The Old Farmhouse

Hotel Description

So I stumbled across The Old Farmhouse completely by accident – well, sort of by accident since I was actively hunting for somewhere decent to stay near Bodmin Moor that wasn’t going to cost me a fortune. This place sits in Inner Fentonadle, which honestly sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, but it’s actually just this tiny hamlet outside Michaelstow that most people drive straight through without noticing.

The thing that got me immediately was how quiet it is here. I mean, properly quiet – not the fake “peaceful” you get at chain hotels where you can still hear the A30 humming in the distance. You’re tucked away down these narrow lanes where the biggest traffic jam you’ll encounter is probably a tractor or someone walking their dog. The building itself has that proper old Cornwall feel without being all twee about it, you know? It’s clearly been a working farmhouse at some point, and they’ve done the conversion really thoughtfully. My room had these thick stone walls that kept everything cool during the day (I was there in July when it was absolutely roasting), and the windows actually open properly – revolutionary concept, I know.

What really surprised me was the attention to detail. The breakfast wasn’t just your standard full English assembly line – they actually source stuff locally, and I’m talking properly local, not the usual “within 50 miles” nonsense. The bacon came from somewhere down the road in Blisland, and honestly, it ruined me for supermarket bacon forever. The staff clearly know the area inside out too – when I mentioned wanting to walk part of the Saints’ Way, the woman at reception didn’t just hand me a generic leaflet but actually drew me a route that avoided the muddy sections and pointed out a decent pub stop halfway. Parking’s dead easy, which is a relief because some of these old places make you squeeze your car into spaces designed for horses and carts.

The whole experience just felt… authentic, I suppose. No one’s trying to oversell you anything or pretend this is some luxury resort – it’s just a really well-run place that happens to be in a gorgeous spot. You’re about ten minutes from Bodmin if you need proper shops or a Tesco run, but close enough to the moor that you can be hiking across proper wilderness within half an hour. I ended up extending my stay by two nights because, well, why wouldn’t you when you’ve found somewhere this comfortable? The 9.8 rating makes perfect sense once you’ve been there – it’s not trying to be flashy or Instagram-perfect, but everything just works exactly as it should. Plus, and this might sound odd, but the whole place smells right – like old wood and proper countryside air, not cleaning products and air fresheners.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $229. Four-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 large double bed, 1 bunk bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 9

Reviews

• Laura from United Kingdom – 19 May 2025 (9/10)

  Lovely and peaceful

• Brian from United Kingdom – 18 November 2024 (10/10)

  A beautiful property. Well equipped, very clean in a lovely location
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Jenny from United Kingdom – 22 August 2023 (10/10)

  The view, the garden, the cosiness on rainy days and then everything you could possibly want to enjoy the sunny days. The feeling of remoteness whilst able to enjoy the best beaches within 15 mins drive. The decor, the kitchen equipment and the puzzles and books. The different areas that gave a space for everyone to relax. Oh and the massive map on the wall.
  
  What could be improved: Honestly nothing wrong with it. I was worried about only having 2 bathrooms with 8 of us but both showers worked simultaneously so all good.

• Jo from United Kingdom – 5 May 2023 (10/10)

  Everything! The location, the accommodation, the additional touches of a card, wine and biscuits on arrival and the general level of thoughtfulness that had gone into making sure you had everything to keep everyone entertained. Great outdoor games hut!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing!

• Niki from United Kingdom – 6 February 2024 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities