The Stables Oakhurst

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

15/06/2026

The Day Has Finally Arrived . . .

We’re delighted to announce that the renovation of The Stables at Oakhurst is now complete, and we’re ready to welcome our very first guests.

Many of you will have watched the transformation over the past year and a bit will know that it has been quite a journey. Renovating The Stables while also completing the main house and reshaping the surrounding landscape turned out to be a far bigger project than we ever imagined, much to Fiona’s frustration! Although, if I’m being completely honest, there are still one or two jobs (possibly a few more!) left to finish in the main house, but that’s a story for another day.

With the patio completed, paving laid, fencing installed and the pergola standing proudly in place, there is now very little left for us to do. From here, the final touches belong to Mother Nature.

We have planted a selection of evergreen shrubs to provide year-round colour and structure, while evergreen honeysuckle is being trained across the pergola. In time, it will create a beautiful canopy of greenery, bringing fragrance, colour and welcome shade on warm summer afternoons.

Choosing the right holiday letting company was an important step, and we’re pleased to have partnered with a team whose local representative, Tom, has been invaluable. His experience and guidance have helped us understand exactly what guests expect and ensured that every detail is in place before we open our doors.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how far The Stables has come. What began as an old building with plenty of potential has been transformed into a place where visitors can relax, unwind and enjoy the beauty of Dousland and the surrounding countryside.

After all the planning, hard work, perseverance and patience, we’re incredibly excited to soon be welcoming our first guests and share this special corner of Dartmoor with them.

Watch this space, the next chapter is about to begin.

Scott and Fiona

03/06/2026

Honey, Honey… 🍯🐝

On behalf of our good friend Mark, we welcomed a rather unusual delivery this morning, a colony of honey bees!

Mark has now settled them into their new hive, which is positioned close to the release area. As you can see from the photos, they arrived very securely packaged and wasted no time making their presence known once the lid of their travelling box was removed. They were certainly keen to get started in their new home.

With an abundance of local wildflowers currently in bloom, along with the fruit trees we’ve planted around Oakhurst, we’re hoping they’ll find plenty of nectar to forage and thrive throughout the summer.

There may be another benefit too. My wife, Fiona, suffers from hay fever from time to time and can find gardening or simply sitting outside a little uncomfortable during the pollen season. Local folklore, and many enthusiastic beekeepers, suggest that consuming locally produced honey may help alleviate some symptoms.

Whether that’s fact or fiction remains to be seen, but it certainly gives us another reason to look forward to our first jar of Oakhurst honey.

Watch this space… 🍯🐝🤧🤞🏼

03/06/2026

Honey, Honey… 🍯🐝

On behalf of our good friend Mark Daniel, we welcomed a rather unusual delivery yesterday morning, a colony of honey bees!

Mark has now settled them into their new hive, which is positioned close to the release area. As you can see from the video, they arrived very securely packaged and wasted no time making their presence known once the lid of their travelling box was removed. They were certainly keen to get started in their new home.

With an abundance of local wildflowers currently in bloom, along with the fruit trees we’ve planted around Oakhurst, we’re hoping they’ll find plenty of nectar to forage and thrive throughout the summer.

There may be another benefit too. My wife, Fiona, suffers from hay fever and can find gardening or simply sitting outside a little uncomfortable during the pollen season. From our understanding, and that of many enthusiastic beekeepers, consuming locally produced honey may help alleviate some symptoms.

Whether that’s fact or fiction remains to be seen, but it certainly gives us another reason to look forward to our first jar of Oakhurst honey.

Watch this space… 🍯🐝🤧🤞🏼