited better to a non-dog family.

- Victoria, April 2024

Thank you for your feedback, we are delighted to read that you enjoyed the cottage and it's location. Pet rules are in your booking conditions and it is outlined there that pets are not allowed upstairs or on furniture, this is company policy and not limited to Little Gate Cottage. Property Owner
Kelvin March 2024

“This is a nice little Quaint old cottage in North Bovey, I found it quite interesting reading the history of the cottage left in the welcome book.”

The cottage is nice and cosy ideal for a little week away, even better as theres no phone signal so peace and quiet. The cottage has good facilities a lot of what you need for a short trip away. The dog especially liked roaming around the field down the road. It was a good stay and I would recommend it to a friend if I get asked.

- Kelvin, March 2024
J September 2023

“The owners will have already have heard from Mrs Jenny Skuse that the cottage had mould in the bathroom, the dinning room carpet was dirty and the caretaker did not answer any calls.”

We have all stayed at the cottage for over 10 years and have never had cause to complain. These two weeks were special to Jenny and Tony as it was the anniversary of when their son died, my husband. He loved little gate. All this hassle with the water and not being able to contact the caretaker spoilt it for them.

- J, September 2023
Viv September 2023

“We thought it was a delightful cottage, The beds were extremely comfortable and the kitchen fully stocked with both eating and cooking utensils.”

Despite the comments left in the visitors book by others, there is and was a garden and there is and was a fully usable washing machine, and if needed, tumble dryer. Lovely walks from the cottage and a quiet, friendly, well kept village.

- Viv, September 2023
Olaf July 2023

“Nice cottage located in Dartmoor National Park.”

The cottage was spacious enough for us. We were with 2 adults, 1 child and our pet cat. The cottage could have been more clean, since there were a lot of cobwebs. Also, there were a few rugs near the entrance which didn't look very clean. The bedrooms were lovely and we liked the dining room which was separated from the living room and kitchen. We've used the laundry machine several times, which was really convenient. However, drying the clothes was a challenge, since there was no proper space or washing line inside the cottage to put the clothes out to dry. The area is pretty quiet and by car you can easily reach the more touristic areas, such as the visitor center in Postbridge, where you can enjoy a nice outdoor walk.

- Olaf, July 2023

Thank you for your lovely comments, we've never had a cat at the cottage before and hope they also enjoyed it. The cottage being thatched it is impossible to keep the spiders out and we know that within a couple of hours of being cleaned there can often be a few webs, but please be assured that our cottage is always well cleaned. We will check the rugs although we did buy them that sort of muddy colour on purpose odd though it may seem. There is a tumble-dryer in the laundry sitting on top of the washing machine that you were welcome to use. I will make sure that is clear in the handbook for future guests. We discourage drying clothes inside the cottage as it can lead to damp problems. We hope to see you again with your cat. Property Owner
Thierry May 2023

“We had a great stay in this lovely thatched cottage.”

It sleeps 4 but probably more comfortable for 2, which was our case. It does look larger on the pictures but that didn't matter. The feel of the place is very cosy and relaxing. The fireplace is a huge plus. The kitchen facilities are very good and the bathroom is very pleasant and looks brand new. Everywhere was immaculately clean and tidy but the carpets need changing sharpish:) The countryside around is stunning.

- Thierry, May 2023

Thank you for your lovely comments. Regarding the carpet we agree but it has taken us some time to source a fitter and supplier but all should be laid before the Autumn. Property Owner
Catherine April 2023

“We stayed here 10 years ago and it's still one of my very favourite places.”

It looks as though the instruction booklet in the cottage needs a little updating. The rubbish and recycling is collected from the bottom of the steps below the dining room French windows not from the opposite side of next door's drive. The collection from the post box at the top of the road is at 9am. Only complaint as regards the cottage itself (as we already knew what it was like) is that while it was largely clean, the carpets, particularly in the sitting room and on the stairs, are very grubby and stained. But we had another wonderful week here. The countryside is so beautiful and peaceful.

- Catherine, April 2023

We are so glad you enjoyed your stay again. We do have quite a few repeat guests which is lovely. We are updating the house book and will include your point re rubbish collection. As to the carpet - yes indeed. The new one will hopefully be all done before the Autumn. Property Owner
Shelley March 2023

“An absolutely delightful cottage, With Lovely walks from the village along the ...”

An absolutely delightful cottage, With Lovely walks from the village along the river, We hope to return next year Many thanks

- Shelley, March 2023
Yovina October 2022

“The cottage itself was very nice and cosy, we were looking for a rural getaway with our small children and 2 dogs.”

Upon arrival to the cottage, the whole neighbourhood was very quiet, there was no immediate garden attached so we had to take the dogs out every time they needed the toilet. The property was big enough for us, it's in a very charming village and close to a lot of attractions, The Bovey Castle however was extortionate to have 2 cups of coffee and 2 Scone and Jam. Be mindful of that, Will return to the cottage again if given the chance.

- Yovina, October 2022
Nigel September 2022

“The shed where the washing machine and tumble drier are kept needs to have an outside light switch fitted, there is switch inside but when it is dark you cannot see to get in an operate the equipment.”

The owner phoned about a different matter and we mentioned this problem to her and she hadn't realised this problem.

- Nigel, September 2022
Caroline September 2022

“Comfortable, warm, cosy and well equipped charming cottage.”

Lovely quiet position in most attractive village with excellent food served at the nearby Ring of Bells. Ideally placed for walking on the Moors or more close by and near Mortenhampstead for good food shops. We are an elderly coule and felt very safe there and the locals were all most friendly. We hope to stay in the cottage again,

- Caroline, September 2022
Adrian August 2022

“I appreciate difficult to control but the car parking space on arrival was literally covered in dog mess, we took our 2 dogs with us and left no mess so its annoying !”

Other than that great location for walking with very accurate route guidance.

- Adrian, August 2022
Sam August 2022

“Beautiful cottage in a lovely village, we really enjoyed our stay.”

I thought the cottage looked a bit bigger from the pictures than it was in real-life. We found an outside garden area for the cottage which would have been lovely but it was completely covered in bird poo so we didn't use it.

- Sam, August 2022
Norman June 2022

“This is an excellent holiday property for a stay in Dartmoor.”

Although there could be aspects of the property that would make it more desirable it is exactly as described so absolutely no complaints. Would definitely stay again.

- Norman, June 2022
Jean-pierre June 2022

“Heel fijn huisje in een ongelooflijk mooie omgeving.”

Smalle weggetjes er naar toe is voor een grote auto wel een uitdaging. Een oase van rust.

- Jean-pierre, June 2022

Thank you very much for your comments, we're so pleased to know you enjoyed your stay. Using Google translate this review reads as: "Very nice house in an incredibly beautiful area. Narrow roads to it are a challenge for a large car. An oasis of peace." Property Owner
Jette September 2021

“We stayed here for the second time, and although small, the cottage is fine to stay in for a week or so, and the location very pretty.”

BUT we were rather concerned, when we came back one evening, after having dinner at the pub, to realise that somebody must have been in the house. Nothing was missing or mislaid, but the outside light was on, and the stair door was shut which we never ourselves shut. It was a very unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling, and probably means we shall not come back.

- Jette, September 2021

Thank you for taking the time to complete your feedback. We have checked with our housekeeper and our local builder, as they are the only people who have keys to the cottage and neither of them accessed the property. Perhaps maybe one of your party may have closed the stair door before leaving the property and turned the outside light on ready for your return? It’s improbable anyone unauthorised got in and we wish to reassure you. Property Owner
Raymond May 2021

“The cottage was very nice but a bit isolated for us .”

The Dinning room entrance is very low there is no mind your head sign .I hit my head a couple of times . We cleaned the the cottage al over .But I had a bill for 90 pounds on my return for cleaning carpets . The owners should expect fair wear and tear.

- Raymond, May 2021

Thank you for your feedback and pleased to hear you like the Little Gate Cottage. We do agree with you the dining room entrance is low this why we mention it the property description. Wear and tear is something to be expected at the property and take the comment on board. But damage to the property by dogs is something not considered not as wear and tear. Property Owner
Anne May 2021

“The photographs for the cottage make the rooms look quite large, they are in fact small.”

I think that people should be made aware that the door way into the dining room is very narrow. If you were very tall and over weight you probably would'nt be able to get through it!

- Anne, May 2021

Thank you for taking the time to complete your feedback, we are sorry if you missed the mention of the narrow doorway in our description, where we do also mention the height of the low lintel. Property Owner
Robert John September 2020

“This was a get away from it all holiday and this location met all we wanted.”

Would describe as comfortably rustic. Probably not for people with limited mobility.

- Robert John, September 2020
Mandy August 2020

“Really beautiful location.”

Perfect for walkers. Cottage has excellent facilities and was extremely welcoming and comfortable. The beds were so plush, kitchen well equipped and the log burner a real treat. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this cottage and would definitely go again. Thank you for the much needed comfort break.

- Mandy, August 2020
Steven July 2020

“A really wonderful and peacefull stay for three nights at this cosy cottage.”

Located in a picture-postcard village with a fantasic pub next door serving quality food that is open all day. Lots of trails pass through the village and we were able to take a number of tors including Hayter Rocks in a circular route from the front door. We took a 30min walk for meal at Morton one evening and Chagford is a short drive away which is well worth a visit. The guestbook is full of complimentary reviews which is at odds with some online reviews. Ignore the ones online as this was the perfect staycation in great location.

- Steven, July 2020
Samantha August 2019

“We specifically asked for a garden that our dog could relax in, we even phoned your offices to double check this, yet all we had was a tiny courtyard with no grass and that was difficult to access between the walls and plant growth.”

Also the photograph is of the pretty adjoining cottage next door which mislead us in regards of what we thought the property was like and to the extent that we couldn't recognise the actual property on arrival. This is just viewable in the background of the exterior pictures. Everything you need was there, but pretty basic. Location and the excellent Ring of Bells pub were the highlights.

- Samantha, August 2019
David June 2019

“The cottage is lovely and the garden would be too but it is overgrown and unusable, not as represented on the website.”

The location is superb, very peaceful and quiet. A gardener is desperately needed, otherwise very good.

- David, June 2019
Keith May 2019

“To begin with: The photo of the property on the 'advert' is not accurate as it actually depicts the neighbouring property - this is due to the angle from which the photo is taken - the neighbours property proceeds Little Gate Cottage.”

As dog owners who instructed that we would be taking our dog expected the garden to be outside the door of the cottage. In fact it was across a driveway to a neighbouring property. It had the appearance of somewhere which had not been touched by a gardener for many months. The 'garden furniture' was in a disgusting state - so dirty that we would never consider using it. To describe the area as a garden is taking a liberty, it would better be described as a wilderness. The cottage itself needed a good clean. The décor is tired and needs updating. Throughout our stay we could not get any reception on the television. After taking one look at the cooker we decided that we would not use it due to its filthy condition. We will never return to this cottage

- Keith, May 2019

The first photo on the website shows the two cottages in relation to the green. The second photograph shows Little Gate Cottage itself. The website describes that the garden is accessed via the neighbours' driveway. Thank you for highlighting the issue with the garden being overgrown. The Owners have a garden maintenance contract and discovered that the team had missed their scheduled appointments. This has now been rectified. We have passed on your comment regarding the cooker to our long term cleaner who has regularly received excellent reviews. Property Owner
Julie May 2019

“It was a beautiful cottage, set in stunning surroundings and Sykes have been so easy and efficient when booking the cottage.”

We will definitely used the website again!!

- Julie, May 2019
Anna April 2019

“Generally good facilities as shown, trip advisor reviews don't match those in the visitor book - generally good reviews shown overall.”

Some dated decoration but homely and warm. The downstairs cream carpet showed the usage but was ok. Well stocked kitchen area and the cottage had a new wood burner which was great, I think we may have been the first to use this as it was burning off something the first couple of uses, but was no bother after that. A cosy cottage and great for our visit, we were out most of the day exploring. The outbuilding with the washing machine and tumble drier was handy as we were quite muddy after cycling! Didn't use the garden area (not warm enough to sit out). The flowers and cake on arrival were lovely, thank you. We had a great week there and it is a super base for exploring the moors. Lambs nearby as we went in April and even the occasional owl hoot for added wildlife! The ring of bells pub 20m up the road is great as is the Bridford inn (in Bridford!), super food and a range of ales, if that is your thing. There are many other good pubs around as well!

- Anna, April 2019
Martyn August 2018

“Very welcoming cottage in a extremely beautiful location Local shops close by.”

Ring of Bells pub three doors up offer excellent food. Cottage is lovely, very comfortable however starting to look a little tired, flaking paint on bedroom walls etc. Basically a lick of paint then it’s ten out of ten.

- Martyn, August 2018
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Summary

Two bedrooms: 1 x king size double, 1 x twin
Bathroom with bath, shower over, WC, basin
Downstairs sitting room with wood burning stove and kitchen area
Dining room.
Night storage heating with wood burning stove, first basket of logs provided free and subsequent £2
Microwave, fridge, tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, TV with DVD, WiFi, Phone, Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot available on request
Off road parking for one car, 40 metres down the lane, past the property
Up to two well-behaved dogs welcome £25 fee for second dog, Sorry no smoking
Please note: The garden area is not suitable for small children, people with limited mobility or the elderly.

The property

In North Bovey, a pretty, 17th century grade II listed, semi-detached, thatched cottage on the Dartmoor Way.

Step down from the porch and you can follow the lane until it becomes a track and then stepping stones across the River Bovey and beyond.

More walkers and horse riders pass than vehicles.

To one side of the cottage, down the lane, accessed via 3 steps a long, narrow, secluded wooded garden with 2 paved areas (table/chairs) looking across Easdon Down and surrounding hills.Not suitable for small children, people with limited mobility or the elderly.

Living room with huge inglenook (woodburner), ancient beams, cosy window seat looking down the valley, TV/DVD and kitchen area (slimline dishwasher, microwave, fridge, electric cooker); to one side of the inglenook, a narrow doorway (5'10" lintel) with 2 steps down into little dining room with glazed door to front of cottage.

Steep half-turn stairs up to two bedrooms - a double (5' bed with footboard), and one with two singles (limited clothes-hanging space).

Smart bathroom (suite, shower over bath).

Outhouse with washing machine, tumble drier.

A smashing get-away-from-it-all cottage in an enchanting village.

Good food pub The Ring of Bells Inn in walking distance.

North Bovey: postcard-pretty village (medieval church) with tree-shaded green in the beautiful wooded valley of the mini River Bovey, two lane-miles from the spectacular open moor around Manaton or Moretonhampstead.

Bovey Castle (hotel, good restaurant, golf), about 2 miles.

Floorplans

1st FloorGround Floor

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.

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About the location

NORTH BOVEY

Exeter 14 miles; Torquay 22 miles

A picturesque village at the northern point of Dartmoor National Park in Devon. This pretty village houses a church, pub, shop and an impressive golf course situated at Bovey Castle. 4 miles from Moretonhampstead which is small in size but packed with amenities and things to do with a wide range of shops, four pubs and an open-air swimming pool to enjoy. Moreover, North Bovey is the perfect base for a walking holiday, with miles of wild, open moorland to explore. Must see places includes Postbridge, which lies in the centre of the National Park, where you can take a short walk to visit one of the best examples of a clapper bridge, making this a great location to explore the area’s archaeology. Further afield is Canonteign Waterfalls and Country Park, where you can discover England’s highest man-made waterfall, a fine example of a Victorian Folly.

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“The cottage met all of our needs and more.”

“Very comfortable and warm.”

“A beautiful cottage.”

“On the whole the property was as described but we were very disappointed with ...”

“No significant issues with the cottage and its facilities.”

“As advertised.”

“A beautiful little cottage in a gorgeous location.”

“This is a nice little Quaint old cottage in North Bovey, I found it quite interesting reading the history of the cottage left in the welcome book.”

“The owners will have already have heard from Mrs Jenny Skuse that the cottage had mould in the bathroom, the dinning room carpet was dirty and the caretaker did not answer any calls.”

“We thought it was a delightful cottage, The beds were extremely comfortable and the kitchen fully stocked with both eating and cooking utensils.”

“Nice cottage located in Dartmoor National Park.”

“We had a great stay in this lovely thatched cottage.”

“We stayed here 10 years ago and it's still one of my very favourite places.”

“An absolutely delightful cottage, With Lovely walks from the village along the ...”

“The cottage itself was very nice and cosy, we were looking for a rural getaway with our small children and 2 dogs.”

“The shed where the washing machine and tumble drier are kept needs to have an outside light switch fitted, there is switch inside but when it is dark you cannot see to get in an operate the equipment.”

“Comfortable, warm, cosy and well equipped charming cottage.”

“I appreciate difficult to control but the car parking space on arrival was literally covered in dog mess, we took our 2 dogs with us and left no mess so its annoying !”

“Beautiful cottage in a lovely village, we really enjoyed our stay.”

“This is an excellent holiday property for a stay in Dartmoor.”

“Heel fijn huisje in een ongelooflijk mooie omgeving.”

“We stayed here for the second time, and although small, the cottage is fine to stay in for a week or so, and the location very pretty.”

“The cottage was very nice but a bit isolated for us .”

“The photographs for the cottage make the rooms look quite large, they are in fact small.”

“This was a get away from it all holiday and this location met all we wanted.”

“Really beautiful location.”

“A really wonderful and peacefull stay for three nights at this cosy cottage.”

“We specifically asked for a garden that our dog could relax in, we even phoned your offices to double check this, yet all we had was a tiny courtyard with no grass and that was difficult to access between the walls and plant growth.”

“The cottage is lovely and the garden would be too but it is overgrown and unusable, not as represented on the website.”

“To begin with: The photo of the property on the 'advert' is not accurate as it actually depicts the neighbouring property - this is due to the angle from which the photo is taken - the neighbours property proceeds Little Gate Cottage.”

“It was a beautiful cottage, set in stunning surroundings and Sykes have been so easy and efficient when booking the cottage.”